Counting songs and rhymes
by Anna Sawa
Counting songs and rhymes are fantastic teaching resources not only for children who learn to count in their own language, but also for ESL kids. Repeating the songs and rhymes over and over again students build their confidence in counting.
There are many traditional counting songs and rhymes you can use in class. However, it is important to take into acount the level of difficulty of other vocabulary. You can also change a little bit the words to make the song/rhyme suitable for your students and your teaching goals. I would like to present several examples of songs/rhymes to get the children to practise counting in context.
1. Five little ducks
Before singing, tell the children the story of the five little ducks using pictures or puppets to introduce the vocabulary from the song. As children become familiar with the song they can sing it in many different ways. They can make their own puppets to present the song. They can also show the numbers with their fingers or act out the song in groups.
Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
But only four little ducks came back
One, two, three, four
Four little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
But only three little ducks came back
One, two, three
Three little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
But only two little ducks came back
One, two
Two little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
But only one little duck came back
One
One little duck went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
But none of the five little ducks came back
Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
And all of the five little ducks came back
Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack"
And all of the five little ducks came back
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2. Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
This song includes counting and lots of movement which children just love. To act out this song your students can make finger puppets or headbands of monkeys.
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
One little monkey jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed"
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This rhyme is quite similar to the previous song, but with slightly different vocabulary. To present it you can use the same puppets or headbands that was used to the 'Five little monkeys jumping on the bed' song. To find the text of this rhyme click the picture below.
4. One potato, two potatoes
Teaching counting to seven you can use 'One potato, two potatoes' song. My favourite version is that from Super Simple Songs. You can also change 'potatoes' for example into tomatoes or cucumbers.
One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four.
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more.
One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four.
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more.
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5. Ten little Indians
This version is simplified to put more emphasis on numbers and counting. There are many popular adaptations of this song, where the word 'Indians' are changed into pumpkins, elves, Leprechauns, butterflies, dinosaurs, etc.
One little, two little, three little Indians,
Four little, five little, six little Indians,
Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians,
Ten little Indian boys.
Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians,
Seven little, six little, five little Indians,
Four little, three little, two little Indians,
One little Indian boy.
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6. There were ten in the bed
If your plan is to teach counting to ten, you can use this well known 'There were ten in the bed' song. It needs no preperations to act out this song in class.
There were ten in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were nine in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were eight in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were seven in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were six in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were five in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were three in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were two in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
And the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There was one in the bed
And the little one said, "Goodnight!"
And the little one said, "Goodnight!"
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7. Big numbers song
The last but not least on my favourite counting songs and rhymes list is 'Big numbers song'. I use it when my students are able to count easily up to twenty. It is a great counting song to begin each lesson as a class routine. As it is quite challenging to keep up with the pace I also use it as a warm up before speaking activities. But most of all I use it very often in my class because my students ask about this song at the beginning of each lesson.
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