Five Pumpkins by the Gate
Show five fingers. Lower one with each verse.
Five little pumpkins by the gate,
One rolls away; it just can't wait! [Lower a finger.]
Four little pumpkins by the gate,
One rolls away; it just can't wait!
Three little pumpkins by the gate,
One rolls away; it just can't wait!
Two little pumpkins by the gate,
One rolls away; it just can't wait!
One little pumpkin by the gate,
It rolls away; it just can't wait!
No little pumpkins by the gate,
Hide your hand; that was great! [Hide your hand.]
Notes for adults
An original fingerplay for counting down from five to zero, with a paper pumpkin for each finger.
Learning objectives
- Follow a countdown from five to zero with adult support.
- Lower one finger to represent each pumpkin that rolls away.
- Join the rhyme with words, sounds or gestures.
What you need
- Printed page
- Scissors
- Paper for five strips
- Tape
Safety notes
An adult should cut out the pictures and prepare the loops. Keep scissors out of reach during play. Make the loops loose so they do not squeeze fingers, and supervise use of the paper pieces.
How to do it
- An adult cuts out the five pumpkins and five strips of paper.
- Make a loose loop with each strip and tape a pumpkin to each loop.
- Invite your child to put a loop on each finger of one hand.
- Count the fingers together, starting with one.
- Say the first verse and show your child how to lower one finger when a pumpkin rolls away.
- Continue the rhyme, inviting your child to lower one finger with each verse.
- At the end, look at the closed hand and say together that no pumpkins are left by the gate.
Teaching suggestions
- Speak slowly and pause so your child can choose which finger to lower.
- If moving individual fingers is difficult, place the pictures on a table and move one away with each verse.
- Welcome gestures, looks and sounds as ways to participate.
- In a group, each child can use their own hand while everyone says the rhyme together.
- Connect the game to everyday life by counting fruit or large toys too.
Variations
- Make it easier: Start with three pumpkins and say the last three numbered verses.
- Make it harder: Pause before each number and invite your child to say how many pumpkins are left.
- Extend the play: After the rhyme, imagine together where the pumpkins rolled.
Talk about it
- What happened to the pumpkins?
- How can we show that one pumpkin rolled away?
- Where do you think the pumpkins went?
- What did your hand look like at the end?
What to look for
- Notice whether your child follows any of the numbers or gestures in the countdown.
- Watch for your child lowering a finger or moving a picture away with each verse, with or without help.
- Notice whether your child joins in through words, sounds, gestures or looks.