RHYME OR SONG: HICKORY DICKORY DOCK

RHYME OR SONG: HICKORY DICKORY DOCK

Aims of the rhyme

This is an adaptation of a traditional rhyme said by British children. The language has been adapted here so that the children can say the rhyme using the present tense. It can easily be adapted to practise telling the time.

Materials needed:

• flashcards of numbers 1 to 12
• one copy of the clock and mouse sheet in the resource file
• coloured pencils, scissors and glue

The rhyme/song

Hickory, dickory, dock.

The mouse runs up the clock.

The clock says “It’s one o’clock!”

The mouse runs down.

Hickory, dickory dock.

Preparation

1. Basic procedure

Use a set of number flashcards to practise recognition of numbers 1 to 12.

2. Game: Think of a number

Play a simple game with the children. Explain that you are going to think of a number between 1 and 12, and that the children have to guess which number it is. Think of a number, e.g. 7. Ask the children to say a number; if it is lower than 7, say “higher”. If it is higher than 7, say “lower”. When the children guess the number say “Yes, that’s right!.” The children can then play the game in pairs or groups.

Adapting the game for higher levels

With higher-level pupils you can play the game using odd or even numbers, or to count up to 20, 50 or 100.

3. Class activity: mouse mime

You’ll need plenty of room for this activity, so you might consider doing it outside. Invite the class to pretend to be mice and to carry out the actions that you say. Say “Run, run little mice. Jump, jump little mice, etc.” A confident child might then like to give the rest of the class instructions.

4. Class activity: up and down

Encourage the class to focus on the words “up” and “down”. Say “Up, up, up.” And get the children to stretch up as high as they can. Then say “Down, down, down.” And get the children to crouch down as low as they can.

Presentation

1. Saying the words

Ask the class to be a clock, and to make a ticking sound rhythmically. Say the rhyme to the class with the children making the ticking sound. Draw the rhyme on the board.

• Ask the children to tell you what they think is happening in the rhyme. Then encourage the children to repeat the rhyme one line at a time.

 Practice

1. Exploiting the rhyme

Divide the class into two groups. Encourage the first group to chant rhythmically “Tick tock, tick tock” and the second group to say the rhyme. Swap roles and repeat. The children might like to record their performance onto a blank cassette.

2. Rhyme extension: telling the time

To practise telling the time, substitute the line “The clock says one” with other times. If you like, get the children to make the noise of the clock striking.

3. Rhyme adaptation: animals

Ask the children to think of some more small animals and insects. Use these to adapt the line “The mouse runs up the clock.”

4. Rhyme model: making a clock

Ask the children to make a clock in the following way.

• Give one copy of the Hickory Dickory Dock sheet in the resource file to each child in the class.
• Ask the children to cut out the picture of the clock and mouse “strip”.
• Ask the children to think of a time for their clock and to draw it on the clock face. Make sure that the children remember to draw the big hand for “o’clock” and the small hand for the hour.
• Then get the children to move around the class and to find other children who have drawn the same time as they have. These children should then form groups.
• Invite each group to pick up their mouse and to say the rhyme at the front of the class. They should follow the words in the rhyme moving their mouse up and down the clock by moving the mouse strip through the cut in the clock.

5. Homework option

Ask the children to draw a picture of the rhyme, choosing any time