I wanted to create some resources for parents who wish to have a little preschool routine for their children during school closures, but make sure they would be useful for teachers once schools open again too. One of my followers suggested using nursery rhymes that are popular all over the world instead of books that range in popularity in different geographical locations. Genius right? I wish I could take credit for thinking of that. What I will take credit for is knowing the value of nursery rhymes, parents often overlook them, but the short little rhymes are perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners to play with language and recite. This Itsy Bitsy Spider lesson plan includes oral language, rhyming, subitizing and counting, and art. As you will see, there are multiple ways to use the printables; my advice is to choose the activities that most appeal to your child.
Preparing The Itsy Bitsy Spider Lesson
Gather your materials. You will need the printable pack, dice, a small dish, scissors, and crayons or markers. Glue, googly eyes, and watercolors are optional for the art project. Painter’s tape would be excellent if you have it on hand, too, but is not required. If you have an extra cookie sheet or tray, it would be great to have for the activities as well.
Start by printing out the printable pack here. <– click on this see the pdf and print.
Cut out the raindrops, cloud, and rhyming cards.
The Nursery Rhyme
Pop the nursery rhyme printable on the wall with the painter’s tape or use what you have. The goal here is to find a place to make it visible.
Show your child the printable and ask them what they think the rhyme might be about.
Recite it together. I always sing it with actions.
How To Use Rhyming Cards – Two Fun ways
These rhyming cards can be used in many ways, but before you use them for a game, read through them with your child. Pre-readers might mistake the mug for a cup and the rain for a cloud.
Rhyme Memory
Place the cards face down.
Flip two cards and say what they are out loud. Remember rhyming is all about sound, we want to say the words out loud every time.
If it’s a match put aside.
Keep going.
Rhyme Hunt <– my favorite by far!
Hide one half of each pair around your home.
Place the other half in a central place and make that home base.
Start the search by calling out a card and sending your child out to find its match.
Roll & Rain – Math Game
Gather your materials: The cloud, raindrops, dice, and a cookie sheet or tray.
Place the cloud on a tray or just on the floor in front of you. Place the raindrops in the bowl.
The objective of this activity is to roll the dice and place the raindrops below the cloud.
Younger children will count the dots on the die, and older children can subitize.
For an added challenge, print out multiple copies of the raindrops and use two dice. Have your child add the amounts on the two dice together and add the raindrops.
Itsy Bitsy Spider Art
This spider outline can be used for your itsy bitsy spider lesson in so many ways. Here are a few ideas:
Googly Eye Itsy Bitsy Spider
Children are giving their fine motor skills a seriously good workout when they add googly eyes to paper, not to mention working on their hand strength by carefully squeezing that glue bottle.
Magic Spider
Use white crayons to make a design and then paint over it with dark paint to reveal the white crayon. It’s magic! The “magic” works best if you press hard with the white crayon.
Sticker Spider
Stickers are probably something you have available, and with all the social distancing we need to be doing, running out for craft supplies shouldn’t be on anyone’s to-do list.
Blotto Spider
Got paint? Good, that is all you need for this! The objective of this isn’t just fun. It’s also a chance to explore the idea of symmetry. Fold your paper in half, open up, add paint to one side, then fold and squish. When you open it up, you’ll have a cool design like ours.
Want even more spider activities ideas to go along with this nursery rhyme?
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