### Lesson Plan: “Hickory Dickory Dock” for Toddlers
#### **Objective:**
- To introduce toddlers to rhythm, rhyme, and basic vocabulary through the nursery rhyme "Hickory Dickory Dock."
- To enhance listening skills and encourage participation through singing and movement activities.
#### **Materials Needed:**
- Picture book of "Hickory Dickory Dock"
- Printable out of a clock (large enough for toddlers to see)
- Craft supplies (paper plates, markers, stickers, glue)
- A toy mouse or mouse finger puppet
- Soft mat or carpet area for sitting
- Digital device to play nursery rhyme music (optional)
#### **Time Duration:**
- 30 Minutes
#### **Lesson Plan:**
1. **Welcome & Warm-Up (5 minutes)**
- Greet the toddlers and gather them in a circle.
- Start with a simple song or greeting to get everyone comfortable and focused.
- Briefly introduce the day's topic: "Today we are going to have fun with the rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock!"
2. **Introduction to the Rhyme (5 minutes)**
- Show the picture book or a large printout of "Hickory Dickory Dock."
- Read or sing the rhyme aloud slowly, pointing to pictures as you go to familiarize the children with the story and the rhythm.
3. **Movement Activity (5 minutes)**
- Introduce the toy mouse or finger puppet and demonstrate how it “climbs up the clock” as you recite the rhyme.
- Encourage the toddlers to join in by using their fingers or hands to mimic the mouse climbing up a clock.
- Recite the rhyme together a couple of times to build familiarity and participation.
4. **Craft Activity: Making a Clock (10 minutes)**
- Hand out paper plates and other craft supplies to each child.
- Guide them in creating a clock face on the paper plates using markers, stickers, etc.
- Once they have decorated their clock face, use the clock printable to show where to place the numbers.
- Attach movable clock hands using a paper fastener.
5. **Interactive Review (3 minutes)**
- Ask each child to show their clock to the group.
- Practice the rhyme one more time with each child using their clock craft to act out the “mouse” climbing up the clock.
6. **Sing-Along (2 minutes)**
- Play a recorded version of "Hickory Dickory Dock" if available.
- Encourage the children to sing along and use their crafted clocks and mouse movements for added engagement.
7. **Cool Down & Goodbye (2 minutes)**
- End the lesson with a calming activity, such as simple stretching or a short, quiet song to help transition from the active lesson to whatever comes next.
- Thank the children for participating and remind them they can sing "Hickory Dickory Dock" anytime with their new clocks.
#### **Home Connection:**
- Encourage parents to sing "Hickory Dickory Dock" with their children at home, using the clocks they made in class.
- Provide parents with a copy of the rhyme and a few other simple nursery rhymes to continue practicing rhythm and rhyme at home.
This lesson plan aims to engage toddlers with both auditory and visual stimuli, encourage motor skill development through craft activities, and promote an understanding of rhythm and rhyme in a fun, interactive manner.