World Nursery Rhyme Week 2026
This pack is designed to help you learn the songs for Snappy World Nursery Rhyme Week 2026, but you can use it at any time of year.
Before singing, take a moment to warm up your voice. Singing should never feel painful or uncomfortable. Aim for a relaxed, comfortable sound rather than singing loudly.
Most importantly, have fun!
Choose Your Nursery Rhyme
Official Rhymes 2026
"Out to Sea" – TVMS Rhymes 2026
Downloads:
DOCTOR FOSTER
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle, right up to his middle,
and never went there again.
Doctor Foster walked to Gloucester on a windy day.
The wind caught his scarf. He started to laugh.
Then his top hat blew away.
Doctor Foster marched to Gloucester all around the town.
The thunder was crashing, the lightning was flashing
and rain kept tumbling down.
Teaching Tips
Doctor Foster is a tricky melody for children (and grown-ups!) to sing. We recommend enjoying this rhyme as a chant using your speaking voice.
Chanting helps young children develop an awareness of rhythm, beat, timing and the sound patterns of spoken language. These skills are relevant to early language development as children will listen carefully to speech, notice patterns in sounds and develop awareness of how language is organised.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
PUSSYCAT, PUSSYCAT
Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I’ve been up to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat, pussycat what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under the chair!
Teaching Tips
We recommend teaching this rhyme as a chant first using your speaking voice and introducing the singing voice once the children are more familiar with the words.
This separates the rhythm of the words from the melody, so children can become familiar with the language and structure before adding pitch. This activity is also great for introducing ‘call and response’, a key musical concept that lays foundations for speech development, social skills, and future musical abilities.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
HICKORY DICKORY DOCK
Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one, the mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock.
Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck two and down he flew
Hickory dickory dock.
Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck three and he did flee
Hickory dickory dock.
Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck four, the mouse said ‘no more’
Hickory dickory dock.
Teaching Tips
Hickory Dickory Dock is a tricky melody for children (and grown-ups!) to sing. We recommend enjoying this rhyme as a chant using your speaking voice. However, if you’d prefer to use a sung version, there is also a recording by Mrs Lycett-Findlay.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT
Row row row your boat, gently down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily merrily, life is but a dream
Row row row your boat, gently down the river.
If you see a polar bear, don’t forget to shiver.
Row row row your boat, gently out to sea.
Merrily merrily merrily merrily, back in time for tea.
Row row row your boat, gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream. Aargh
Teaching Tips
Row, row, row your boat is a familiar nursery rhyme that many children will know already. Use your singing voice to teach this rhyme – you could use the above above to help you!
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (Once I Caught a Fish Alive)
One, two, three, four, five
Once I caught a fish alive
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Then I let it go again?
"Why did you let it go?"
Because it bit my finger so.”
"Which finger did it bite?"
This little finger on my right."
Teaching Tips
This nursery rhyme has quite a complicated melody so give children the chance to ‘catch the rhyme’ by singing or sharing it with them. Some children may have prior knowledge of the song and be more confident to join in sooner. Others may take a little longer to start singing along – and that is fine!
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
HERE IS THE SEA
Here is the sea, the wavy sea
Here is the boat and here is me
All of the fishes that live down below
Waggle their tails and away they go!
Teaching Tips
This chant uses the speaking voice and is a great song to learn using ‘my turn your turn’. Teach the words slowly at first – the children will have plenty of opportunity to ‘catch the rhyme’ as they play the game.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see
And all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea
A sailor went to chop chop chop (as above)
...
A sailor went to knee knee knee (as above)
...
A sailor went to sea chop knee (as above)
Teaching Tips
Children love this song! Many children will have heard, sung or moved along to this song before. Action songs support children’s physical development, coordination, language and memory by combining movement with music and words. They also encourage confidence, self-expression and social interaction as children join in, respond and move together.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
THE BIG SHIP SAILS
The big ship sails on the ally ally oh,
The ally ally oh, The ally ally oh.
The big ship sails on the ally ally oh,
On the last day of September.
The captain said, 'It’ll never, never do,
Never, never do, Never, never do.'
The captain said, 'It’ll never, never do,'
On the last day of September.
The big ship sails on the ally ally oh
on the last day of September
The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea,
The bottom of the sea, the bottom of the sea.
The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea,
On the last day of September.
Teaching Tips
The unusual, old-fashioned vocabulary and phrases in The Big Ship Sails on the Ally-Ally-Oh give children a chance to think about how words and songs can tell us something about the past. Our Makaton recording of this nursery rhyme provides a visual and physical way to explore and remember the words, supporting communication and participation for children with different communication needs.
The Big Ship Sails is a traditional nursery rhyme, but its origin remains unclear. It is thought that it was sung in 1894 when the Manchester Canal was opened with ‘Ally Ally’ referring to the canal passage. Therefore, it is thought to have links with the Manchester Ship Canal and the Atlantic Ocean.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
ROW BOYS ROW
Row Boys Row
Up the River Go
Long pull strong pull
Row Boys Row
Teaching Tips
This is a great song for singing within a small pitch range. Its starting note (A) provides an accessible starting pitch, helping children match a note before exploring small movements between pitches. The song can also be sung as a round, providing opportunities for older children to develop awareness of musical parts.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.
LITTLE WAVES
Little waves splashing on the shore
Little boats sailing on the sea
On the wind the seagulls soar
This is the place I like to be.
An ABRSM Music Medals: Copper piece
Teaching Tips
Little Waves is a lovely song for developing singing and part-singing skills. It is a song from ABRSM Music Medals repertoire: practical music awards that help children develop their musical skills, confidence and enjoyment of music.
The gentle ‘sea theme’ provides opportunities to explore musical movement and expression, helping children connect the sound of the music with the movement of waves. Comparing the song with the traditional Japanese nursery rhyme Umi encourages children to listen deeply and explore how music can bring the natural world to life in different ways.
Check out our suggested activities and links to the model music curriculum here.