• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

  • Home
  • Classroom Ideas
  • Technology
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Classroom Ideas
  • Technology
  • Teacher’s Life
  • Deals & Shopping
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

1, 2, 3, 4…. 20 Counting Songs for Preschool

counting songs for preschool

August 11, 2022 //  by Jeana Whitaker

Using Rhyme and Rhythm to Teach Preschoolers Their Numbers

There are some wonderful nursery rhymes and songs for kids that have been passed down through generations.  We use them for playtime fun, but it's also a fabulous way to learn colors, shapes and numbers.  Most people know the classics - Ants Go Marching, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, and Ten Green Bottles, so we've compiled a list of songs for preschoolers that may be new to you.

Use the natural rhythm built into each song to create actions too!  Movement songs increase hand-eye coordination skills and makes it easier to remember.  Use the videos below to add the music to the rhyme.  Music, coupled with the movement, can help build strength, coordination, body balance and awareness for the child.

Counting Forward

These rhymes will help the child start to learn numbers one through five and one through ten by counting forward.  After they have mastered counting forward, then start learning math through songs by counting backward.

1. One Little Elephant Went Out to Play

4R6kVDeSRwyxAh5CA3pz

One elephant went out to play
On a spider web one day.
It was such enormous fun
That he called for another elephant to come.

Two elephants went out to play
On a spider web one day.
It was such enormous fun
That he called for another elephant to come.

Continue adding elephants to numbers five or ten.  The simple repetition of the refrains help the toddler to memorize the numbers themselves. 

2. Pirate Counting Song

Learn more: Mr. Kipley - Kids Songs and Classroom Videos

3. Finger Plays Number Song

Learn more: Pink Fong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs and Stories

The numbers repeat with this one.  Start with you saying the number and the child repeats after you.  As they learn the rest of the rhyme, you can say that part together.  Teachers often use this call and response technique in the classroom.

4. One, Two, Zoo!

family-feeding-giraffe-in-a-zoo-picture-id485775428?k=20&m=485775428&s=612x612&w=0&h=-CzHg0UJv1F_mBxaOYh8imH_YHxVh8iLTZkSKMIzLi0=

One, one: the zoo is lots of fun.
Two, two: see a kangaroo.
Three, three: see a chimpanzee.
Four, four: hear the lions roar.
Five, five: watch the seals dive.
Six, six: there's a monkey doing tricks
Seven, seven: there's an elephant named Evan.
Eight, eight: a tiger and his mate.
Nine, nine: all the penguins in a line.
Ten, ten: I want to come back again!

5. How Many Fingers?

Learn more: Super Simple Songs - Kids Songs

6. Three Jellyfish (to the tune of Three Blind Mice)

Learn more: Maple Leaf Learning

7. Ten Apples on my Head

Learn more: Super Simple Songs - Kids Songs

8. One Big Balancing Hippo

PndkWmRiS1K1gFJZX0W0

ONE big hippo balancing,
step by step on a slippery rock,
he thought it was such tremendous fun
he called for another hippo to come.

TWO big hippos balancing,
step by step on a slippery rock,
he thought it was such tremendous fun
he called for another hippo to come.

Keep adding hippos until you reach ten.  With more complicated words, this rhyme will help build vocabulary as well!

9. The Singing Walrus

Learn more: The Singing Walrus - English Songs for Kids

10. Singing Walrus: Funky Counting Song

Learn more: The Singing Walrus - English Songs for Kids

This one combines learning numbers and colors together. It also introduces another language concept by using ordinal numbers (first) for the numbers one, two, three, four and five.

11. Five Little Flowers

2Hk72lS2Kw6JkYp2nHkQ

Five little flowers growing in a row.
The first one said, "I'm purple you know."
The second one said, "I'm pink as pink can be."
The third one said, "I'm blue like the sea."
The fourth one said, "I'm a very red fellow."
The fifth one said, "My color is yellow."
Then out came the sun, big and bright,
And the five little flowers smiled in delight.

12. Bounce Patrol Counting Song

Learn more: Bounce Patrol - Kids Songs

13. Ten Little Snowflakes

Learn more: Dave and Ava - Nursery Rhymes and Baby Songs

14. Counting Up and Counting Down: Blastoff

Learn more: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

Counting Backward

These rhymes will help the child start to learn that numbers have value and begin learning math while having fun! It is an essential building block for addition and subtraction.

15. Ten Little Monkeys 

hGioMXhKQfSoGCZgEWLB

TEN 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!

NINE 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!

Continue counting backwards until all of the monkeys have fallen off of the bed.

16. Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer

Learn more: Twinkl Educational Publishing

17. 5 Little Dinosaurs 

3ZlVUU9Q12pltjXllwuA

FIVE little dinosaurs trying to roar,
one stomped away and then there were four.
FOUR little dinosaurs hiding near a tree,
one stomped away and then there were three.
THREE little dinosaurs peeking out at you,
one stomped away and then there were two.
TWO little dinosaurs ready to run,
one stomped away and then there was one.
ONE little dinosaur not having any fun,
he stomped away and then there were none.

18. Five Scoops of Ice Cream

little-preschool-girl-eating-ice-cream-in-waffle-cone-on-sunny-summer-picture-id1323646161?k=20&m=1323646161&s=612x612&w=0&h=8guxd-9uYLKA5t6nKJ8vjTbxdoO1t1vKwW5wV1OvYzw=

I had FIVE scoops of Ice Cream, no less, no more,
one fell off and that left four!
I had FOUR scoops of ice cream, as yummy as could be,
one fell off and that left three.
I had THREE scoops of ice cream, yes it's true
one fell off and that left two.
I had TWO scoops of ice cream, in the melting sun,
one fell off and that left one!
I had ONE scoop of ice cream, sitting on the cone,
I ate it up and that left none!

19. Count Back Cat

Learn more: Mr. R's Songs for Teaching

20. Six Teddy Bears Asleep in Bed

would-you-like-me-to-show-you-the-pictures-again-picture-id619257816?k=20&m=619257816&s=612x612&w=0&h=1S3Pe-AAsCNEHo7354MOwk_IxxG1vpAPDbHAy2UHcBs=

SIX teddy bears asleep in bed,
six teddy bears with sleepy heads.
One teddy bear fell out of bed,
how many teddy bears were left in bed?

FIVE teddy bears asleep in bed,
five teddy bears with sleepy heads.
One teddy bear fell out of bed,
how many teddy bears were left in bed?

Continue until there are no more teddy bears in the bed.  

Related posts:

20 Activities to Get Your Middle Schoolers Into Journalism
More Than Love: 25 Kid-Friendly and Educational Valentine's Day Videos
100 Sight Words for Fluent 4th Grade Readers

You'll also like:

No related posts.

Category: Classroom Ideas

Previous Post: «christmas movies for preschool 30 Lovely Christmas Movies for Preschool
Next Post: 30 Special SEL Books For Middle School Readers SEL books for middle school»

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • 23 Pyramid-Inspired Activity Ideas 
  • 20 Writing Activities To Bring MLK’s Legacy To Life
  • 30 Egg-citing Easter Writing Activities
  • 7 Think Win-Win Activities For Older Learners
  • 20 Cute Crankenstein Activities For Kids
  • 20 Exciting Crime Scene Investigation Math Activities