Find the rhymes in the classic poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas for a fun Christmas rhyming activity this December. FREE printalbes to play, learn and rhyme! - Pool Noodles & Pixie Dust

I Spy the Rhymes in ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

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I can still remember being in Kindergarten many, many years ago and putting on a version of Clement Clarke Moore’s poem: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

I think I was a sugarplum.

Although, admittedly my memories are a little fuzzy from back then.

So, in honor of those fuzzy, but sweet childhood memories I decided to use this classic poem to do some fun rhyming activities with my daughter. You can grab the printables a little further down the page. I’ve included the poem here for you to read. And, some other fun links and resources about this poem too.

 

Find the rhymes in the classic poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas for a fun Christmas rhyming activity this December. FREE printalbes to play, learn and rhyme! - Pool Noodles & Pixie Dust

 

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

by Clement Clarke Moore

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, _Dasher!_ now, _Dancer!_ now, _Prancer_ and _Vixen!_
On, _Comet!_ on, _Cupid!_ on, _Donder_ and _Blitzen!_
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

I Spy the Rhyme Activity

This poem is fantastic for young kids because of its simple AABB rhyme scheme. Learning to rhyme is a critical literacy activity. And, it’s just fun!

So, I made an I Spy rhyming activity to go with the rhyming words in the poem. And, also printable rhyming word cards that we’re using to do some rhyme matching. The download also includes two printable versions of the poem. One is the full version and the other just contains the first stanzas that are more readily known. They are the ones I used in the I spy activity.

 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Pool Noodles & Pixie Dust

 

The I Spy rhyming activity is 3 pages long with a section of the poem inside the center box of each page. I read the poem with my daughter and she circled the rhyming word pairs at the end of each line. We alternated colors, so she could easily see the poem’s AABB rhyming pattern.

Around the poem are small boxes that your child can write down each rhyming word as you find the pairs. Again, we alternated colors, writing the first two words in red and then switching to blue for the next two. If your child is really young you could also write the words in for them or just place the rhyming word cards around the box.

The printable cards include all the rhyming words from the poem, which can be used in other learning activities. I’m thinking of trying a memory game or a version of go fish.

We started this activity by setting all of the rhyming word cards out on the table. Next, I chose a word to start with and then read a few of the word cards to my daughter who had to choose which was the matching rhyme. If your child is reading they could do the matching on their own.

 

Read the Poem online

This version, from the Gutenberg Project, includes color pictures.

Audio Version you can listen to while looking at the book from Lit2Go.

 

Primary Resources

From the Library of Congress Rare Books Collection, I found two versions of a really cool book to look at with my kids. The first is a version you could read the second is a version you can use to look closer at the actual pages and beautifully made pictures.

Static more readable version:

A Visit from Saint Nicholas

This version of the same primary resource you can zoom in on to see the pictures more closely.

A Visit from Saint Nicholas

 

Book List

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas

by Clement C. Moore and Matt Tavares

The Night Before Christmas: A Classic Illustrated Edition by Clement C. Moore and Cooper Edens

 

The Night Before Christmas by Charles Santore

 

 

Download the Rhyming activity below!

<<<<CLICK HERE–>FREE INSTANT DOWNLOAD RHYMING PRINTABLES>>>>

 

Looking for other Christmas Literacy Printables?

Try some of these other literacy activities with a Christmas holiday theme.

 

FREE Christmas Penguins Writing Prompts

 

FREE Christmas Elves Writing Page Prompts

 

FREE Christmas Vocabulary Word Cards

 

Merry Christmas and have fun rhyming with your kids using this classic poem!

Heidi

Posted in Holiday/Seasonal and tagged , , , , , .

Hi, I'm Heidi a Jesus-loving homeschool Mama traveling the country with my full time RVing family. I'm passionate about simplifying your homeschool or classroom days by providing quality resources and support.

4 Comments

  1. Pingback: Christmas Learning Activities to Finish Your Semester Strong - Cultivate My Heart

  2. Pingback: ‘Twas the Night Before Poetry Rhyming Activity

  3. I can not seem to access the free printable for I Spy the Rhyme. Every time I try I keep getting the sign up page which I have already done.

    • Hi Carlene! I just sent you an e-mail with the file of I Spy the Rhymes attached, to the e-mail you signed up with. I’m sorry you had trouble getting it right away. I hope you enjoy using the printables and please let me know if you need anything else.

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