Nursery rhymes are some of the first songs that children ever learn. They’re soothing and fun to sing. However, they offer a lot more than just entertainment value – they’re educational, too!
Nursery rhymes are packed full of vocabulary, which kids learn as they recite the verses. While singing, kids also learn how to pronounce all these new words!
Plus, many popular nursery rhymes also give kids insight into the world around them. So, let’s find out which are the best singable verses to teach kids!
The 30 Popular Nursery Rhymes
Here are some of the easiest-to-learn, popular nursery rhyme verses to teach little ones. Don’t be afraid to mime, dance, make movements, and sing along yourself, too!
#1. Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full
One for the master
And one for the dame
One for the little boy
Who lives down the lane
Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full
Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full
One for the master
And one for the Dame
One for the little boy
Who lives down the lane
Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir
Three bags full
#2. Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
#3. Sing A Song of Sixpence
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Wasn’t that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
The king was in the counting-house
Counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlor
Eating bread and honey,
The maid was in the garden
Hanging out the clothes.
Along came a blackbird
And snipped off her nose.
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Wasn’t that a dainty dish
To set before the king?
#4. Georgie Porgie
Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry,
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.
#5. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Then the traveler in the dark,
Thank you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
In the dark blue sky, you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
#6. I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout
“Tip me over
and pour me out!”
I’m a clever teapot,
Yes, it’s true
Here let me show you
What I can do
I can change my handle
And my spout
Just tip me over and pour me out!
#7. Jack & Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after
Jack got up, and home did trot
As fast as he could caper
To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob
With vinegar and brown paper
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after
#8. Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town
The wipers on the bus go, “Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.”
The wipers on the bus go, “Swish, swish, swish.”
All through the town.
The people on the bus go, “chat, chat, chat,
chat, chat chat, chat chat, chat.”
The people on the bus go, “chat, chat, chat.”
All through the town.
The horn on the bus goes, “Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.”
The horn on the bus goes, “Beep, beep, beep.”
All through the town.
The baby on the bus goes, “wah, wah, wah!
wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah!”
The baby on the bus goes, “wah, wah, wah!”
All through the town.
The mummy on the bus goes, “ssss, sh, ssss sh, ssss sh,
ssss sh,ssss sh,ssss sh”
The mummy on the bus goes, “ssss, sh, ssss sh, ssss sh.”
All through the town.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.
#9. Old MacDonald
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm, he had a cow
E-I-E-I-O
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm, he had a pig
E-I-E-I-O
With an oink, oink here
And an oink, oink there
Here an oink, there an oink
Everywhere an oink, oink
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm, he had a duck
E-I-E-I-O
With a quack, quack here
And a quack, quack there
Here a quack, there a quack
Everywhere a quack, quack
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm, he had a horse
E-I-E-I-O
With a neigh, neigh here
And a neigh, neigh there
Here a neigh, there a neigh
Everywhere a neigh, neigh
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm, he had a lamb
E-I-E-I-O
With a baa, baa here
And a baa, baa there
Here a baa, there a baa
Everywhere a baa, baa
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Old MacDonald had a farm.
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm, he had some chickens
E-I-E-I-O
With a cluck, cluck here
And a cluck, cluck there
Here a cluck, there a cluck
Everywhere a cluck cluck
With a baa, baa here
And a baa, baa there
Here a baa, there a baa
Everywhere a baa, baa
With a neigh, neigh here
And a neigh, neigh there
Here a neigh, there a neigh
Everywhere a neigh, neigh
With a quack, quack here
And a quack, quack there
Here a quack, there a quack
Everywhere a quack, quack
With an oink, oink here.
And an oink, oink there
Here an oink, there an oink
Everywhere an oink, oink
With a moo, moo, here.
And a moo, moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo, moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-OOOOOOO………
#10. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
#11. The Muffin Man
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane?
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Yes, I know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.
#12. See Saw Margery Daw
See Saw Margery Daw,
Jacky shall have a new master;
Jacky shall earn but a penny a day,
Because he can’t work any faster.
#13. Three Blind Mice
Three blind mice. Three blind mice.
See how they run. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life,
As three blind mice?
#14. This Old Man
This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played three,
He played knick-knack on my knee;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played four,
He played knick-knack on my door;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played five,
He played knick-knack on my hive;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played six,
He played knick-knack on my sticks;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played seven,
He played knick-knack up in heaven;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played eight,
He played knick-knack on my gate;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played nine,
He played knick-knack on my spine;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played ten,
He played knick-knack once again;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
#15. Old King Cole
Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three.
Every fiddler he had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh, there’s none so rare, as can compare,
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.
#16. Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain,
and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
#17. This Little Piggy
This little piggy went to the market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none,
And this little piggy cried wee wee wee all the way home
#18. Little Bo Peep
Little Bo-peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone, and they’ll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.
