
*Free newsletter* K-lessons store Home Teaching Ks Art Learning Centers Math Math: Graphing Math & Literature Math: Measurement Math: Manipulatives Math: Money Math: Numbers Math: Pattern Math: Sorting Math: Vocabulary Reading Science Science Center Science Fair Projects Show & Tell Social Studies Themes ..................... Art Supplies for Kids Becoming a K Teacher Bulletin boards Homeschool Ks K Graduation Magazines for Kids Software ..................... About me Contact me Site map	Counting Activities with "1, 2, 3 to the Zoo" Teaching math with literature pages: 1 2 3 4 A great way to introduce counting activities to the class is to read, "1, 2, 3 to the Zoo" by Eric Carle. His beautiful picture books have the qualities required for preschool and kindergarten children. In this story, brightly colored animals are riding on a train to their new homes at the zoo—one elephant, two hippos, three giraffes, all the way up to ten birds. There are no words in this book, but on each page there is a numeral to go with the picture. Along the bottom of the page is a smaller picture of the train, which grows longer as each new car full of animals is added. "1, 2, 3 to the Zoo" Counting Activities Teach rectangles counting number sets addition ordinal numbers Materials Background Paper - Cut 12" x 18" white paper in half lengthwise and then tape or glue the two pieces together Train pieces - Cut 9" x 12" colored construction paper into six 6" x 3" pieces to create Train Picture 1 When you demonstrate this counting activity, show the children how to leave a space for wheels and a space between each rectangle when they glue their train pieces on to the paper. The children draw animals in each train piece and print the corresponding numeral on their train to create their own number picture. Sequenced Train Picture 2 If you prefer to have the children sequence the animals in the trains, demonstrate the following. Show the children how to make one train piece at a time as they follow along. Start with one animal in the first train until you get to five animals in the last train. You may want to use the step-by-step drawing method depending on the drawing confidence of your students. Eric Carle's illustrations are a great inspiration for animal drawings. Train Picture sets Children benefit from counting activities that have them create many of the same number set. Have them glue stickers on each train and then print the corresponding number above the train. This is an open ended activity. One child may practice with sets of 4, while another student can build sets of 3. Teach ordinal numbers Use the terms first, second, third, fourth and fifth when asking children to share about their pictures. "Tell me about the animals in your second train." Return from counting activities to math and literature page Math table of contents: Teaching kindergarten & preschool math - how to teach kindergarten and preschool math concepts, sample step-by-step teach measurement, activities and games Teaching with math manipulatives - how to teach with math manipulatives to help children understand math concepts Ten steps to teaching with math manipulatives Best math manipulatives - choose materials that are useful for more than one math concept Teaching math vocabulary - learn how to teach math vocabulary Attribute blocks - how to use these math manipulatives for different features: shape, color, size and thickness to help promote logical thinking Graphing 1 - how to teach graphing to preschool and kindergarten children, includes collecting data and organizing it in a variety of ways Graphing 2 - more graphing ideas for young children Measurement - how to find measurement to young children, find opportunities for students to order objects by size, color, shape... Number Activities - how to provide experiences that build number sense Number Games - how to improve children's number sense with easy games Number Skills - what number skills do children need to know? Pattern 1- how to teach children pattern concepts Pattern 2 - ideas and games to teach children to recognize, create, copy and extend patterns Pattern 3 - teach patterning skills to early childhood and preschool students Sorting and classifying- how to teach children the important skills of sorting, comparing and classifying objects Symmetry - teach symmetry with games and activities Classification games to reinforce math vocabulary Math & Literature Connections - how to combine math and literature, learn how to promote math skills as you share good literature Ten Apples Up on Top - open-ended math activity with Dr. Suess 10 Little Rubber Ducks - ideas to promote math with this wonderful Eric Carle story 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo - another great Eric Carle book, practice counting, making number sets, ordinal numbers and more Teach money 1 - skills & activities Teach money 2 - with games Teach money 3 - with fundraising projects	Back to literacy pages 1. Reading / Literacy 2. Listening & speaking 3. Phonemic awareness 4. Writing skills 5. Responding to literature Each Zoobooks issue contains facts about a specific animal or group of animals and includes interactive pullout activity pages to help children enjoy learning. This science magazine for kids uses words, photographs and illustrations to make complex concepts easily understandable for 5 - 12 year olds. Purchase Zoobooks Magazine
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Counting Activities with "1, 2, 3 to the Zoo"

