Kings and Queens: Supplemental Guide 4A | Sing a Song of Sixpence 87
Presenting the Read-Aloud 10 minutes
Sing a Song of Sixpence
First Read
Show image 5A-1: Blackbirds
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
Now wasn’t that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
Show image 5A-2: King counting and queen eating
The king was in his counting house
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.
Show image 5A-3: Maid
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
And pecked at her toes!
Second Read with Explanations
Show image 5A-1: Blackbirds
Sing a song of sixpence,
[Explain to students that sixpence was a coin used in England long ago. Pence
is similar to the penny that we use today. If available, show images of sixpence.]