NURSERY RHYME LESSON
Doctor Foster

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Doctor Foster
Text Type: Poetry • Word Count: 25

Nursery Rhyme Summary
This amusing rhyme is sure to become a favorite. Dr. Foster heads out for the town of Gloucester on a rainy day. He stumbles into a waist-high puddle, and his reaction is understandable. Engaging illustrations enhance the humor of this classic rhyme.

Build Background
Ask students about how they keep dry in the rain. What do they wear on their heads and feet? Do they keep out of puddles, or do they splash in them? How would they feel if they stepped in a puddle all the way up to their waists?

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Read the first few lines and ask students to come up with a word that rhymes with rain. Use other familiar rhymes as references. Also explain that a poem's syllables follow a rhythm or "beat."

Preview the Poem
Ask students if they have heard this nursery rhyme before. Because nursery rhymes are passed down orally, students may know a different version from the one in the book. Have students recite the version they know.

Show students the cover of the book and read the title. Open the book to the title page. Have students make predictions about the rhyme based on the illustrations.

Be sure to preview the word "Gloucester" and its pronunciation (rhymes with foster). Towns and other areas in several English-speaking nations bear this unusual name. You may wish to point out an example on a map.

During the Reading
Allow students to stop and ask questions during reading, especially if there is something they do not understand.

If reading aloud, be sure to read with expression. Emphasize rhyming words and rhythms. Use think-aloud strategies and react to parts of the book with facial expressions and gestures.

After the Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poem. Have volunteers summarize the poem or name their favorite part.

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poem.

• Where did Doctor Foster go?
• What was the weather like?
  
• Would you go back to Gloucester if that happened to you?