Monday, September 6, 2010

Chikka Chikka 1 2 3


This is my absolute favourite book to use with children when looking closely at numbers.Here numbers take over an apple tree. Launching the appealingly absurd antics is a challenge framed in the familiar rhythm: "1 told 2/ and 2 told 3,/ `I'll race you to the top/ of the apple tree.' " As the subsequent numbers climb one by one with equal enthusiasm (after 20, the counting goes up by 10s), a worried zero (as indicated by a stray bead of perspiration) chants a refrain, "Chicka Chicka/ 1, 2, 3.../ Will there be a/ place for me?" The climbing comes to a halt when bumblebees arrive, ordering the numbers to vacate, which they do in reverse order ("90, 80,/ 70 fall,/ hit the ground/ in a free-for-all"). A fun twist involves a missing number and zero, who finally realises where he belongs and leaps atop the leaves, a move that scares off the bees and clears the way for the other numbers to return.I love how several embellishments offer additional whimsy (5 wears a top hat, 70 sports long hair); endpapers and jacket flaps brim with brightly-hued numbers. Cleverly calculated verse and visuals add up to numerical mayhem that will entertain as well as reinforce counting skills and digit identification. As an end to our celebration of Numeracy week master 4 wanted to make a "number tree." He used large numbers for visual recognition and added them to his tree.This has taken pride of place in his room!

No comments:

Post a Comment