This activity may take more than a single day, but it is well worth it if you can help improve a child's memory and teach her "Sing a Song of Sixpence." Find a large board and copy the entire rhyme in four sections. Teach the children one section at a time until they have memorized it. Start by having the children read each line along with you; this will help them to learn the rhythm. Then, using a piece of paper with tape on the backside, start covering up words; continue to cover words until the entire section is memorized, working on one section a day.
Provide the child with four pieces of paper, with one verse of the rhyme written at the top of each page. Ask them to draw a picture to represent each verse and describe what is happening in the rhyme. Help them understand the rhyme by explaining what each verse means and ask them to give you their own interpretation, to see if they understand. If they understand the meaning of the verses, allow them to draw at their own pace. This will help them to associate imagery with each phrase, develop analytical thought and improve their retention.
Remove all the nouns, verbs and adjectives in the rhyme to create a fill-in-the-blank activity. Ask the child to complete the rhyme with the correct part of speech. Write the part of speech requested under the blank to make this easier. When she is finished, ask her to read them aloud. This will help her to learn about the parts of speech and improve her vocabulary. Provide her with a dictionary and thesaurus so that she has a resource to find appropriate words.
Ask the child to read the rhyme and then think about it creatively to create his own original story. He may create a story about one verse, a separate story about each individual verse or a story that gives an overview of the entire rhyme. This activity will ensure that he understands the rhyme.