
Nursery rhymes · Action words and turn-taking
Polly Put the Kettle On action-word activity for preschool
Use paper puppets and a pretend kettle to act out “put on” and “take off” as you say the rhyme.
Try the activityCan you put the kettle on and take it off?
Prep · About 5 minutes Play · About 10 minutes
Gather · Polly and Suki puppets or quick paper sketches, a paper kettle, and a paper stove. Use pretend props for the whole activity.
- Show on and off. Place the paper kettle on the stove picture, then lift it off. Say each action out loud.
- Act out the rhyme. Move Polly and put the kettle on during her verse. Switch to Suki and lift it off during hers.
- Trade jobs. Let one child move the puppets and another give the action cue. Switch so each child gets a turn to speak and move the props.
Try saying · “Who puts it on? Who takes it off? Show me with the kettle.”
Make it easier · Use just the kettle and stove picture while you say the two action phrases.
Keep it going · Use a paper cup and a drawn table to practice “on,” “off,” and “beside.”
Get the materials
Storytime Club · Annual library
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