### Lesson Plan: Poems and Rhymes for Toddler - "Pat-a-Cake"
**Objective:**
To engage toddlers in learning through the classic nursery rhyme "Pat-a-Cake," enhancing their language development, motor skills, and social interaction.
**Duration:**
30 minutes
**Materials Needed:**
- Large visuals or poster of the "Pat-a-Cake" rhyme
- Plastic bowls and spoons (pretend baking materials)
- Paper, crayons, and stickers for decorating pretend cakes
- CD player or smartphone with a nursery rhyme playlist (including "Pat-a-Cake")
**Lesson Outline:**
#### 1. Welcome and Warm-Up (5 minutes)
- Greet the children warmly as they arrive.
- Gather everyone in a circle.
- Sing a welcome song to get everyone excited and comfortable.
#### 2. Introduction to "Pat-a-Cake" (5 minutes)
- Show the children the large visual or poster of the "Pat-a-Cake" rhyme.
- Recite the rhyme slowly and clearly, using exaggerated expressions to capture their interest.
- Encourage the children to recite parts of the rhyme with you, emphasizing the rhythm and rhyme.
**Rhyme:**
```
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man,
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Pat it and prick it and mark it with B,
And put it in the oven for baby and me.
```
#### 3. Interactive Activity: Pat-a-Cake Role Play (10 minutes)
- Divide the children into pairs and give each pair the pretend baking materials (plastic bowls, spoons).
- Demonstrate how to act out the rhyme using hand movements: patting, pricking, marking with "B".
- Let the children role-play the rhyme while reciting it together.
- Move around the room to engage with different pairs, offering encouragement and minor corrections.
#### 4. Creative Craft: Decorating Pretend Cakes (5 minutes)
- Provide each child with a piece of paper and crayons.
- Ask them to draw a cake and decorate it with stickers.
- Help them mark their cake with the first letter of their name ("mark it with B" can be adapted accordingly).
#### 5. Sing-Along and Dance (3 minutes)
- Play a nursery rhyme playlist featuring "Pat-a-Cake."
- Encourage the children to sing along and do the hand movements they've learned.
- Allow some free dance time to any additional songs.
#### 6. Cool Down and Reflection (2 minutes)
- Gather the children back into a circle.
- Ask simple reflective questions like, "What did we bake today?" and "Did you like patting the cake?"
- Praise their effort and participation.
#### 7. Goodbye Song (1 minute)
- Sing a short goodbye song to wrap up the session on a positive note and signal the end of the lesson.
**Follow-up Activities:**
- Send a printout of the rhyme home with the children, encouraging parents to recite and act it out with their toddlers.
- Suggest parents help their children bake simple cookies or cupcakes at home to reinforce the rhyme's theme.
**Assessment:**
- Informal: Observe the children’s engagement and participation during the activities.
- Interaction-based: Note their ability to follow the rhyme and movements, as well as their willingness to participate in the craft and singing activities.
This lesson plan incorporates auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles, making it inclusive and engaging for all toddlers.