Genre
Cumulative tales
Picture books for children
Songs
Subject
Cooperation
Farm animals
Farm life
Farmers
Helpfulness
Holes
Repetition in stories
Rescues
Singing games
Search

Summary:
The farmer in the dell is an old story about a farmer who gets trapped in a deep hole in the ground. It takes his wife, child, dog, cat, rat, and even a piece of cheese to pull him out.

Personal Reaction:
I loved this book as a child and I enjoyed rereading it as an adult. I like the beat that goes along with it.

Classroom Extension:
1. Discuss and learn about teamwork.
2. Ask children about a time they had to use teamwork at school.

summary
It starts with the farmer falling in the dell and the dog get the people. the farmer grabs the wife and the wife takes the nurse and the nurse takes the child, the child takes the dog, the dog grabs the cat and the cat tries to take the chees but the chees hesitates then gives in and the cat takes the cheese and they get the farmer out but when they are celebrating the farmer falls back in the dell.

personal reaction
I really like this book, I remember reading this book when I was a kid. I really liked how who ever was being grabbed was the opposite of that person. I really love how the farmer falls back in the dell so its going to start all over again.

classroom extension

1. have the children to make or draw a chain of their family if they were trapped in a dell.

2. have the children draw a picture of a farm

Summary: The farmer falls in the dell and then he gets the wife, the wife gets the nurse, the nurse gets the kid, the kid gets the dog, etc. Then finally the cheese didn't want to help until the farmer convinced him too. After they got the farmer out of the dell he falls back in.

Personal Reaction: I have not heard this nursery rhyme in a while, so it was cool to kind of go back in time and remember this story. It brought back a lot of memories when we use to sing this song in class.

Classroom Extension: I would have all of the kids sing the song and assign parts for them to act out as they sing. You could also connect it with learning nursery rhymes and they could make up their own and present it to the class or you can use it when teaching poetry.

Summary: This book is the traditional song of farmer in the dell. Each person picks one to follow them. The farmer picks a wife, the wife picks a child, the child picks a nurse, etc...

Personal Reaction: I thought it was very cute that they put the song into book form. I remember playing this game as a child in school.

Classroom Extention: 1. This book can be read before you sing the song or as the children are picking someone to play each part. 2. This book can be used as an introduction to a farming unit.