Contact NIEHS, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services
Children's Privacy and Other Disclaimers
Can't Hear the Music?

Itsy Bitsy Spider



(Also called Eensy Weensy Spider). Do you ever wonder why the spider crawled up the water spout? And why does the author tell us that it was an "itsy-bitsy spider"? All spiders are pretty small, even the big ones! So what is this song about?

The song was probably intended to explain that many spiderlings (baby spiders) climb tall things (like the water spout) and then "balloon" away from the spout by using their own silk to ride the wind, sometimes for thousands of feet. This helps them move away from their brothers and sisters to avoid from fighting for food. Dean Naston, a representative of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Griffith Observatory wrote to provide this information and an ending to the song that he has written for all you future scientists out there. !
The eensy weensy spider
Crawled up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the eensy weensy spider
Crawled up the spout again.

New verse:
The itsy-bitsy spider
Stuck out two spinnerets
Out came a web
made-up of tiny threads
Along came the wind
That blew so far away
Where the itsy-bitsy spider found
A brand new place to play!

And why do they do this?


Contact NIEHS (NIH, DHHS)
Children's Privacy and Other Disclaimers
NIEHS Sing-Along Index
NIEHS Kids Page Main Index

Links Disclaimer and Caution
When you encounter this image link to a non-NIEHS site or the words "Non-NIEHS Link", it means that by following that link you will be leaving the NIEHS website. NIEHS is NOT responsible for non-NIEHS websites. Sites maintained by outside organizations may be changed without notice to NIEHS. Therefore, unless the link is to another U.S. government sponsored webpage, endorsement by NIEHS is not implied, and NIEHS does not guarantee their continuing safe content or privacy policies. So please ask your parent or guardian before continuing to any non-NIEHS website, and especially before providing any information via the internet or by e-mail. When last reviewed, the websites linked from the NIEHS Kids' Pages seemed suitable for you to visit, but that may have changed; if you have any difficulties or concerns with any linked materials, please let us know.