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Peabody TeachFor teachers and grown-ups

Counting: a preschool theme week

Checked Oct 30, 2026 · Any time of year · September, January

One week on counting for twos to fours: a five-line circle time, 4 books (3 free to read on Peabody), one craft with 4 materials, “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” with its words, a snack from the Kitchen and the letter N.

Plan this weekPrint the two sheets

Circle time

  1. Good morning song, then say each name together.
  2. Calendar: the day, the date and the weather.
  3. Ask: “How many children are here today?”
  4. Sing: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.
  5. Read: Ten Pigs (level 1).

Threes and fours: ten to fifteen minutes; let a child hold the book.

Books

  • Ten Pigs (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Count the pigs to ten.
  • Six Cats, Six Hats (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Six of each, to count and match.
  • The Red Bus (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Count the animals getting on.
  • Look at the Big Pig (read aloud, level 4): A read-aloud: big and little, more and less.

Craft: Counting caterpillar

You need (4): paper circles, a paper head, crayons, glue stick.

  1. Glue circles in a line behind the head.
  2. Write or say a number on each.
  3. Count to the end of your caterpillar.

With a grown-up. No heat, nothing hot.

Song: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

The words

One, two, buckle my shoe; Three, four, knock at the door; Five, six, pick up sticks; Seven, eight, lay them straight; Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

Traditional; public domain. From Top 52 nursery rhymes with lyrics.

Snack

Trail Mix Your Way from the Peabody Kitchen: picture steps, allergy swaps and safety lines on the recipe.

Swap: Peanuts → sunflower seeds (no shells).

Letter pack

NnN is for number. Print the two pages (a trace page and a color page).

Threes and fours: trace N and n once, then find N in the room and in the book.

Outside: Count and jump

Roll a big die or hold up fingers; everyone jumps that many times.

All themesSeptember themesJanuary themesThe theme plannerPreschool and daycare

The books are Peabody's own open library, free with no sign-in. The song is public domain. The snack links to the Peabody Kitchen. Nothing here asks for a child's name.