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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Jumping with Jack Be Nimble

In this kindergarten lesson plan, students use the nursery rhyme "Jack Be Nimble" to practice locomotor skills and sorting objects.

A lesson plan for grade K Healthful Living and Science

By Lisa Wright

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Mother Goose in use: Rhymes that teach
This collection of kindergarten lesson plans uses classic nursery rhymes to teach curriculum objectives in math, English language arts, science, and healthful living.
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Learning outcomes

  • Students will practice sorting items according to color and size.
  • Students will gain experience with locomotor skills by jumping.
  • Students will practice reading by reciting a familiar nursery rhyme while following the text.
  • Students will observe how oxygen affects fire.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

40 minutes

Materials needed

  • Candle / candlestick
  • Jar — large enough to fit over the candle
  • Materials to make paper candles (See “Pre-activities” below):
    • Card stock or construction paper
    • Pen and markers
    • Magnets with adhesive backs or masking tape
  • Magnet board / White board
  • Recording of “Jack Be Nimble” from nursery rhyme CD, such as 100 Songs for Kids or text version from nursery rhyme book
  • Nursery Rhyme Flip Chart or large chart paper with the nursery rhyme “Jack Be Nimble” written on it
  • This Little Light of Mine, by Rachel Lisberg and Sylvia Walker

Pre-activities

  • Prepare the paper candles before the lesson:
    • Draw or trace the outline of a candle on card stock or construction paper. Make candles of different sizes and colors. Students will sort according to these two properties during the lesson.
    • Cut out the candles. If you can, laminate them.
    • If you’re using adhesive magnets, stick them on the back of the candles. If not, masking tape will work during the lesson.
  • If you’re not using a flip chart, write the nursery rhyme on chart paper for students to see.

Activities

  1. Anticipatory set: Ask the students what candles are used for. Discuss the meaning of the word nimble.
  2. Have the students recite the rhyme from the chart while you jump over a candlestick.
  3. Have students recite and modify the rhyme as you place different colors, numbers, and sizes of paper candles on the magnetic board. Ask the students to come up and sort the candles according to color, then size.
  4. Sing the following jumping song to the tune of B-I-N-G-O while students perform the action:

    Let’s jump up and down right now.
    ‘Cause jumping’s lots of fun, oh!
    Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
    Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
    Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
    Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
    Oh, jumping’s lots of fun, oh!

    Let’s jump with our arms out wide…
    Let’s jump with our arms up high…
    Let’s jump with our hands on heads…
    Let’s jump with our hands on hips…

  5. Read the book This Little Light of Mine.
  6. Light the candle. Discuss the wick, wax, and flame. Place the jar over the candle, creating a tight seal. Discuss why the flame disappeared.
  7. Conclude the lesson by asking the students the following questions:
    • When do people use candles?
    • What does the candlestick do?
    • What two things make a candle?

Assessment

Assess by students’ sorting of candles and by verbal answers to concluding questions.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Healthful Living Education (2006)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 6: The learner will demonstrate competency in a variety of movement forms and proficiency in a few to gain competence towards lifetime physical activities (NASPE Standard 1).
    • Objective 6.02: Demonstrate a variety of beginner locomotor and combination skills in a movement pattern.

Science (2005)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 3: The learner will make observations and build an understanding of the properties of common objects.
    • Objective 3.01: Observe and describe the properties of different kinds of objects (clay, wood, cloth, paper, other) and how they are used.
    • Objective 3.04: Observe that objects can be described and sorted by their properties.