Using this Series: Calendar
We’ve put together a calendar with a suggested sequence for introducing the Cabinet of Wonder program. There is quite a bit of material to teach, but divided over a full school year, it can be comfortably done. You’ll notice that some rhymes appear in particular months due to their themes. For example, we visit the Pumpkin Eater family in November when pumpkins are plentiful, and The Queen of Hearts in February near Valentine’s Day, and during April’s migration and nesting season, your children will meet The Cuckoo and Mary’s Pretty Bird.
The goal of this program is the accumulation and mastery of a collection of rhymes. As you introduce new poems, we encourage you to continue to recite and sing the previously learned material. The Cabinet of Wonder characters all symbolically live together in Rhyming Town and their stories will feel interwoven by the year’s end.
September
Who is Mother Goose?
We begin with a short film,“Who is Mother Goose?”, with narration by Miss Natalie and shadow puppetry by Manual Cinema. This magical introduction to “the most famous poet in the English language” will explain her origins and enduring popularity for 300 years.
Cabinet of Wonder Theme Song
The Cabinet of Wonder has a theme song; playing the song and the video will help lay a foundation for the entire series. Our narrator, Rosie appears at the top of our film as a shadow figure. She points out the Cabinet and explains that it belongs to Miss Natalie. She tells us that children love to visit Miss Natalie because she knows everything about Mother Goose, Rhyming Town, and the Land of Make Believe. Rosie invites the children to explore the Cabinet and finishes by saying, “You’re as welcome as can be.”
While Miss Natalie sings “Cabinet of Wonder,” we see her big beautiful blue cabinet, and many of the children in our cast for the first time. We suggest you play this song for your class to signal the start of all your Cabinet of Wonder sessions. Children will soon recognize the song and gather in anticipation of their next encounter with the colorful folk of Rhyming Town.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
“One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” is a great first Mother Goose rhyme to learn. You’ll notice that there is no video or song for it in our series. Your children will be able to experience this piece of oral tradition as others have for centuries. Chant it as a warm-up exercise to every Cabinet of Wonder session, along with some fun hand gestures!
One, two, buckle my shoe!
(pretend to buckle shoes)
Three, four, shut the door!
(hands outstretched clap together)
Five, six, pick up sticks!
(pretend to pick up sticks from the floor)
Seven, eight, lay them straight!
(pretend to organize the sticks with chopping motion)
Nine, ten, a good fat hen!
(put hand under arms to imitate wings flapping, make clucking and crowing noises)
October
What is a Rhyme?
When introducing each Mother Goose rhyme, take time to identify its key rhyming words. “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” is an excellent example for this exercise. Ask your children for other words that share the same end sounds as “two – shoe,” “four – door,” “six – sticks,” “eight – straight,” “ten – hen”. Finding rhyming pairs will become a familiar practice with every poem to come.
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is the first fantastical character children will meet in our series. His image appears in the first frames of the film, an eggman wearing a colorful striped suit and pointed cap, carved of wood, and spinning magically. We will see him teetering on top of the Cabinet of Wonder, an everpresent symbol of make-believe throughout the series. Children will learn of his famous fall, study gravity and eggs of all sizes and sorts. The marimba will be the featured instrument. Your children will invent nonsense names and discuss the difference between careful and careless.
The Goodbye Song
We understand how important it is to build classroom culture with rituals and routines. And we know how difficult transitions can be for little ones. So, we have the perfect song for you to play at the end of every Cabinet of Wonder session. “The Goodbye Song” will be a gentle signal that it’s time to leave Miss Natalie and Rhyming Town but the lyrics assure that they’ll “be back again soon to share another magic afternoon.” We suggest you introduce this song and video to your children early in the year, it will be both a preview and review of all the Cabinet of Wonder characters. Encourage them to spot and name their favorites as they wave “goodbye.”
November
Peter Pumpkin Eater
It’s Autumn, harvest time when pumpkins are in season with jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pies everywhere. It’s the perfect time to meet the Pumpkin Eater family in their uncanny dwelling! Considering the Pumpkin Eater’s abode, November is the month for noticing and naming all things orange. Bassoon will be the instrument to study. Children will learn about other fruits, vegetables, nuts, and animals that have shells. And the letter “P” will provide perfectly pleasing prompts for playing popular alliteration games.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet is a key Mother Goose character with a very simple story that is easy and fun to pantomime. Ask your children to act out the drama of the little girl and the spider that startled her. Children can take turns telling the class about things that scare them or how it feels to be frightened. There are many ways to describe fear: shocked, spooked, frightened, jumpy, heebie-jeebies, shaking like a leaf, having goosebumps, scared out of your wits! But remember, spiders are also fascinating critters and well worth investigating. They have eight legs, can spin silk, and are skilled web weavers. Children will learn about the clarinet, brass and jazz music. Miss Muffet’s “curds and whey” will inspire your class to learn about all things dairy and even make their own cheese!