Teaching math with literature pages: 1 2 3 4

A great way to introduce counting activities to the class is to read, "1, 2, 3 to the Zoo" by Eric Carle. His beautiful picture books have the qualities required for preschool and kindergarten children.

In this story, brightly colored animals are riding on a train to their new homes at the zoo—one elephant, two hippos, three giraffes, all the way up to ten birds.

There are no words in this book, but on each page there is a numeral to go with the picture. Along the bottom of the page is a smaller picture of the train, which grows longer as each new car full of animals is added.

"1, 2, 3 to the Zoo" Counting Activities

counting activites

Teach

rectangles
counting
number sets
addition
ordinal numbers

Materials

Background Paper - Cut 12" x 18" white paper in half lengthwise and then tape or glue the two pieces together
Train pieces - Cut 9" x 12" colored construction paper into six 6" x 3" pieces to create

Train Picture 1

When you demonstrate this counting activity, show the children how to leave a space for wheels and a space between each rectangle when they glue their train pieces on to the paper.
The children draw animals in each train piece and print the corresponding numeral on their train to create their own number picture.

Sequenced Train Picture 2

If you prefer to have the children sequence the animals in the trains, demonstrate the following.
Show the children how to make one train piece at a time as they follow along.
Start with one animal in the first train until you get to five animals in the last train.
You may want to use the step-by-step drawing method depending on the drawing confidence of your students. Eric Carle's illustrations are a great inspiration for animal drawings.

Train Picture sets

Children benefit from counting activities that have them create many of the same number set.
Have them glue stickers on each train and then print the corresponding number above the train.
This is an open ended activity. One child may practice with sets of 4, while another student can build sets of 3.

Teach ordinal numbers

Use the terms first, second, third, fourth and fifth when asking children to share about their pictures. "Tell me about the animals in your second train."

Return from counting activities to math and literature page

Math table of contents:

Teaching kindergarten & preschool math - how to teach kindergarten and preschool math concepts, sample step-by-step teach measurement, activities and games
Teaching with math manipulatives - how to teach with math manipulatives to help children understand math concepts
Ten steps to teaching with math manipulatives
Best math manipulatives - choose materials that are useful for more than one math concept
Teaching math vocabulary - learn how to teach math vocabulary
Attribute blocks - how to use these math manipulatives for different features: shape, color, size and thickness to help promote logical thinking
Graphing 1 - how to teach graphing to preschool and kindergarten children, includes collecting data and organizing it in a variety of ways
Graphing 2 - more graphing ideas for young children
Measurement - how to find measurement to young children, find opportunities for students to order objects by size, color, shape...
Number Activities - how to provide experiences that build number sense
Number Games - how to improve children's number sense with easy games
Number Skills - what number skills do children need to know?
Pattern 1- how to teach children pattern concepts
Pattern 2 - ideas and games to teach children to recognize, create, copy and extend patterns
Pattern 3 - teach patterning skills to early childhood and preschool students
Sorting and classifying- how to teach children the important skills of sorting, comparing and classifying objects
Symmetry - teach symmetry with games and activities
Classification games to reinforce math vocabulary
Math & Literature Connections - how to combine math and literature, learn how to promote math skills as you share good literature
            Ten Apples Up on Top - open-ended math activity with Dr. Suess
            10 Little Rubber Ducks - ideas to promote math with this wonderful Eric Carle story
            1, 2, 3 to the Zoo - another great Eric Carle book, practice counting, making number sets, ordinal numbers and more

Teach money 1 - skills & activities
Teach money 2 - with games
Teach money 3 - with fundraising projects