Bardstown Primary Hosts Nursery Rhyme Olympics to Bring Learning to Life

Bardstown Primary School kindergarteners stepped into the world of Mother Goose during the school’s first-ever Nursery Rhyme Olympics, a fun and engaging event designed to bring classroom learning to life. The event was made possible thanks to a $1,000 mini-grant from the Bardstown Foundation for Excellence in Public Education.

Over the first six weeks of school, kindergarteners have been studying classic nursery rhymes through the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum, which introduces students to rich texts, new vocabulary, and key comprehension skills. By integrating literature, discussion, and hands-on learning, CKLA builds the foundational skills students need to become strong readers, effective communicators, and inquisitive thinkers.

The Nursery Rhyme Olympics transformed those lessons into an unforgettable, interactive experience. Students rotated through nine themed challenges based on the rhymes they’ve been studying:

• Jack Be Nimble Candlestick Jumping Race – A relay race where students leapt over “candlesticks” to test their agility.

• Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Challenge – Partners worked together to reassemble Humpty after his great fall.Jack and Jill Water Relay – Teams raced to fill their buckets, just like Jack and Jill climbing the hill.

• Little Bo Peep Scavenger Hunt – Students searched for sheep with hidden stars to bring their flock home.

• Little Miss Muffet’s Spider Obstacle Course – A crawling and jumping challenge through a web of “spiders.”

• This Little Piggy’s Market Color Relay – Students sorted food items into color-coded baskets while racing the clock.

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Relay – Teams retrieved stars from “the sky” and arranged their letters in the correct order.

• Hickory Dickery Dock Number Order Race – Students worked together to place numbers 0–10 in sequence.

• Baa Baa Black Sheep Bags of Wool Relay – Students carried sacks of “wool” down and back in a race to the finish.

  
  

“These activities connect directly to what students have been learning in class while also helping them build important life skills,” said Kelly Ferrell, Kindergarten Teacher at Bardstown Primary School. “Through teamwork, problem-solving, and communication, students aren’t just memorizing rhymes; they’re applying what they know in meaningful ways.”

The event also supports Bardstown City Schools’ Portrait of a Tiger initiative, which focuses on developing five key characteristics in students: Team Player, Inquisitive Thinker, Global Citizen, Effective Communicator, and Resilient Individual. The Nursery Rhyme Olympics gave students opportunities to collaborate with classmates, solve challenges, and persevere through activities — all while having fun.

Thanks to the Bardstown Foundation’s mini-grant, kindergarteners will enjoy two additional hands-on learning experiences later this year, each tied to future CKLA domains. These culminating events are designed to deepen understanding, spark curiosity, and help students connect classroom learning to the world around them.

The Bardstown Foundation for Excellence in Public Education is proud to support innovative classroom projects like the Nursery Rhyme Olympics, ensuring Bardstown students have access to engaging, high-quality learning experiences.