I still remember the day I decided to bring «Incy Wincy Spider» to life in my classroom. It was the very first unit I ever created back when I was a teacher-in-training, filled with ideas, doubts, and way too many clip arts.
Over the years, that humble little rhyme has become one of the most complete and enriching units I’ve ever taught and refined. Today, I want to walk you through how I built it, why it works, and what’s inside for those of you looking to create meaningful, developmentally appropriate learning moments with your very young learners.
Why Incy Wincy? Why Nursery Rhymes?
Because they work, especially with very young learners (EFL/ESL, 3–4 years old), nursery rhymes offer rhythm, repetition, gestures, and vocabulary all wrapped up in a culturally familiar format. But this time, I wasn’t teaching it to 3-year-olds. I introduced it to a group of 4-year-olds who had never heard it before, and something magical happened.
At four, children:
Can move fingers more independently (hello, finger play!)
Are better at following routines
Understand more of the language
Repeat more clearly and confidently
I had my doubts at first, but what about the results? Way beyond what I expected.
How I Designed the Unit
This wasn’t just a song and some coloring pages. This was my first attempt at purposeful, integrated lesson design and over time, it became a rich set of interconnected activities:
1. Vocabulary Introduction with Flashcards
I created flashcards inspired by Super Simple Songs’ version of Incy Wincy. Each image connects to a keyword from the rhyme. I used:
Color + B/W versions
Icons to help early word recognition
These can double as posters, too great for non-readers or alternative classrooms where literacy comes later. I hung them on the wall so students could point, play, and sing throughout the day.
2. Memory Game: Vocabulary in Action
Vocabulary doesn’t stick by naming it sticks by doing. The memory game uses the target words and matching pictures.
What I learned:
Kids didn’t understand turn-taking at first (
)By the fifth round of playing, they got it
Repetition + observing peers helped maturity develop
For 3-year-olds, we did a «pair hunt» version:
One set of cards on the front wall
Another scattered across the room
They’d match them during circle time visually, actively, joyfully
3. Sequencing the Story: Comprehension + Assessment
I needed to check if they understood the rhyme. So I created 3 levels of sequencing activities:
Level 1: Cut + glue images (for 3-year-olds)
Level 2: Images with short phrases (for early readers)
Level 3: Mix of images + full sentences to sort and arrange
We used this as a soft assessment: Can they retell the story? Can they place the actions in the right order?
4. The Take-Home Mini Book: Shared Reading & Confidence
This one is my favorite. I printed a foldable mini-book with the whole rhyme. We rehearsed reading it together—every day—until they could recite it with me like a chorus.
Then came the magic moment: I gave them each a copy to take home. They were thrilled.
The following Monday:
Parents emailed me photos
Kids told me their grandparents cried
One mom said her daughter had read it to the dog 12 times
That’s the power of giving them a voice.
So What’s in the Full Incy Wincy Kit?
Everything I wish I had when I first started teaching these ages:
Flashcards (color + B/W)
Memory Game (play as Memory, Go Fish, or Snap)
Domino cards
3 leveled sequencing worksheets
Foldable mini-book
Retelling props
Worksheets: letter tracing, emotional flaps, matching, maze, beginner sudoku
Answer keys
It’s a full PBL-inspired mini unit that fits into 15-minute daily sessions or one longer project-based lesson per week.
The real outcome of this unit wasn’t just vocabulary learned or skills practiced. It was confidence built. It was shy kids singing. It was busy kids focused. It was a reminder that stories + rhythm + play = language that sticks.
And it reminded me why I love what I do.
If you want to explore the full unit, you can find it in my TpT store here. Or if you just need ideas or want to share how YOU teach Incy Wincy, comment belowI’d love to hear from you.
Miss E 
Elda
