Music and Numbers
In a previous post, we discussed the relationship between music and reading and how that relationship is processed in the brain.
Today we want to talk about ways music can strengthen a child's sense of numbers. We've included quite a few songs that introduce numbers and counting to young children.
Let's start with an easy one:
Ten Little Indians
Use the tune of Ten Little Indians to count...anything!. If your students love dragons, sing about ten little dragons! If it's Fall, sing about ten little pumpkins, counting pumpkin candy corn for a visual. And if it's Halloween, sing about ten little spiders! Using 10 pictures of a spider or 10 plastic spiders will give your students a great visual of objects increasing or decreasing as you count down or up.
Over in the Meadow
This sweet little song talks about and counts all the animals found in the meadow.
The Ants Go Marching
Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch FOUR pails of water.
1…2…3…4!
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
And the pails came tumbling after.
1…2…3…4…!
Splash!
This Little Piggy
The FIRST little piggy went to market.
The SECOND little piggy stayed home.
The THIRD little piggy had roast beef.
The FOURTH little piggy had none.
The FIFTH little piggy went 'wee...wee...wee!' all the way home!
Fingerplays
These can be so fun! Here are some original fingerplays, with finger puppets, that we have written.
Happy counting and happy singing!
