LOONY & LOVELY

LIMERICKS
Fun poetry
activities
& word games

teacher's notes
Limericks are really fun to use in a classroom, because they are often funny. They are also very
useful, because their specific rhythm improves retention of vocabulary and phrases, especially
idioms. They can be used with all age groups and most knowledge levels (if chosen carefully) in
simple and more complicated ways. Here are some suggestions. In this collection, I have used and
adapted limericks from the following links...
http://www.poetry-online.org/limericks.htm
http://www.link75.org/bcs/Publish%20C/bcspoetry/limerick.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~kristenaa/nice/

contents
1 . SORT OUT THE MESS - assemble the lines of the existent limericks
2 . WHAT'S MISSING? – following the rhyming and rhythmic pattern, try to guess the missing words
3 . RHYMING COMPETITION – try to find as many rhyming words for the words you pull out from the word-
card pile
4 . BE A LIMERICK POET – in pairs, try to write your own limericks about the creatures from the word-cards
(have a class vote for the best)
5 . BE A LIMERICK RIDDLER – in pairs, try to write a limerick which is also a riddle, about a famous person or a
member of your class (have others guess)
6 . TRANSLATION CHALLENGE – try to translate the limerick into your own language (mother tongue), but
keep the rhyme and the rhythm

NOTE: There are no wss for tasks 5&6, because for 5 you can have your sts choose, and for 6 you can choose from any available
book (or link above)

TEACHER'S KEY FOR WS 1:

There was a young lady from Niger, There once was a kid named Darren
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger. Whose room was surprisingly barren
After the ride He had no toys
She was inside, Like all normal boys
And the smile was on the face of the tiger. But he did believe in sharing

There once was a guy named Matt There once was a lady named Lynn
Who had an overly large cat Who was so uncommonly thin,
When it chased a mouse that when she assayed
It shook the whole house to drink lemonade,
So Matt got rid of the cat. she slipped through the straw and fell in!

There was a young man named Wyatt

whose voice was exceedingly quiet
And then one day
it faded away
......

TEACHER'S KEY FOR WS 2:

There was an Old Man with a beard, There was an Old Man who supposed,
Who said, 'It is just as I feared! That the street door was partially closed;
Two Owls and a Hen, But some very large rats,
Four Larks and a Wren, Ate his coats and his hats,
Have all built their nests in my beard!' While that futile old gentleman dozed.

There was a Young Lady whose eyes, There was an Old Lady of Chertsey,
Were unique as to colour and size; Who made a remarkable curtsey;
When she opened them wide, She twirled round and round,
People all turned aside, Till she sunk underground,
And started away in surprise. Which distressed all the people of Chertsey.

LOONY & LOVELY LIMERICKS'

WORKSHEET 1
SORT OUT THE MESS - assemble the lines of the existent limericks

Write numbers in front of each line to show the proper order of lines
AND THE SMILE WAS ON THE FACE OF THE TIGER.
AFTER THE RIDE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY FROM NIGER,
SHE WAS INSIDE,
WHO SMILED AS SHE RODE ON A TIGER.
SO MATT GOT RID OF THE CAT.
WHO HAD AN OVERLY LARGE CAT
THERE ONCE WAS A GUY NAMED MATT
WHEN IT CHASED A MOUSE
IT SHOOK THE WHOLE HOUSE
BUT HE DID BELIEVE IN SHARING.
THERE ONCE WAS A KID NAMED DARREN
HE HAD NO TOYS
WHOSE ROOM WAS SURPRISINGLY BARREN
LIKE ALL NORMAL BOYS
SHE SLIPPED THROUGH THE STRAW AND FELL IN!
THERE ONCE WAS A LADY NAMED LYNN
THAT WHEN SHE ASSAYED
WHO WAS SO UNCOMMONLY THIN,
TO DRINK LEMONADE,
IT FADED AWAY
.....
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN NAMED WYATT
AND THEN ONE DAY
WHOSE VOICE WAS EXCEEDINGLY QUIET
 LOONY & LOVELY LIMERICKS'
WORKSHEET 2
WHAT'S MISSING? – following the rhyme and rhythm, guess the missing words

There was an Old Man with a ________, There was a Young Lady whose eyes,

Who said, 'It is just as I feared! Were unique as to colour and ________;

Two Owls and a ________, When she opened them wide,

Four Larks and a Wren, People all turned ________,

Have all built their nests in my ________!' And started away in surprise.

There was an Old Man who supposed, There was an Old Lady of Chertsey,

That the street door was partially ______; Who made a remarkable ________;

But some very large ________, She twirled round and round,

Ate his coats and his hats, Till she sunk ________,

While that futile old gentleman dozed. Which distressed all the people of Chertsey.

LOONY & LOVELY LIMERICKS'

WORKSHEET 2
WHAT'S MISSING? – following the rhyme and rhythm, guess the missing words

There was an Old Man with a ________, There was a Young Lady whose eyes,

Who said, 'It is just as I feared! Were unique as to colour and ________;

Two Owls and a ________, When she opened them wide,

Four Larks and a Wren, People all turned ________,

Have all built their nests in my ________!' And started away in surprise.

There was an Old Man who supposed, There was an Old Lady of Chertsey,

That the street door was partially ______; Who made a remarkable ________;

But some very large ________, She twirled round and round,

Ate his coats and his hats, Till she sunk ________,

While that futile old gentleman dozed. Which distressed all the people of Chertsey.
 LOONY & LOVELY LIMERICKS'
WORKSHEET 2
RHYMING COMPETITION – try to find as many rhyming words for the words from the word-box

PARIS SPAIN L. A. THE CITY THE VILLAGE THE SEA

HAIR HANDS TALL BELLY SING A LOT

A MONKEY AN ELEPHANT AN APPLE A SANDWICH A STORK TV

LOONY & LOVELY LIMERICKS'

WORKSHEET 2
RHYMING COMPETITION – try to find as many rhyming words for the words from the word-box

PARIS SPAIN L. A. THE CITY THE VILLAGE THE SEA

HAIR HANDS TALL BELLY SING A LOT

A MONKEY AN ELEPHANT AN APPLE A SANDWICH A STORK TV

 LOONY & LOVELY LIMERICKS'
WORKSHEET 2
BE A LIMERICK POET – in pairs, write your own limericks about the creatures from the word-cards

A HUNGRY A BIG A
TIGER FROG THREE-
FROM FROM HEADED
THE JUNGLE THE SWAMP DOG
A CRAZY A A FAT
GIRAFFE FIRE- SKIER
FROM BREATHING IN
THE ZOO DRAGON THE MUD
A FUNNY A LOUD A FAST
TEACHER BOY SQUIRREL
IN FROM IN
SCHOOL LONDON A TREE
A BIG A JUMPY A
DINOSAUR BALL HOT-DOG
IN THE IN THE WITH NO
FOREST COURTYARD SAUSAGE
A SANTA A A SINGER
WITHOUT BLACK-AND- WITH
ANY WHITE NO
GIFTS BUTTERFLY RHYTHM

YOU CAN ADD THE FOLLOWING WORDS TO THE CARDS IF YOU WANT TO
INCREASE THE CHALLENGE.

NOSE, NECK, TASTE, MUSIC, EYES, CLAWS, COMPUTER, FOOD, COLD, SNOW,
FINGERS, SANDWICH, HOUSE, SPACESHIP, HAIR