We Discover Number Patterns

Hap Palmer

This song is available on Hap Palmer's Two Little Sounds: Fun with Phonics And Numbers.

Subjects:
      • Number patterns
      • “Skip counting” or counting by twos
      • Counting by odd numbers
      • Counting backwards
      • Word families: ‘ap’, ‘oo’, and ‘ump’
      • Initial consonant sounds: SN, SL, T, CL, SH, C, WH, M, TH, P, J, B
      • Recognizing rhythmic pulse

Vocabulary:
      Pattern, snap, slap, tap, clap, fly, shoo, dove, coo, owl, whoo, cow, moo, drum, thump, pump, bunny, jump, zero

Teacher Note:
      As a lead-up activity, you can place the word endings ‘ap’ ‘oo’ and ‘ump’ on the board and have children think of all the words they can make with each word ending. Circle the words that will be used in the song.
      You can also write the numbers 2, 4, 6, on the board. Have children call out the number that comes next in this pattern. Repeat the process with the numbers 1, 3, 5, and 3, 2, 1.

Activity:
      In the first verse, you will make sounds that end with ‘ap’. The song will tell how many times to snap your fingers, slap your knees, and tap your foot. Next, the song will ask how many times you clap your hands.
      If you see the pattern in the series of numbers, call out the answer, and then clap your hands the correct number of times. In the verses that follow, you will discover other number patterns and use your voice to make sounds that end with ‘oo’ and sounds that end with ‘ump’..

We discover number patterns
using words that end with ‘ap’
You can help predict what’s next,
just put on your thinking cap

We discover number patterns
using words that end with ‘ap’
Like snap, slap, tap, and clap
Snap your fingers two times snap, snap
Slap your knees four times slap, slap, slap, slap
Tap your foot six times
tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, two, four, six
How many times do you clap your hands?
. . . Eight!
clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap,

We discover number patterns
using words that end with ‘oo’
Counting every sound,
soon we’ll know and so will you
We discover number patterns
using words that end with ‘oo’
Like shoo, coo, whoo, and moo
Shoo the flies one time shoo
Hear the dove coo three times coo, coo, coo
Hear the owl whoo five times
whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo one, three, five
How many times does the cow moo? . . . Seven!
moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo

We discover number patterns
using words that end with ‘ump’
Counting every sound,
we’re mighty hard to stump
We discover number patterns
using words that end with ‘ump’
Like thump, pump, jump, and bump
Hear the drum thump three times,
thump, thump, thump
Hear the pump pump two times, psssht, psssht,
Hear the bunny jump one time, boing!
Three, two, one
How many times do the cars bump? . . .
(sound of cars accelerating and brakes screeching)
Phew! I’m glad the next number was zero!

Follow-up:
Let’s review some of the number patterns used in this song: 2, 4, 6, 8. What comes next? 1, 3, 5, 7 . . .What comes next?

For older children, say the number that comes next: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 . . . Can you describe the pattern? (double the number) 1, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 4, 6 . . . Can you describe the pattern? (two forward, one back) Can you create your own number pattern?

Book Suggestions for this Song:

See more of our Counting and Math Songs.