Teaching young children numbers and simple math concepts can be a challenging task since numbers and math concepts are not always concrete and tangible. Using fun, recognizable objects to make learning numbers and counting fun, will help make your child feel comfortable with math and help give them a positive experience that will help in later years.
Materials Needed
For this lesson, you need ten little rubber ducks and a washtub, bathtub, or some other shallow vessel to hold water. Always make sure never to leave your child unattended around anything that is filled with water.
What to Do
Fill your vessel with a couple of inches of water and place the ducks in the water. As you read the poem, do the actions listed.
Rubber Duck Poem
Ten little duckies swimming mighty fine.
One went the wrong way and then there were nine.
(Make one of the duckies "swim" away from the others then take him out of the tub.)
Nine little duckies in a line so straight.
One wanted to circle, then there were eight.
(Put the remaining nine duckies in a straight line. Take one of them and make him "swim" in a circle then take him out of the tub.)
Eight little duckies looking up to heaven.
One decided to take a nap and then there were seven.
(Take one of the duckies and lay him on his side, then take him out of the tub.)
Seven little duckies doing fancy tricks.
One sprained his ankle and then there were six.
(Splash the water so the duckies bob around. Take one of the duckies and say "Ouch!" and remove him from the tub.)
Six little duckies learning dive.
One wanted to belly flop and then there were five.
(Make some of the duckies dive in the water. Take one and just drop him on his belly then remove him from the tub.)
Five little duckies heading for the shore.
One didn't want to come in then there were four.
(Push all the duckies to the edge of the tub. Push one back out toward the middle then remove him from the tub.)
Four little duckies heading home for tea.
One wanted apple juice and then there were three.
(Push the remaining four to another side of the tub. Pick up one of the duckies and say "I want juice!" Then remove him from the tub.)
Three little duckies heading for the zoo.
One wanted to bicycle there and then there were two.
(Push the remaining three duckies to another side, then remove one.)
Two little duckies out playing in the sun.
One heard his momma call and then there was one.
(Remove one ducky.)
One little ducky out to have some fun,
decided he didn't like being alone, so then there was none!
(Remove the last ducky.)
Repetition is the Key
Have the child say the poem with you. Then count the ducks forward and backwards. Let the child play with the ducks, counting them forward, then removing one at a time, counting backwards.
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