December
Old King Cole
December is a royal month and we begin it by introducing Old King Cole. It’s time for making fanfare, crowns and capes, forming processions, and practicing elegant bows and curtsies. Old King Cole is known for his jolly disposition, his love of feasting, and his famous fiddlers three. There are new words to learn from his rhyme: “merry,” “fiddle,” and “soul.” “Merry” has many synonyms (happy, glad, cheerful, joyful, jolly, spirited) and homophones (“marry” and “Mary”). Make a game of finding other homophones (sun – son, sea – see, be – bee, know – no, flower – flour, dear – deer, hour – our, sail – sale, hear – here). Make a study of the smallest member of the string family that we call the violin or “fiddle.” The word “soul” may lead to deep discussions and beautiful figures of speech.
Little Nut Tree
“Little Nut Tree” introduces another royal family member, the King of Spain’s daughter who has traveled far to see the little boy’s magic tree. The boy offers the princess his golden pear and silver nutmeg. Your children will learn about other fruit bearing trees and explore exotic spices. You will want to introduce them to the flavor of pears and the scent of freshly grated nutmegs and other spices. Ask them if they have ever tasted or smelled something spicy. This discussion could easily lead to a lesson about our five senses. In acting out the story of “Little Nut Tree,” children can practice the act of giving and receiving with elegant “bows” and “curtsies.” They will learn what a string quartet is and study the sound and mechanics of the harp. Practice some basic Spanish words and phrases to speak to the princess when she arrives!
January
Hickory Dickory Dock
January begins a new year and a great opportunity to introduce all the ways that we measure time (with hourglasses, sundials, and clocks, etc.). Miss Natalie names the parts of her grandmother clock (numbers, face, hands, pendulum) and counts to twelve in the teaching video for “Hickory Dickory Dock.” Begin to teach your children how to tell time. Introduce some of the wisdom-filled expressions that refer to time: “dawn to dusk,” “better late than never,” “a stitch in time saves nine,” and “time flies when you’re having fun!” The mouse that lives inside the grandmother clock is grey. Children will make a study of all things grey (pigeons, gravel, dolphins, elephants, rhinos, etc.). They can imagine living inside a clock, with all its turning cogs and gears, swinging pendulum, and chiming bells. They will become a little acting ensemble with found instruments and play the mouse, the tick tock, and the chime of the clock. The bassoon will make a dramatic second appearance.
Hey Diddle, Diddle
The rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” takes place under the light of a big full moon. In the month of January, the days are at their shortest. With dusk arriving earlier and the nights growing crisper, conditions for moon viewing are perfect. Your children will make a moon log and track its phases every evening with their parents. They will learn about “nocturnal” animals (racoons, foxes, possums, porcupines, owls, bats, etc.). Your class will practice call and response and fingersnapping. Introduce the piano with its long strings and tiny hammers that make it part of both the string and the percussion families.
February
The Queen of Hearts
“The Queen of Hearts” is our longest rhyme so we gave it the entire month of February. With Valentine’s Day occurring in the same month, there will be hearts a plenty in local shops, giving you lots of ways to source decorations for your room, costumes and props for pantomimes. Fold, cut, and decorate paper hearts, or create a garland of hearts to hang in the classroom. Hearts are stitched into the characters’ costumes in our photographs and videos. The heart is a symbol that represents life and love, joy, courage and compassion. Teach your children some of the beautiful expressions that refer to the heart. The heart is also the hardest working organ/muscle in our bodies. Take time to listen to it beating and feel it pulsing.
“The Queen of Hearts” is a rhyme with a story to tell. There are three distinct characters and a well-defined plot line in this simple rhyme. The tarts are made by the Queen, stolen by the Knave, called for by the King, and returned by the Knave, who takes an oath to never steal again. This rhyme will inspire a lively discussion about thievery, fairness, remorse, and redemption.
This rhyme will offer some new words to introduce to your children, “knave” and “vow.” February is for all things red (roses, cardinals, cherries, strawberries, tomatoes, ladybugs, fire trucks). Finally, children can learn to line dance, as shown in the “Queen of Hearts” music video.
March
Jack Be Nimble
March is the month of Jacks: Jack Be Nimble and Jack Sprat. “Jack Be Nimble” is our shortest rhyme in the Cabinet of Wonder collection and the video will inspire your children to run and leap. In many areas, March is a month of winter easing its grip and children may feel a bit of early Spring fever energy. Use Jack Be Nimble to direct some of that energy. Play the game of taking turns jumping over a candlestick. Candles can lead to discussions about Mother Goose’s time, when fire was our only source of light, heat, and cooking. Ask your children how different their lives would be without cars, buses, airplanes, telephones, televisions, or computers. Turn off the lights in your classroom, sit by the light of a single candle (battery-powered, of course) and imagine living in that world.
