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Nursery rhymes · Movement and sequencing

Itsy Bitsy Spider hand motions and sequencing

Climb, rain, sunshine! Use three hand motions to retell the rhyme in order.

Try the activity
Photograph of the Itsy Bitsy Spider precut felt pieces with the spider, waterspout, and illustrated story card.View this felt set on Etsy Opens in a new tab

Act out the climb, rain, and sunshine

Prep · About 2 minutes   Play · About 5 minutes

Gather · Your hands and three quick pictures of a spider, raincloud, and sun. Draw them on scraps of paper or use the matching felt pieces.

  1. Climb up. Start with your hands low. Walk two fingers up your opposite arm while everyone says, “Up goes the spider!”
  2. Bring down the rain. Wiggle your fingers downward and slide the spider picture back to the bottom.
  3. Let the sun shine. Make a big circle with your arms. Climb again, then invite a child to point to the three pictures in order and lead the motions.

Try saying · “What came after the spider climbed? Can you show me with your hands?”

Make it easier · Hold up one picture at a time and model the motion for children to copy.

Keep it going · Mix up the pictures and let a child put them back in order.

Get the materials

Storytime Club · Annual library

Print it for your next storytime

Find the Itsy Bitsy Spider worksheet bundle PDF in the annual library. Print the matching worksheets to bring the rhyme back to your table after the motions.

Bring more stories to life with printable story pieces and themed worksheets. The annual pass gives you instant access to the full Storytime Club library for $97 a year.

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