The song "Five Fingers" is often used by teachers to help young children learn to count to five. This song is particularly effective because it uses a visual aid that children already have -- fingers! Begin by holding up one of your hands and showing all five of your fingers. Instruct the children to do the same. Put your hand in your pocket and sing,
I have five fingers in my pocket.
I have five fingers hidden away.
I have five fingers in my pocket.
Look, one went away.
Now tuck one of your fingers in and show the class your four fingers; instruct them to do the same. Repeat the song, using "I have four fingers in my pocket," and so on until you have no fingers left. At the end of the song, sing "They all went away."
Another fun song for learning to count is "Ten in the Bed."Ten children can act out the song while they sing,
Ten in the bed and the little one said "Roll over, Roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
As he hit the ground, you could hear him shout
"Please remember to tie a knot in your pajamas
Single beds are only made for...
Nine in the bed.."
Continue the song by substituting one lower number for each verse. At the end, when there is only when child left in the bed, sing,
One in the bed and the little one said
"I've got the whole bed to myself!"
"Ninety-nine Bottles of Pop on the Wall" gives children practice in counting backwards. This song is challenging because children must count down from one hundred. The lyrics are,
"99 bottles of pop on the wall,
99 bottles of pop,
If one of those bottles should happen to fall,
98 bottles of pop on the wall..."
Children sing this song all the way until they reach "No bottles of pop on the wall", which often takes a long time. Therefore, this song might be more appropriate for older children who are working on their counting skills.
The song "Three Sharp-Toothed Buzzards" has motions that go along with the lyrics which reinforce counting. This song gives children the opportunity to practice counting both forward and backward because the buzzards fly away and then return. The lyrics are,
Three sharp-toothed buzzards
Sitting in a dead tree.
Oh look! One has flown away! What a shame!
If you have three children, you can match motions to the lyrics by having them hold up three fingers, put their fingers below their mouths like teeth, and then make the shape of a dead tree with their bodies. One pretends to fly away each time. When there are no sharp-tooth buzzards left, sing,
"No sharp-toothed buzzards
Sitting in a dead tree.
Oh look! One has returned! Let us rejoice!"
Children who pretended to fly away can now fly back, one by one. The song ends when all three sharp-toothed buzzards have returned.