Jack Sprat
“Jack Sprat” is a rhyme about a married couple who have opposing eating habits. Jack Sprat can “eat no fat” and his wife can “eat no lean.” What do the words “fat” and “lean” mean? Ask the children to list examples of fat and lean foods and discuss healthy versus unhealthy eating practices. The Sprats “clear the cloth” and “lick the platter clean” at the end of their rhyme. What does it mean to “clear the cloth” and what is a “platter”? Is it polite to lick the serving plate after finishing a meal? The Sprats offer a good example of some undesirable table etiquette, which is the perfect entryway to a discussion of poor and proper manners.
April
The Cuckoo
In the month of April, birds are making their journeys of migration all over the world. You can look for birds’ nests, hang a bird feeder, learn to recognize the varieties of birds in your zone by sight and sound. Play a game of “flocking” (a gentle and elegant form of follow-the-leader). In the Land of Make Believe, The Cuckoo brings “good tidings” (good news) to people. In the music video, we see her whispering in Mother Goose’s ear. Play a whispering game while sitting in circle time with your class. Teach the children about situations and environments where speaking in a soft, quiet respectful voice is preferred (at nap time, near little babies or animals, in a library, in place of worship, etc.).
Mary Had a Pretty Bird
Mary’s bird is famously pretty and yellow. It’s fun to explore objects that are the color yellow: the sun, sunflowers, lemons, bananas, daffodils, canaries, egg yolks, bumblebees, dandelions, corn, chicks, rubber duckies. Draw and paint them with your children; make a bright and beautiful display of all the yellow things you can name. Learn about the word “slender” and its synonyms (slim, thin, skinny, lean, spindly, narrow).
May
Rub-A-Dub-Dub
It’s time for a voyage of discovery and absurdity with the Rub-A-Dub-Dub trio. This rhyme will inspire a wide range of discussion topics. Why are they in the tub? Where are they going? What might they see? The theme of water is rich with science, history, vocabulary, and idioms. There are so many new words to introduce; begin with a list of sea creatures, nautical terms, and sea-related idioms. Take a closer look at the trades of our trio in the tub: What tools does a butcher use? What sorts of tasty things are found in a bakery shop? Bring a honeycomb, beeswax, or a candle to class. Explain how candles were traditionally made (and still are today). In the music video, there are bubbles in the air surrounding Mother Goose and the tub trio. Blow bubbles on the playground, it’s May!
A Crooked Man
“A Crooked Man” is an intrinsically English rhyme, with new vocabulary for children, such as “sixpence” and “stile.” These words present an opportunity to revisit Mother Goose’s origins in England long ago when the Crooked Man finds a sixpence. Bring foreign currency into the class for children to see, hold, and compare to U.S. coins and bills. Some of the many Crooked Man inspired witticisms are: “a penny saved is a penny earned,” “money doesn’t grow on trees,” “don’t be a penny pincher,” “you missed it by a mile,” “walk a mile in my shoes,” and “we’ve been down this road before.” This song might inspire some spirited marching through the classroom. Encourage the children to lift their knees high and stomp their feet in time with the music while they march, while keeping count (1, 2, 3, 4).
June
Rhyming Town
“Rhyming Town” is a very sweet and gentle song in which Miss Natalie reminisces about all the colorful characters that she and the children have met in the Land of Make Believe. The song was written to gather all the different Mother Goose characters into one market street or village square. It describes an average day in the streets of Rhyming Town and all the friendly folk as they go about their busy imaginary lives. The song serves as a review of the rhymes and the video is a montage of favorite moments the children have shared with Miss Natalie. It also provides a thoughtful period of winding down before saying “goodbye.”
Review and Culminating Experiences
It’s the end of the school year, if your children are graduating from preschool or kindergarten, celebrations are in order!
Here are a few suggestions:
1. If you haven’t played the entire full hour Cabinet of Wonder film for your children yet, this would be a fun culminating experience for them. They will have a chance to celebrate all they have learned together and say “goodbye” to the characters they have come to know so well. A little performance and party to recognize your children’s knowledge and mastery would be fitting. Invite families and friends to join you!
2. Host a Mother Goose 300th Birthday Party and invite everyone to come dressed as their favorite rhyme character.
3. Have a Recitation Circle, with each child taking a turn to stand and recite their favorite rhyme. You can also draw rhyme titles from a hat and take volunteers.
4. Have a little ceremony in which Cabinet of Wonder certificates of achievement are given to every child who has completed the year’s program.
5. Have a performance for parents with a cookie and punch reception. Decorate the room with banners and bunting, display drawings and paintings that the children have made throughout the year, along with materials you’ve downloaded and printed from cabinetofwonder.org.
6. Perform pantomimes, have a parade, sing the rhyme songs of Cabinet of Wonder with instrumental backing tracks to the delight of parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, friends, etc.
