Rhymes with a message
An Introduction to Nursery Rhymes
Do we need an introduction?! We all know that a nursery rhyme is a short, simple song often sung to young children. Most nursery rhymes have simple rhythmic structures and repetitive patterns, making them both entertaining and memorable. They commonly develop language skills through playful content, typically containing nonsensical elements that capture a child’s imagination. Additionally, these nursery rhymes often carry moral lessons or cultural references, passed down through generations.
Hidden Meanings in Nursery Rhymes
Interestingly, nursery rhymes, often seen as simple songs for children, have a fascinating layer of hidden meanings rooted in history. Many of these rhymes comment on events, politics, or social issues of their time, cleverly disguised in playful language. For example, “Ring a Ring o’ Roses” might reference the Great Plague, while “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” could allude to the reign of Queen Mary I. These rhymes, although seemingly innocent, offer a window into the past, showing how people used storytelling to reflect the world around them.
Teaching Historical Context Through Rhymes
This offers an interesting opportunity to teach children not just about the rhymes themselves and the historical context they came from, but also how they can use the same creative idea to address modern issues. By examining how historical events were woven into these rhymes, we can encourage children to craft their own rhymes with a message that explore topics relevant to today, such as online safety. In this way, nursery rhymes can become not only a tool for learning about history but also a prompt for creating meaningful rhymes with a message.
Classroom Activity: Creating Rhymes with a Message
One way to start this in the classroom is to choose one of the eight strands from Education for a Connected World – let’s say Online Reputation. The children would begin by learning about the theme through a range of activities and discussions. There are various strategies to support students in engaging with these emotive subject areas, such as sorting a range of scenarios into themes, building word banks related to how our actions online can affect our reputation, and using a distancing technique like ‘Role on a Wall’ to suggest emotions for a character who has suffered online.
Structuring the Rhymes
Next, explore a simple rhyming pattern, such as AABB, to help structure their poems. For example, in the AABB pattern, the first two lines would rhyme, followed by a second pair of rhyming lines. Provide some examples for opening lines such as:
Think before you post or say,
Your words online will always stay.
Then, begin generating ideas that could complete the rhyme. From this point, the children can continue and create their own simple lines that fit the rhyme scheme. Children would then work independently or in pairs to craft a short poem, focusing on the importance of protecting their online reputation while following the selected rhyme pattern. This approach not only teaches them about online safety but also encourages them to create their own rhymes with a message.
