Rhyming poem - The cat and the mat

Type of activity: : This is a pronunciation activity in which students have to find words which fit into the poem below
Level: Pre-intermediate and above (preferably younger learners)

Teacher's notes:

Ask the students to talk about pets that they have. If you like, you can begin by telling them about a pet that you have, preferably a cat. Tell them about where the cat liked to sit, what he/she ate etc.
If the students enjoy talking about pets, put them into pairs to discuss their pets further. Then tell them that you are going to read out a poem to them about a cat. Tell them that at certain points you are going to pause, when you do this the students should think of a word which rhymes with the last word of the previous line. Tell them to make guesses and to not worry about being absolutely correct. At this point, the students can work in pairs or individually.
Read the poem out a couple of times so that students can try and then re-try.
Once you have done this, go over the answers with the students allowing them to shout out their guesses.

Note: An easier alternative is to write the words that fit into the poem on the board before reading out the poem. The students can then fit the words in as you read.

POEM: ‘The cat and the mat’

There once was a cat

who always sat on a ________________

The mat was in front of the doors

This was the place that she cleaned her __________________

One day the cat was sore

Because the mat was not in front of the ____________________

The cat looked everywhere

But the mat was no _________________

She walked around and around

And covered a lot of __________________

The mat was no where to be seen

And the cat felt that everyone was ___________________

To have taken her wonderful mat

Where she always ____________________

Without even a word of why

Or even a chance to say _____________________

So now the cat

That always sat on the ______________________

Sleeps under a tree

________________________!

POEM: ‘The cat and the mat’

There once was a cat

who always sat on a mat

The mat was in front of the door

This was the place that she cleaned her paws

One day the cat was sore

Because the mat was not in front of the door

The cat looked everywhere

But the mat was no where

She walked around and around

And covered a lot of ground

The mat was no where to be seen

And the cat felt that everyone was mean

To have taken her wonderful mat

Where she always sat

Without even a word of why

Or even a chance to say goodbye

So now the cat

That always sat on the mat

Sleeps under a tree

Happily!