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Nursery rhymes · Positional words

Mary Had a Little Lamb follow-the-leader activity

Move the lamb behind Mary, then take turns leading the way to school.

Try the activity
Mary Had a Little Lamb felt pieces showing Mary, the lamb, and the school on a dark felt board.View this felt set on Etsy Opens in a new tab

Who’s following Mary?

Prep · About 5 minutes   Play · About 10 minutes

Gather · Mary and lamb felt pieces or simple drawings, plus a school picture or a block to stand in for the school.

  1. Meet Mary and her lamb. Show the two pieces and say the rhyme together. Put the school at the other end of the table.
  2. Follow Mary to school. Move Mary toward the school and invite your child to move the lamb behind her.
  3. Take turns leading. Retell the trip with the pieces, then let your child lead you across the room as you follow behind.

Try saying · “Who is in front? Move the lamb so it stays behind Mary.”

Make it easier · Use just Mary and the lamb. Point to the spot behind Mary before your child moves the lamb.

Keep it going · Ask your child to put the lamb beside Mary and tell you how its position changed.

Get the materials

Storytime Club · Annual library

Print it for your next storytime

Find the Mary Had a Little Lamb worksheet PDF in the annual library. Print a page to use after the game and ask your child to tell you who followed Mary.

$97 a year gives you the full Storytime Club printable library. If the Etsy printables on your list are included in the Club and cost more than $97 together, you save with the annual pass.

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