The Itsy Bitsy Spider

U.S.A.

HISTORY AND SONG NOTES

The Itsy Bitsy Spider is an American favorite. The origin of this song is unknown, but early versions began appearing in publications in the early 1900s. A version of the song called ‘Spider Song’ that had different lyrics appeared in the 1910 book Camp and Camino in Lower California. The version that we know today first appeared in Western Folklore by the California Folklore Society and also American Folk Songs, both published in 1948.

FINGERPLAY

This song makes an excellent fingerplay for young children, either in adult/child settings or child-only settings; suggested gestures for the fingerplay are listed below.

Suggested Movements:

• “The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the waterspout” – walking fingers up, or touching the fingertips together and moving hands up to mimic the look of a spider crawling up. Very young children can open and close their hands while moving up the spout

• “Down came the rain” – wiggling fingers while moving hands back down, like rain drops

• “And washed the spider out” – hands push out to the side quickly and smoothly

• “Out came the sun and dried up all the rain”– making a circle with your arms, and raising them from in front of the body to over the head

• “And the Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the spout again” – same movements as the first line, the spider crawling up

INSTRUMENT PLAYING

The Itsy Bitsy Spider also works well as a group percussion instrument playing activity. Click here for more information and suggestions for group instrument playing.

AUDIO RECORDING FOR LISTENING, SINGING ALONG, AND LEARNING:

PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT:

DOWNLOADS:

PDF of Score: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

mp3 of piano accompaniment: The Itsy Bitsy Spider