Saturday, December 25, 2021

"Baa, Baa, Black Sheep": A Read-Aloud-Rhyme

Click to see Vol. I, Issue 9 of the newsletter in which this article first appeared.

Listen to the audio of this article!

Parents and teachers can read these rhymes aloud, and encourage little ones to repeat and even memorize them (I did when I was a kid!)

Here's another fun one, usually sung to the same tune as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and the "Alphabet Song."

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, Sir! Yes, Sir!
Three bags full!

One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane!

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, Sir! Yes, Sir!
Three bags full!

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Some words to talk about:

  • baa: the sound a sheep makes, like cows say "moo" or cats say "meow"
  • dame: lady; the master's wife
  • lane: a small road or street
  • master: like a boss; or, for a sheep, an owner
  • wool: the hair of a sheep


ACTIVITIES

Have your kid tell the story with a little pretending: Use a child's voice and a sheep's; use gestures (bowing, holding up three fingers, pointing to three places as the recipient of each bag is named); and maybe dance a little the last time through!

Discussion: What kind of person would the black sheep's "master" be? Does it hurt for a sheep to give its wool? Why does "the little boy who lives down the lane" get some wool?

Please leave a comment - I can't WAIT to hear from you!