NURSERY RHYME LESSON
Two Blackbirds

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Two Blackbirds
Text Type: Poetry • Word Count: 27

Nursery Rhyme Summary
Two blackbirds, Jack and Jill, sit comfortably on a hill until a mischievous boy arrives to shoo them away. Delightful illustrations enhance this easy-to-read classic rhyme.
Note: This rhyme has a closely related "sister rhyme," Two Little Dickie Birds, commonly heard in the U.K. and Canada.

Build Background
Ask students to recite some nursery rhymes. What are nursery rhymes like? What happens with the sounds at the ends of the lines? Are the rhymes funny or serious? Ask students if they have heard Two Blackbirds or a similar rhyme.

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

Preview the Poem
Show students the cover of the book and read the title. Open the book to the title page and show students the illustrations. Turn the pages of the book and have students predict what will happen based on the pictures.

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 the rhyming words. You may also wish to invite students to clap or tap to the "beat." 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 were the blackbirds sitting?
  
• What were their names?
  
• What did they do after they flew away?