LimericksShort, silly

rhyming poems

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-rN3DGMCsE

About Limericks• Limericks probably refer to the County of

Limerick in Ireland.

• They have five lines.

• The first two lines rhyme. The next two lines

rhyme. The last line rhymes with the first two

lines. This pattern is called AABBA.

Edward LearEdward Lear published Book of

Nonsense in 1845!*He wrote 212 limericks!

There was an old man with a beard, (A)Who said, It is just as I feared!— (A)Two owls and a hen, (B)Four larks and a wren, (B)Have all built their nests in my beard! (A)

There was a young pig by a cradle (A)Who was feeding her babe with a ladle. (A)The broth reached his chin (B)When she spooned too much in, (B)So she taught him to swim in that cradle. (A)

Limerick Mad Libs

Based on the rhyming pattern and the

illustration, can you guess what the blank

rhyme should be?

There was an old pig from New YorkWho dined without knife, spoon, or ______Each time he ate peas,They rolled down to his _______That pea-splattered pig from New York.FORKKNEES

There was a young pig who, in bed,Nightly slumbered with eggs on his _____.When the sun at its riseMade him open his _______,He enjoyed a quick breakfast in bed.HEADEYES

There was a smart pig who was ableTo make use of his three-legged ______.He accomplished this trickStanding stiff as a ______,To be leg number four of that table. TABLESTICK

Now you try!

• Grab a blank Limerick Mad Lib sheet and ask other students to fill in the blanks.

• Take turns with others completing your rhymes.