How to Use "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover" in Speech Therapy
- alykomerch
- Apr 19
- 3 min read
Posted on March 7th, 2025
Spring is the perfect time to introduce engaging and interactive books in speech therapy, and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover speech therapy activities make learning fun! This silly, cumulative tale follows the Old Lady as she swallows a variety of St. Patrick’s Day-themed items, making it a fantastic resource for targeting sequencing, WH-questions, vocabulary, articulation, and AAC communication skills.
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Speech and Language Goals to Target
This book is highly versatile and can be used to work on several speech and language skills, including:
1. Sequencing & Retelling
Since the story follows a predictable pattern, it is perfect for helping students practice sequencing. Using visuals or props, students can recall and retell the order of events. A great way to reinforce this skill is by using my adapted book companion to provide additional support for learners who benefit from picture-assisted storytelling.
2. Vocabulary Expansion
The book introduces spring and St. Patrick’s Day-themed vocabulary, such as "clover," "gold," "leprechaun," and "horseshoe." This is a great opportunity to work on describing words, categories, and associations. Using a Big Icon AAC Communication Board can help nonverbal or minimally verbal students participate by selecting vocabulary words as they listen to the story.
3. WH- Questions
Ask students WH- questions (who, what, where, why) about the story to improve comprehension and expressive language skills. Example questions include:
"What did the Old Lady swallow first?"
"Why did she swallow the gold?"
"Where do you think the leprechaun was going?"
4. Rhyming & Phonological Awareness
This book has a rhythmic, rhyming pattern, making it an excellent resource for phonological awareness. Have students identify and generate rhyming words, clap out syllables, or practice blending and segmenting sounds.
5. Articulation Practice
The story includes repetitive words and phrases, making it great for articulation practice. Students working on /l/, /r/, or /s/ blends can practice target sounds in words like clover, leprechaun, gold, and swallow.
6. AAC & Communication Skills
For students using AAC devices or picture-based communication, the book provides structured opportunities to practice making requests, labeling, commenting, and answering questions. This communication board set supports students in engaging with the story using visual supports and symbols.
Fun Extension Activities
To make the story even more interactive, try these activities:
Sensory Bin: Create a themed sensory bin with small toy versions of the items swallowed in the book. Students can take turns finding the objects as you read the story.
Craft Activity: Have students create their own "Old Lady" and cut out the different items from the book to "feed" her as they retell the story.
Bingo or Matching Game: Use picture cards of the objects from the book and play a matching or bingo game to reinforce vocabulary and sequencing.
Gross Motor Activity: Assign different actions to each item in the story. For example, students can jump for "clover," spin for "gold," or stomp for "horseshoe."
Final Thoughts
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover is a fun and engaging book that brings seasonal excitement into speech therapy sessions. Whether you're working on sequencing, vocabulary, articulation, or AAC communication, this book offers endless opportunities for language development.
Looking for ready-to-use resources to accompany the book?
Check out these interactive and adapted materials to support diverse learners in your sessions:
📌 [BUNDLE] Old Lady Who Swallowed... Adapted Reading Books – Ideal for students needing additional visual and language support.
📌 [BUNDLE] Story Book Companion, Communication Boards – Perfect for helping nonverbal students engage with the story.
📌 [BUNDLE] Old Lady Who Swallowed... Communication Boards – Ideal for students needing additional visual and language support.
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About the Author
Hi! I’m Kim, and I’ve been a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) for nearly a decade. I have a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and have worked in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, providing services to students in general education and special day classes. I created this blog to share my experiences and help other SLPAs navigate their school-based speech therapy journey.
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