I’m a Little Teapot
Languages: English, French
Ressource Type: song, nursery rhyme
Themes: traditionnal song, teatime culture in the United-Kingdom
Age-range: infant-preschool, 3 – 8 years
Download the words of the song:
♦ I’m A Little Teapot
I’m A Little Teapot, also known as The Teapot Song, is a popular American children’s song or “nursery rhyme”. The song was written by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley and first published in 1939. It describes a teapot or whistling kettle’s heating then pouring.
Im A Little Teapot is a short and simple action song to sing with preschoolers. Originally, the song was written to help students master the “Waltz Clog” tap dance routine. Indeed, the song may be accompanied with actions: extending one arm in a curve like the spout, placing the other arm like the handle, and bending sideways to mimic pouring.
English Lyrics:
I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot,
Short and stout,
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout,
Tip me over and pour me out!
I’m a very special teapot,
Yes, it’s true,
Here’s an example of what I can do,
I can turn my handle into a spout,
Tip me over and pour me out!
French translation:
Je suis une petite théière
Je suis une petite théière
Petite et robuste,
Voici mon anse
Voici mon bec
Quand je suis pleine de vapeur,
Écoute-moi siffler,
Penche-moi et verse-moi !
Je suis une théière très spéciale,
Oui c’est vrai,
Voici un exemple de ce que je peux faire,
Je peux transformer mon anse en bec,
Penche-moi et verse-moi !
Culture and Vocabulary:
- teatime culture in the United-Kingdom
- nouns: teapot, handle, spout
Grammar:
- adjectives: little, short, stout
- verb ‘to be’: I’m, here is
- verbs: to steam up, to tip over, to pour out
- can is a modal. Here “can” express the ability
Phonology:
- rhythmic structure of the nursery rhyme
Teaching suggestions:
- Ask the children to find a part of grammar (noun, verb, adjective)
- use “Here is…” to describe things in English (for example, Here is my nose/Here are my shoes). Don’t forget to conjugate the verb “to be”
- teatime culture in the United-Kingdom
“I’m a Little Teapot” Music Sheet:
Videos of the song “I’m a Little Teapot” in English:
Video of the song “I’m a Little Teapot” in French:
