PondCounters

Quack! Count the ducks

A pond full of ducks, just for little counters

0
you have countedzero

Tap each duck and say the number out loud. How many ducks are swimming?

Number march

One duck, two duck… ten!

Every duck in the line carries a number. Poke a duck and watch how many dots swim onto its tummy.

5
five

Tip for grown-ups: counting is pointing. Help your child touch each duck once — no skipping, no double-tapping — and say the numbers in order.

Postcards from the pond

Did you know, little quacker?

A duck floating on a pond

Water rolls right off!

Ducks spread oily fluff from their tails over their feathers. Rain slides off like it's wearing a raincoat.

1
A fluffy yellow duckling

Duckling, drake, hen

A baby duck is a duckling. A mummy duck is a hen and a daddy duck is a drake.

2
Webbed duck feet paddling

Flippers for feet

Webbed feet push lots of water, so ducks zoom. On land those same feet go waddle, waddle, waddle.

3
Ducks flying in the sky

No teeth needed

A duck's bill is a sieve — it strains tiny snacks out of mud and water. Yum!

4
Ducks resting together on water

A group is a raft

Ducks swimming together are called a raft — and they sleep with one eye open to watch for foxes.

5
With a grown-up

Math walks around the pond

Numbers hide in ordinary play. Try these questions while the ducks swim — there are no wrong answers, only thinking out loud.

  1. Point to each duck and count. How many are there altogether?
  2. Switch to Find some and tap six ducks. How did you know it was six?
  3. Play Duck dive: one quick look, then guess. Was it more than five or fewer than five?
  4. Two ducks fly away! How many are left in the pond now?
  5. Which duck came first in the water? Which came last?
  6. Are there more ducks or more lily pads? How many more?
  7. Make the number on the big card with your fingers. Now make it one more.