There Was an Old Witch... (bedtime story)

Many years ago, I was asked to partake in a first grade Halloween class project. I being a designer was full of ideas. I came up with my own festive take on "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly". I made puzzle pieces for every student with a line drawing mounted on top. They had no idea what it would amount to as they decorated it with all the props I brought. When they were done, we sat in a circle on the carpet and in the center the action began. One by one I read from the poem below and the kids placed their piece fitted to the others on the carpet. The results are below. I hope you can share this with your kids or grand-kids tonight.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ...

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT HAD A BLACK HAT, AND ON THAT BLACK HAT WAS A MOON AND A BAT.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH .. .THAT HAD A GREEN FACE, SHE HAD A LONG NOSE AND MOLES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT HAD WORMS IN HER HAIR. I WONDER AND WONDER HOW THOSE WORMS GOT IN THERE.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED SOME CANDY, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS DANDY TO EAT ALL THAT CANDY.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED FRANKENSTEIN, SHE BEGAN TO WHINE WHILE SHE DINED ON POOR FRANKENSTEIN

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A SKELETON, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO CHEW THE BONES OF A SKELETON.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT HAD 2 CREEPY HANDS, SHE WAS THE SCARIEST AND UGLIEST WITCH IN THE LAND.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A MUMMY, THEY WERE QUITE CHUMMY, BEFORE SHE UNWRAPPED THAT MUMMY.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A GRAVE, SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS BRAVE, TO CHOW ON THAT GRAVE.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A PUMPKIN, HER STOMACH WAS JUMPIN' WHEN SHE SWALLOWED THAT PUMPKIN.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A GHOST, SHE BEGAN TO BOAST WHEN SHE SLIPPED DOWN THAT GHOST.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED HER CAT, IMAGINE THAT, TO SWALLOW YOUR OWN CAT.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH .. .THAT SWALLOWED A BROOM', WILL SHE HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO SWALLOW THAT BROOM?

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A VAMPIRE, SHE SET HIM ON FIRE BEFORE SHE SUCKED DOWN THAT VAMPIRE.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH .. .THAT SWALLOWED SOME POTION, IMAGINE THE NOTION TO GULP DOWN YOUR MAGIC POTION.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A BAT, SHE BECAME QUITE FAT AFTER SWALLOWING THAT BAT.

THERE WAS AN OLD WITCH ... THAT SWALLOWED A SPIDER, SHE GIGGLED AND GIGGLED AS IT TICKLED INSIDE HER.

CREATED BY ELLEN CARUSO