LEARN NC

Nursery rhyme illustration: dish running away with spoon.

Mother Goose in use: Rhymes that teach

By Lisa Wright

9 Developing number sense with Baa Baa Black Sheep

Learning outcomes

  • Students will practice non-locomotor movements using different parts of the body.
  • Students will develop number sense for whole numbers by participating in a number-matching activity.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

40 minutes

Materials needed

  • Materials to make number-matching sheep (See “Pre-activities” below):
    • Cardstock or construction paper
    • Optional: laminating machine
    • Markers
  • Optional: Recording of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” from nursery rhyme CD, such as 100 Songs for Kids or text version from nursery rhyme book
  • Nursery Rhyme Flip Chart or large chart paper with the nursery rhyme “Baa Baa Black Sheep” written on it
  • Sheep Out to Eat by Nancy Shaw and Margot Apple
  • Optional: Sample of wool or item made of wool (sweater, hat, etc.)

Pre-activities

  • Prepare the sheep for the number-matching activity:
    • Find or draw a picture of a sheep on card stock or construction paper. Make enough copies for each student in your class to have one, and make four additional sheep.
    • On each sheep, write a number from one to four. Try to create an approximately even number of sheep for each number.
    • Cut out the images and laminate them if you can.
  • If you’re not using a flip chart, write the nursery rhyme on chart paper for students to see.

Activities

  1. Anticipatory set: Explain the meaning of the words master and dame.
  2. Optional: Play the recording of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” for the class.
  3. Have the students say and read the words on the chart as they do the following movements:

    Baa, baa black sheep [Stamp 4 times.]
    Have you any wool? [Shake forefinger 4 times.]
    Yes sir, yes sir [Nod head twice.]
    Three bags full [Hold up three fingers.]
    One for my master [Bow forward.]
    One for my dame [Bow forward.]
    One for the little boy [Hold up one finger.]
    Who lives down the lane [Spin in a circle.]

  4. Number-matching activity:
    1. Hand out the laminated sheep with numbers one through four on them.
      2. Hold up a laminated sheep, and have a student with the matching number bring it to you.
    2. Repeat so all students get a chance. (Alternatively, you can have all the students with a given number bring up their sheep at the same time.)
  5. Read the book Sheep Out To Eat to the class.
  6. Conclude the activity by discussing some simple facts about sheep. Suggestions include:
    • A baby sheep is called a lamb.
    • A female sheep is called a ewe, and a male is called a ram.
    • Sheep are raised primarily for their meat and wool to make clothing.
    • Sensory experience: Have the students touch a sample of wool, or something made of wool.
    • Where does a lamb live? Some live in the wild, but most are domesticated and live on farms. They move in groups called flocks.
    • What sound does the lamb make? Sheep bleat: baa baa

Assessment

Make sure students match the correct number.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Healthful Living Education (2006)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 6: The learner will demonstrate competency in a variety of movement forms and proficiency in a few to gain competence towards lifetime physical activities (NASPE Standard 1).
    • Objective 6.01: Demonstrate non-locomotor movements using different parts of the body.

Mathematics (2004)

Kindergarten

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will recognize, model, and write whole numbers through 30.
    • Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 30.
      • Connect model, number word (orally), and number, using a variety of representations.
      • Count objects in a set.
      • Read and write numerals.
      • Compare and order sets and numbers.
      • Use ordinals (1st-10th).
      • Estimate quantities fewer than or equal to 10.
      • Recognize equivalence in sets and numbers 1-10.