Jack and Jill lyrics
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got, and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper.
He went to bed to mend his head
With vinegar and brown paper.
Actions to do together
- March on the spot with big steps, climbing up the hill.
- Pretend to carry a heavy pail of water with both hands.
- Roll gently onto a cushion for the fall, one after the other.
- Skip around the room for “as fast as he could caper”.
What children learn
- Up and down, and telling a story in order
- Old words with new meanings: crown, pail, caper
- Gross motor skills: marching, rolling and skipping
The story behind the rhyme
Jack and Jill was first printed in the 1760s, and the old words still puzzle grown-ups. A “pail” is a bucket. Jack’s “crown” is the top of his head, not a king’s crown. To “caper” is to skip and jump.
Vinegar and brown paper was an old home remedy for a bump on the head. Today we’d reach for a cold pack and a cuddle instead.
Questions parents ask
What does “broke his crown” mean in Jack and Jill?
Crown is an old word for the top of the head. Jack bumped his head when he fell; he wasn’t wearing a king’s crown.
Why vinegar and brown paper?
It was an old home remedy for bumps and bruises: brown paper soaked in vinegar was pressed on the sore spot.
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