Nursery Rhyme Retelling Trays – Play to Study Preschool


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Preschool nursery rhyme actions have all the time been a favourite for constructing early literacy expertise. Including a retelling tray makes them much more significant. These easy nursery rhyme retelling trays mix a printed rhyme, an identical e book, and some small props to convey the phrases to life. Youngsters love utilizing them throughout facilities or quiet time to behave out the rhyme repeatedly. It’s a playful approach to construct fluency, assist sequencing, and encourage assured storytelling.

Preschool nursery rhyme retelling trays on a classroom shelf, each filled with themed props, a printed rhyme, and a related book.

What are Retelling Trays?

Retelling trays are merely small bins, trays, or baskets crammed with supplies that assist youngsters retell acquainted storys or rhymes. For a preschool nursery rhyme exercise, every tray consists of:

  • A printed copy of the rhyme
  • An image e book that connects to the theme or characters
  • Small toys, collectible figurines, or felt items that signify key elements of the rhyme

These trays are simple to arrange and invite repeated use. College students return to them repeatedly to discover language in a hands-on means.

The way to Use Retelling Trays

Retelling trays are designed to be open-ended, child-led, and developmentally acceptable. As soon as a tray is launched, youngsters can use it independently throughout facilities, free selection play, or quiet time. Right here’s how one can benefit from them in a preschool setting:

  • Introduce the tray throughout group time. Learn the rhyme aloud and present the props as you say every line. Display how one can use the gadgets to behave out the rhyme’s occasions and characters.
  • Place the tray in a visual, accessible space. Low cabinets, tabletop baskets, or a literacy heart are nice choices. Maintain it labeled so youngsters can discover it repeatedly.
Preschool children standing around a circle rug, preparing to jump over battery-operated candlesticks for a Jack Be Nimble activity.
  • Encourage youngsters to inform the nursery rhyme in their very own means. Some might say the identical rhyme out loud. Others might silently act it out. Each are precious! Retelling builds sequencing, vocabulary, and fluency – whether or not it’s verbal or play-based.
  • Rotate trays usually. Change them out primarily based in your present theme, season, or scholar curiosity. Acquainted rhymes with new props can encourage new engagement.

Easy Retelling Trays to Strive

Every preschool nursery rhyme tray ought to embody a printed copy of the rhyme, together with a associated e book and small props to assist youngsters act out the story. Select rhymes with sturdy characters, clear actions, or repetition as these are likely to seize emergent readers’ consideration and invite them to revisit the exercise repeatedly.

Itsy Bitsy Spider preschool nursery rhyme retelling tray with weather-themed props, a printed rhyme card, and a copy of Pete the Cat and the Itsy Bitsy Spider.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider

This acquainted rhyme invitations motion and repetition. It’s an effective way for youngsters to follow story circulation as they act out what occurs earlier than, throughout, and after the rain.

Gadgets to Embrace:

Jack and Jill

With two characters and a transparent starting, center, and finish, this rhyme presents an effective way to discover trigger and impact. Youngsters take pleasure in retelling the tumble and giving Jack his crown again.

Gadgets to Embrace:

Hey Diddle Diddle retelling tray with rhyme card, figurines, a red spoon, and the book Cindy Moo.
Hey Diddle Diddle

Foolish characters and stunning motion make this rhyme an excellent decide for imaginative retelling. Preschoolers love lining up the characters and performing out the leap over the moon.

Gadgets to Embrace:

  • Animal collectible figurines (cow, cat and canine)
  • Dish and spoon toys
  • Moon figurine
  • Cindy Moo
    by Lori Mortensen
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

This well-known childhood favourite is ideal for quiet moments and encourages motion and creativity.

Gadgets to Embrace:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star retelling tray with rhyme card, globe, props, and a book by Jane Cabrera.
Humpty Dumpty retelling tray with rhyme card, character pieces, a wooden wall, and the book Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again.
Humpty Dumpty

This basic nursery rhyme presents a transparent starting and ending, good for serving to youngsters perceive sequencing.

Gadgets to Embrace:

  • Plastic egg with googly-eyes
  • A piece of wooden to duplicate the wall
  • Horse and soldier collectible figurines
  • Humpty Dumpty Climbs Once more
    by Dave Horowitz
Baa Baa Black Sheep

Preschool college students love taking up the function of the useful sheep and delivering wool to totally different characters. It’s a easy approach to discover giving, counting, and character dialogue throughout play.

Gadgets to Embrace:

  • Black sheep collectible figurines
  • Three baggage of “wool” (cotton balls, pom-poms, or felt)
  • Small folks collectible figurines
  • Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
    by Jane Cabrera
Baa Baa Black Sheep retelling tray with felt sheep, wool bundles, rhyme card, and storybook.
It’s Raining It’s Pouring preschool retelling tray with rainstick, old man figurine, bed prop, and rhyme card.
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

Good with a climate unit or a comfy indoor day, this quick rhyme units the stage for exploring sound, temper, and motion with easy props.

Gadgets to Embrace:

  • Small rain stick
  • Miniature mattress
  • Figurine of an outdated man
  • Climate props like raindrops
  • When Isaac Hears the Rain
    by Julie Thompson
There Was a Little Turtle

With playful language and foolish conditions, this nursery rhyme encourages youngsters to behave out every half with loads of giggles.

Gadgets to Embrace:

  • Small field
  • Felt mosquito, flea, and minnow
  • A rock
  • The Field Turtle
    by Vanessa Roeder
There Was a Little Turtle preschool retelling tray with turtle and insect props, a printed rhyme card, and the book The Box Turtle.
Hickory Dickory Dock preschool retelling tray with mouse, clock, rhyme card, and the book Pete the Cat: Hickory Dickory Dock.
Hickory Dickory Dock

This little mouse has numerous vitality – identical to preschooler!. This gives an excellent alternative to discover quantity recognition, rhyming phrases, and telling time throughout play.

Gadgets to Embrace:

Jack Be Nimble

Brief and filled with motion, this rhyme is good for lively retelling. Preschoolers take pleasure in making Jack leap over the candlestick, or gown up and fake to be Jack

Gadgets to Embrace:

  • Doll to signify Jack
  • Battery powered candlestick
  • Costume-up garments for college kids
  • Jack Be Nimble
    by Jeffrey B Fuerst
Jack Be Nimble preschool retelling tray with a candlestick, rhyme card, soft mat, and character piece.

Why Nursery Rhyme Retelling Trays Work

Preschool nursery rhyme retelling trays assist a variety of early studying targets:

  • Oral language: Repeating rhymes out loud helps develop clear speech and expressive language
  • Sequencing: Appearing out a rhyme so as builds understanding of starting, center, and finish
  • Comprehension: Props give youngsters concrete visuals to assist them perceive language
  • Vocabulary: Publicity to rhyme-rich texts expands phrase information in a pure means

Better of all, the supplies are self-contained and simple for younger youngsters to handle independently.

Extension Concepts

Retelling trays are only one approach to discover acquainted rhymes with younger youngsters. Many lecture rooms additionally herald motion video games, sensory bins, bulletin board shows, and punctiliously chosen read-alouds to construct on the identical language expertise. Strive pairing trays with themed artwork or circle time actions from this assortment of nursery rhyme concepts for the preschool classroom, or rotate in new books from a listing of favourite nursery rhyme read-alouds. For a visible connection, use scholar work or printable units to create interactive nursery rhyme bulletin boards that remember what youngsters are studying.



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