Nursery rhyme activities in preschool have always been the most popular when it comes to the development of early literacy skills. They are even more meaningful with the addition of a retelling tray. These simple nursery rhyme retelling play trays merge a printed out rhyme with the corresponding book along with a couple of small props to make the words come to life. On centers or quiet time, children enjoy playing with them to re-enact the rhyme once more and again. It is a fun activity to develop fluency, reinforce ordering and promote fluent story-telling.
What are Retelling Trays?
- A printed copy of the rhyme
- Picture book relating to the theme or characters
- Little toys, figurines or felt which depict important props of the rhyme
These trays can be conveniently installed, and invite frequent reuse. Students come back to them over and over again to investigate language in a practical manner.
How to Use Retelling Trays
Retelling trays are open-ended, child-initiated, and differentiation friendly. The introduction of a tray would enable children to utilize the tray during the period of centers, free choice play or quiet time without any difficulty. The trick to exploiting them to the fullest within the context of a preschool setting would be like this
- Present the tray at a group time. Have everyone read the rhyme aloud and bring out the props by saying each line. Use the items to display how you can act it out on the events and characters of the rhyme.
- Put the tray where it can be seen and reached. Tabletop baskets, low shelves, or a literacy center are good. Label it so that the kids can locate it over and over again.
- Encourage children to tell the nursery rhyme in their own way. Some may say the same rhyme out loud. Others may silently act it out. Both are valuable! Retelling builds sequencing, vocabulary, and fluency – whether it’s verbal or play-based.
- Rotate trays regularly. Switch them out based on your current theme, season, or student interest. Familiar rhymes with new props can encourage new engagement.
Simple Retelling Trays to Try
Every preschool nursery rhyme tray must contain a printed version of the same and a related book, and small props that are to aid the children in acting the story out. Select scilicals that have great characters, great action or repeats because they are most likely to attract the attention of the emergent readers who are most likely to reconnect to the practice over and over again.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
This familiar rhyme invites movement and repetition. It’s a great way for children to practice story flow as they act out what happens before, during, and after the rain.
Included:
Jack and jill
This rhyme can be a wonderful opportunity to understand the cause and effect since it has two characters and has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Children enjoy retelling the tumble and giving Jack his crown back.
Included:
- Two dolls to represent Jack and jill
- Small plastic pail
- Toy crown or bandage for Jack
- Jack and Jill’s Treehouse
by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Hey Diddle Diddle
Silly characters and surprising action make this rhyme a great pick for imaginative retelling. Preschoolers love lining up the characters and acting out the jump over the moon.
Included items:
- Animal figurines (cow, cat and dog)
- Dish and spoon toys
- Moon figurine
- Cindy Moo
by Lori Mortensen
Twinkle Twinkle little Star
A widely popular childhood classic, it is ideal to be performed during the time when children can be quiet and motivates them to move and be creative.
Things to Include:
Humpty Dumpty
This well known nursery song provides a definite start and finish, and works wonderfully to teach sequencing to children.
Included items:
- Plastic egg with googly-eyes
- A piece of wood to replicate the wall
- Horse and soldier figurines
- Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again
by Dave Horowitz
Baa Baa Sheep Black
Preschoolers enjoy becoming the good sheep ready to deliver wool to the various characters.
Included items:
- Black sheep figurines
- Three bags of “wool” (cotton balls, pom-poms, or felt)
- Small people figurines
- Baaa, Baaa, Black Sheep
by Jane Cabrera
Raining, Raining, It is Pouring.
Ideal alongside a weather module or on a grey indoor day, this brief rhyme is a lead-in to the many possibilities of a non-stressful noise, atmosphere and movement lesson with some simple props.
Included items:
- Small rain stick
- Miniature bed
- Figurine of an old man
- Weather props like raindrops
- When Isaac Hears the Rain
by Julie Thompson
There was a little turtle
With its light-worded language and ridiculous scenarios, this nursery rhyme makes children enact each of the roles with a lot of laughter.
Items to Include:
- Small box
- Felt mosquito, flea, and minnow
- A rock
- There was a little turtle
by Vanessa Roeder
Hickory Dickory Dock
This little mouse has a lot of energy – just like preschooler!. This provides a great opportunity to explore number recognition, rhyming words, and telling time during play.
Included items:
Jack Be Nimble
Short and full of action, this rhyme is ideal for active retelling. Preschoolers enjoy making Jack jump over the candlestick, or dress up and pretend to be Jack
Included items:
- Doll to represent Jack
- Battery powered candlestick
- Dress-up clothes for students
- Jack Be Nimble
by Jeffrey B Fuerst
Why Nursery Rhyme Retelling Trays Work
Preschool nursery rhyme retelling trays support a wide range of early learning goals:
- Oral language: Repeating rhymes out loud helps develop clear speech and expressive language
- Sequencing: Acting out a rhyme in order builds understanding of beginning, middle, and end
- Gesture based learning: Props provide children tangible images so that they can learn language Comprehension
- Vocabulary: Reading with high rhyme content widens the word knowledge in a natural manner
Better yet, the materials are self-contained and young children can handle them on their own easily.
Extension Ideas
Retelling trays are just one way to explore familiar rhymes with young children. Many classrooms also bring in movement games, sensory bins, bulletin board displays, and carefully chosen read-alouds to build on the same language skills. Try pairing trays with themed art or circle time activities from this collection of nursery rhyme ideas for the preschool classroom, or rotate in new books from a list of favorite nursery rhyme read-alouds. For a visual connection, use student work or printable sets to create interactive nursery rhyme bulletin boards that celebrate what children are learning.
