Mary Had a Little Lamb: Using the Nursery Rhyme in Preschool Lesson Plans

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to follow.

(song)
Mary had a little lamb,
little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
and everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

Using "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in Preschool Lesson Plans: New Vocabulary Word

Literacy is a primary goal when teaching young children. With the "Mary Had a Little Lamb"nursery rhyme, you are provided an opportunity to expand your preschool students' vocabularies.

Fleece: Most preschool students are unfamiliar with the word "fleece." Explain to them that fleece is a sheep's wooly coat. Fleece is soft. Fleece is warm. We know that Mary's lamb was white because the rhyme tells us that its fleece was white as snow.

Using "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in Preschool Lesson Plans: Baby Animals

The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb"provides you a prime opportunity to teach your preschool students about farm animals (or any animals) and their babies.

Make several laminated cards with pictures of various farm animals and their names. Also, make several laminated cards with pictures of those farm animals' babies and what they are called. For example, have a picture of a sheep with the word sheep written beneath it. Also, have a picture of a lamb with the word lamb written beneath it. Include, as well, goats and kids, cows and calves and so on. Go over these cards several times with your students until they become familiar with the names of the animals and their babies.

Using "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in Preschool Lesson Plans: Lead and Follow

With the "Mary Had a Little Lamb"nursery rhyme, you have the opportunity to teach your preschool students about the concepts of lead and follow. Play the game Simon Says to illustrate these concepts. Simon (or Mary) leads the group in the game and the other students (lambs) follow. Play Follow the Leader (or Mary), letting each of your preschool students have a turn at being the leader.

Using "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in Preschool Lesson Plans: White

The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is a perfect addition to any preschool lesson plan or theme on the color white. Mary's little lamb, of course, was white.

Let your students make all sorts of art projects using sheets of paper cut into the shape of sheep. Provide your students with white finger paint, white tempera paint, white cotton balls, white pipe cleaners, white ribbon and white buttons to glue or paint onto the sheep shapes.