This song is available on Hap Palmer's Can Cockatoos Count by Twos?
Objectives:
· Recognize and identify numbers
· Understand number order
· Develop motor skills of running, jumping, and turning
· Develop agility, speed and endurance.
Materials:
· Number cards 1 - 3 for younger children
· Number cards 0 - 6 or 0 - 9 for older children
· 2 or 4 blocks of wood 6" to 18" high
· 1 or 2 hardwood dowels 3' long.
Setting:
Set up a hurdle using two blocks to hold up a 3' dowel as cross bar. For younger children set up one hurdle
6" high. For older children, set up two hurdles 12"- 18" high. Establish a starting line 4 - 8' from first
hurdle. Place the number cards 4 - 8' beyond last hurdle.
Activity:
This activity can be fun and challenging for children grades K through 7. For younger children use fewer
numbers and lower hurdles. For older children use more numbers and higher hurdles.
The challenge is to pick up the number cards one at a time, in order and return them to the starting line
within 30 seconds. Begin running when you hear the sound of the starting gun. Pick up one card at a time
and jump the hurdles each time you move back and forth over the course.
The song repeats three times. During the second repetition, replace the numbers at the other end of the
course.
Lyrics:
When you hear the starting gun,
Clear those hurdles jump and run
Pick up cards one by one
You've got thirty seconds to get it done
If at first you don't succeed
One more chance is all you need
You can learn to pick up speed
You've got thirty seconds to get it done
Thirty seconds to jump and run
Thirty seconds of thrills and fun!
It's the thirty second challenge
Tick tock Mr. Clock
says you don't have very long
Tick tock Mr. Clock
says the time's all gone
(Repeat as instrumental)
(Repeat with vocal)
Variation:
Here are two possibilities for working with groups of children:
(1) Set up two courses. Work in relay teams of six to nine people. The number of team members
corresponds to the number of cards used. Each person brings one number card back to the starting line
helping the team collect all the numbers, in order, within 30 seconds. During the second repetition of the
song, the teams return the number cards in order. During the third repetition, the team members once again
collect the numbers in order.
(2) Work in relay teams of five people on each team. Place the number cards 0 - 9 at the far end of the
course. Each person finds two numbers that total 9 and brings them back to the starting line. There are five
possibilities, one for each team member: 5+4, 6+3, 7+2, 8+1, 9+0. During the second repetition of the song,
each person returns the number cards to the far side of the course. During the third repetition, each person
finds a different set of facts that total nine.
Book or Product Suggestions for this Song:
See more of our Early Childhood and Numbers & Counting Songs
Many thanks to Hap Palmer for permission to display these lyrics.
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