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Nursery rhymes · Counting and movement

Hickory Dickory Dock counting activity for preschool

Move the mouse up the clock and count each chime as you retell the rhyme.

Try the activity
Portrait photo of the Hickory Dickory Dock felt mouse and clock pieces.View this felt set on Etsy Opens in a new tab

How many times did the clock chime?

Prep · About 5 minutes   Play · About 10 minutes

Gather · A felt mouse and clock or paper sketches, plus a tabletop to tap.

  1. Move the mouse. Say the first verse and slide the mouse up the clock. At one o’clock, tap the table once and slide the mouse down.
  2. Count the chimes. Repeat with two or three taps. Say one number for each tap and pause to ask how many chimes you heard.
  3. Trade jobs. Let your child choose the number of chimes and tap them out while you move the mouse. Then switch roles.

Try saying · “I heard one chime. Can you tap two chimes and move the mouse down?”

Make it easier · Use one tap at a time and count it together.

Keep it going · Have your child listen with eyes closed, then show how many taps they heard on their fingers.

Get the materials

Storytime Club · Annual library

Print it for your next storytime

Find the Hickory Dickory Dock worksheet PDF in the annual library. Print a page for quiet practice after your child has counted the chimes aloud.

$97 a year gives you the full Storytime Club printable library. If the Etsy printables on your list are included in the Club and cost more than $97 together, you save with the annual pass.

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