Mary, Mary, quite contrary, 
How does your garden grow? 
With silver bells, and cockle shells, 
And pretty maids all in a row. 

Alternative Lyrics: 

Mistress Mary, Quite contrary, 
How does your garden grow? 
With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells, 
And so my garden grows. 

Alternative Lyrics:

Mistress Mary, Quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells,
Sing cuckolds all in a row.

Hints and Tips:

• Poster for this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters

Mary had a little lamb, 
whose fleece was white as snow. 
And everywhere that Mary went, 
the lamb was sure to go. 

It followed her to school one day 
which was against the rule. 
It made the children laugh and play, 
to see a lamb at school. 

And so the teacher turned it out, 
but still it lingered near, 
And waited patiently about, 
till Mary did appear. 

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
the eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
the teacher did reply.

Hints and Tips:

• Poster for this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters

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 

Alternative Lyrics: 

Little Miss Man 
Had a great plan 
to get her man to love 

Along came the writer 
Who sat down beside her 
and said "you fit like a glove." 

Hints and Tips:

• Poster of this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters

Little Jack Horner 
Sat in the corner, 
Eating a Christmas pie; 

He put in his thumb, 
And pulled out a plum, 
And said 'What a good boy am I 

Alternative Lyrics:

Now he sings of Jackey Horner 
Sitting in the Chimney-Corner 
Eating of a Christmas pye, 

Putting in his thumb, Oh fie!
Putting in, Oh fie! his Thumb
Pulling out, Oh strange! a Plum

Hints and Tips:

• Poster of this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters

Jack be nimble, 
Jack be quick, 
Jack jump over 
The candlestick 

Alternative Lyrics: 

Jack be nimble, 
Jack be quick 
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick 
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend. 

Hints and Tips:

• Poster of this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters

A traditional rhyme about Jack and Jill fetching water. Useful for language rhythm and memory recall.

A finger play rhyme about a spider climbing a spout. Builds storytelling skills and sequencing.

A fun action rhyme where children act out being a teapot. Encourages dramatic play and coordination.

It's raining; it's pouring. 
The old man is snoring. 
He went to bed and bumped his head, 
And he wouldn't get up in the morning. 

Hints and Tips:

• Poster of this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters

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 

Alternative Lyrics:

High diddle diddle,
The Cat and the Fiddle,
The Cow jump'd over the Moon,
The little dog laugh'd to see such Craft,
And the Dish ran away with the Spoon

Hints and Tips:

• Poster of this nursery rhyme can be found in the Printables section on this site. See: Rhymes Posters