HRP Rhyme and Ritual HRP Rhyme and Ritual
Scenario 1: Charlie and the New Baby
Once upon a time there was a dog called Charlie. He was a very pretty dog, even though he was very naughty! He had curly golden fur and a black nose. His ears would stand up as he looked at you, and it seemed as if he was smiling.
Charlie’s owners were called Annie and Tim. They were both out during the day working, but Annie would make a big effort to get home from the shop where she worked to take Charlie out for a walk at lunch times. And Tim would always walk Charlie in the evening, after he had eaten his tea. Annie and Tim loved Charlie, and he loved them.
Then things changed. At first they changed for the better. Annie was at home a lot more, and she would sit on the sofa and watch afternoon TV and stroke Charlie as he sat beside her. True, she didn’t walk him as much, and she seemed to be getting really fat so they couldn’t run together, but she cuddled him in the evenings and told him he was her best dog, and Tim still walked him after tea.
Then, one day, Annie and Tim vanished for the longest time. Charlie was quite worried. Then when they returned they had this baby with them. It lay in a basket and screamed. Annie was always feeding it, and she never seemed to have time for Charlie. Sometimes he didn’t even get his walk from Tim!
Charlie hated the baby. It was a real nuisance. It screamed and made a noise. Annie never had time for him. And even Tim preferred the baby to him!
So one day Charlie made a plan….
Activities
The children can act out the story. Who is going to be the dog, Charlie? Who is going to be Annie? Who is going to be Tim? What do the children think that Charlie will decide to do? Discuss lots of ways that he might make things alright without hurting the baby.
Cut out some cardboard outline dolls. The children can make paper clothes which can be stuck on to the cardboard. Each child can design their own clothes. Make sure they remember they have to do the back view as well as the front view!
The children can each bring in a photo of themselves as a baby. Collect as many baby photos as possible. Each child can make a zigzag book with their photo on the front. They should draw and write (with help!) four things that they used to like when they were a baby, one on each page of the zigzag book.
The children can bring in their favourite soft toy. Each child has to describe their toy to the other children. Help them to think of several descriptive words and phrases to say about their toy. Then ask the other children to think of some more phrases.
Each child can then paint a portrait of their toy. Frame this and hang all the pictures in a portrait gallery. Hang the pictures in a long line and line up the toys underneath. Match the toys to their portraits.
Hamilton Reading Project 2000 Hamilton Reading Project 2000