This popular nursery rhyme since the 1940s is known in the U.S. as The Itsy Bitsy Spider. In the U.K., it is referred to as Incy Wincy Spider. Other names include Eency Weency Spider.

While reciting the words of the nursery rhyme The Itsy Bitsy Spider, the actions are motioned out by hand.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
(alternately touch the thumb of one hand to the index finger of the other)

Down came the rain
(hold both hands up and wiggle up and down the fingers as you lower the hands)

And washed the spider out.
(make a sweeping motion with the hands out to the side)

Out came the sun
(bring both hands up and form a semi-circle, think “rising sun”)

And dried up all the rain
(place hands palm side up and wiggle fingers)

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
(alternately touch the thumb of one hand to the index finger of the other)

The version of Incy Wincy Spider is quite different and longer.

Incy Wincy Spider

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout.
Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out.
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain.
And Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the tree.
Down came the snow and made poor Incy freeze.
Out came the sunshine and melted all the snow.
So Incy Wincy Spider had another go.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the stair.
Whoosh went the wind and blew him in the air.
Out came the sunshine, no longer did it blow.
So Incy Wincy Spider had another go.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the tree.
He slipped in some dew and landed next to me.
Out came the sunshine and when the dew was dry,
Incy Wincy Spider had another try.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed in the bath.
Along came a rubber duck and made the spider laugh.
Then came the water and washed him down the drain.
So Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed the curtain rail.
Along came a mouse and flicked him with her tail.
Down fell the spider, the mouse ran out the door.
So Incy Wincy Spider climbed the rail once more.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed to a height.
Up jumped a cat and gave him quite a fright.
Down jumped the cat and when he was asleep,
Incy Wincy Spider back up the wall did creep.

Incy Wincy Spider went to the zoo.
Along came an elephant and said “How do you do?”
He met all the spiders, the snakes and lizards too.
Then Incy Wincy Spider brought them to meet YOU.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed on my chair.
He tickled my arm and he tickled my hair.
He wiggled his legs and wiggled his toes,
Then Incy Wincy Spider wiggled his nose.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed to the top.
He made a silky web and spun without a stop.
Then came a fly and landed on its back,
So Incy Wincy Spider ate it as a snack.

Incy Wincy Spider was looking for his lunch.
Along came a wasp, he was eaten with a munch.
Then came a bluebottle and landed in the thread,
So Incy Wincy Spider bit off his head.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the wall.
He spun a sticky web and hoped a fly would fall.
Then came a butterfly, so tangled up was she.
Incy Wincy Spider ate her for his tea.