This song is available on Hap Palmer's Two Little Sounds: Fun with Phonics And Numbers.
Subjects:
• Subtraction: 10-1, 9-2, 7-3, 4-4
• Number patterns
• Ordinal numbers: first, second,
third, fourth
Vocabulary:
Monkey, crocodile, tease, snap
Activity:
This is a story about 10 monkeys
swinging in a tree and teasing a crocodile as it
passes by in the river below. The first time the
crocodile passes by, it snaps one time. The
second time the crocodile passes by, it snaps 2
times. The third time the crocodile passes by,
it snaps 3 times. How many times do you
think the crocodile snaps the fourth time it
passes by?
Ten little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mister Crocodile, “Can’t catch me”
Along comes Mister Crocodile, quiet as can be
And snap!
One little monkey is missing from the tree
Nine little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mister Crocodile, “Can’t catch me”
Along comes Mister Crocodile, quiet as can be
And snap, snap!
Two more monkeys are missing from the tree
Seven little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mister Crocodile, “Can’t catch me”
Along comes Mister Crocodile quiet as can be
And snap, snap, snap!
Three more monkeys are missing from the tree
Four little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mister Crocodile, “Can’t catch me”
Along comes Mister Crocodile, quiet as can be
And snap, snap, snap, snap!
Four more monkeys are missing from the tree
No little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mister Crocodile, “Can’t catch me”
Along comes Mister Crocodile,
swimming right by the tree
Where surprise, surprise, I can’t believe my eyes,
Ten little monkeys are hiding in the leaves,
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
They said, “Shh, Shh . .
.
Let’s not tease that Crocodile again!
Follow-up:
• What lesson did the monkeys learn?
Why is it not a good idea to tease?
• From a seated position, use your arms
and hands to explore 3 different qualities
of movement:
1. Bouncy and playful
2. Slow, smooth and quiet
3. Sudden and quick
• In an open area, explore these motions using
your whole body.
• Listen to the instrumental version of this
song and match the 3 movement
qualities with the mood and feeling of
the music.
Book Suggestions for this Song:
See more of our Counting and Animal Songs.
Many thanks to Hap Palmer for permission to display these lyrics.
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