The Eensie-Weensie Spider
A Fingerplay
Dear Parent's,
We have introduced, Eensie-Weensie Spider as a flannelboard story to your child. We anticipate that the story will help the preschooler to:
* practice following directions.
* increase vocabulary eensie-weensie, waterspout.
* understand the spatial relationships of small, big, up, down, and out.
* strengthen listening skills.
* increase attention span.
* reinforce sequencing skills.
Making time to discuss the story with your child will be a rewarding experience for you both. You can enhance your child's understanding of life by including the habits of spiders in your discussion. Some children may not be familiar with the term "web". We hope you will reinforce our efforts by helping your child to memorize the verse (below).
The Eensie-Weensie Spider
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the spout again.
Once your child has learned the verse, you can enrich his enjoyment by teaching him the finger play.
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the water spout.
Place the tip of the right index finger against the tip of the left thumb.
Keeping your finger tips together, twist your hand around and
place the tip of your left index finger against the right thumb,
changing back and forth in this manner to imitate
Eensie climbing up and down.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Clasp the hands together at shoulder level and
move them down in a rapid motion.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
Bring the arms crossways in front of the body,
then up with fingers spread like the rays of the sun.
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the spout again.
Repeat the finger motion from the first line of the verse.
Several years ago the school band provided us with a tape cassette of their performance of the "Eensie Weensie Spider." If you would like to have a copy to use with your child, please drop off a cassette with your name on it. One of the students will make arrangements to have a copy made.
You can encourage your child's development of a positive self esteem by expressing an interest in the song. Offer your child opportunities for you to listen to his performance. Invite him/her to perform for special relatives and friends.
PROCEDURE:
1. Separate the eleven flocked cutouts.
2. Number them with a marker on the back in the order that they appear in the story.
3. Stack the cutouts, face down, in ascending order.
4. Begin the lesson by introducing the hero, Eensie-Weensie Spider.
5. Discuss the definition of eensie-weensie. (Explain that the real eensie-weensie spider is
much smaller than the cutout you are placing on the flannelboard.)
6. Explain the story of Eensie-Weensie Spider as you introduce each story piece. Reinforce
each spatial concept; i.e.,...down came the rain,...climbed up the spout.
The Eensie-Weensie Spider
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the water spout.
(spider climbing) (waterspout)
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
(rain cloud) (remove spider climbing, replace with spider with raindrops)
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
(Remove rain cloud and spider with raindrops replace with sun)
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the spout again.
(spider climbing and then spider in web)
7. Introduce the action pieces and explain the hand and finger motions that accompany the
song.
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the water spout.
(Finger movements) Place the tip of the right index finger against the tip
of the left thumb. Keeping your finger tips together, twist your hand around
and place the tip of your left index finger against the right thumb, changing
back and forth in this manner to imitate Eensie climbing up and down.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
(Girl showing the down motion) Clasp the hands together at
shoulder level and move them down in a rapid motion.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
(Boy showing the up motion) Bring the arms crossways
in front of the body, then up with fingers spread like the
rays of the sun.
The eensie-weensie spider climbed up the spout again.
Repeat the finger motion from the first line of the verse.
8. Choose a song leader to place the story pieces on the flannelboard as children sing-along.
9. Expand on the song by reading the story, The Itsy Bitsy Spider. You will need to explain the term "itsy
bitsy" to the children. They may enjoy these additonal veses.
1. The itsy bitsy spider 4. The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout. Climbed up the rocking chair.
Down came the rain Up jumped a cat
And washed the spider out. And knocked her in the air.
Out came the sun Down plopped the cat
And dried up all the rain, And when he was asleep,
And the itsy bitsy spider The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again. Back up the chair did creep.
2. The itsy bitsy spider 5. The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the kitchen wall. Climbed up the maple tree.
Swoosh! went the fan She slipped on some dew
And made the spider fall. And landed next to me.
Off went the fan. Out came the sun
No longer did it blow. And when the tree was dry,
So the itsy bitsy spider The itsy bitsy spider
Back up the wall did go. Gave it one more try.
3. The itsy bitsy spider 6. The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the yellow pail. Climbed up without a stop.
In came a mouse She spun a silky web
And flicked her with his tail. Right at the very top.
Down fell the spider. She wove and she spun
The mouse ran out the door. And when her web was done,
Then the itsy bitsy spider The itsy bitsy spider
Climbed up the pail once more. Rested in the sun.
See:
1. "Eensie-Weensie Spider" Wee Sing Children's Songs and Fingerplays (book and cassette) Pamela Beall and
Susan Nipp 1990.
2. Eensie-Weensie Spider (flannelboard sing along) Instructo/McGraw Hill ISBN 07-530393-0.
3. Eensie-Weensie Spider (cassette) high school band.
4. "Eentsy Weensty Spider" The Kingfisher Nursery Rhyme Song Book Compiled by Sally Emerson 1995 ISBN: 1-85697-
635-1 Page 20.
5. The Itsy Bitsy Spider As told and illustrated by Iza Trapani Whispering Coyote Press 1993 ISBN 1-879085-77-1 $15.95.
6. "The Itsy, Bitsy Spider" The Usborne Nursery Rhyme Songbook ISBN: 0-7460-1703-0 $9.95 Page 31.
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