Little Bo-peep fell fast asleep,
And dreamt she heard them bleating,
But when she awoke, she found it a joke,
For they were all still fleeting.
Then up she took her little crook,
Determined to find them.
She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For they left their tails behind them.
It happened one day, as Bo-peep did stray,
Into a meadow hard by,
There she espied their tails side by side,
All hung on a tree to dry.
She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks went rambling,
And tried what she could,
As a shepherdess should.
#19. Hey Diddle Diddle
Hey, diddle, diddle!
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed,
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
#20. Tom, Tom, The Piper’s Son
Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
Stole a pig, and away he ran.
The pig was eat, and Tom was beat,
And Tom went roaring down the street.
Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
Stole a pig, and away he ran.
The pig was eat, and Tom was beat,
And Tom went roaring down the street.
#21. Little Tommy Tucker
Little Tommy Tucker,
Sings for his supper.
What shall we give him?
White bread and butter.
How shall he cut it,
Without a knife?
How will he be married?
Without a wife?
#22. Ring A Ring O’ Roses
Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down.
#23. Ride A Toy Horse
Ride a toy horse,
To Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady,
Upon a white horse.
Rings on her fingers,
And bells on her toes,
She shall have music,
Wherever she goes.
#24. Old Mother Hubbard
Old Mother Hubbard,
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the bakers,
To buy him some bread;
When she came back,
The dog was dead!
She went to the undertakers,
To buy him a coffin;
When she came back,
The dog was laughing.
She took a clean dish,
to get him some tripe;
When she came back,
He was smoking his pipe.
She went to the alehouse,
To get him some beer;
When she came back,
The dog sat in a chair.
She went to the tavern,
For white wine and red;
When she came back,
The dog stood on his head.
She went to the fruiterers,
To buy him some fruit;
When she came back,
He was playing the flute.
She went to the tailors,
To buy him a coat;
When she came back,
He was riding a goat.
She went to the hatters,
To buy him a hat;
When she came back,
He was feeding her cat.
She went to the barbers,
To buy him a wig,
When she came back,
He was dancing a jig.
She went to the cobblers,
To buy him some shoes;
When she came back,
He was reading the news.
She went to the sempstress,
To buy him some linen;
When she came back,
The dog was spinning.
She went to the hosiers,
To buy him some hose;
When she came back,
He was dressed in his clothes.
The dame made a curtsy,
The dog made a bow;
The dame said, Your servant;
The dog said, Bow-wow.
This wonderful dog,
Was Dame Hubbard’s delight,
He could read, he could dance,
He could sing, he could write;
She gave him rich dainties,
Whenever he fed,
And erected this monument,
When he was dead.
#25. Pop Goes The Weasel
Half a pound of tuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle.
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.
Every night when I go out,
The monkey’s on the table,
Take a stick and knock it off,
Pop! goes the weasel.
Up and down the City road,
In and out the Eagle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop goes the weasel.
#26. Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bird looked at the clock,
The clock struck two 2,
Away she flew,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The dog barked at the clock,
The clock struck three 3,
Fiddle-de-dee,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bear slept by the clock,
The clock struck four 4,
He ran out the door,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The bee buzzed round the clock,
The clock struck five 5,
She went to her hive,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The henpecked at the clock,
The clock struck six 6,
Oh, fiddle-sticks,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The cat ran round the clock,
The clock struck seven 7,
She wanted to get ’em,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The horse jumped over the clock,
The clock struck eight 8,
He ate some cake,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The cow danced on the clock,
The clock struck nine 9,
She felt so fine,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The pig oinked at the clock,
The clock struck ten 10,
She did it again,
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The duck quacked at the clock,
The clock struck eleven 11,
The duck said, ‘oh heavens!’
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck noon,
He’s here too soon!
Hickory Dickory Dock!
#27. London Bridge Is Falling Down
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair Lady.
Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair Lady.
Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair Lady.
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair Lady.
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair Lady.
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair Lady.
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair Lady.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair Lady.
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair Lady.
Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair Lady.
Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair Lady.
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair Lady.
#28. Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers, let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
My mother told me,
To pick the very best one
And you are (not) it.
#29. Bye, Baby Bunting
Bye, baby Bunting,
Father’s gone a-hunting,
Mother’s gone a-milking,
Sister’s gone a-silking,
Brother’s gone to buy a skin,
To wrap the Baby Bunting in.
#30. Cock-a-Doodle Doo
Cock a doodle do!
What is my Dame to do?
Till master’s found his fiddlestick,
She’ll dance without her shoe.
Cock a doodle do!
My dame has found her shoe,
And master’s found his fiddlestick,
Sing cock a doodle do!
Cock a doodle do!
My dame will dance with you,
While master fiddles his fiddlestick,
And knows not what to do.
Conclusion:
Nursery rhymes are an excellent kindergarten activity to do with young kids! Try out some of these traditional popular nursery rhymes today – they’re always a winner!