Teaching Math with Children's Literature

Counting Crocodiles
Book: Sierra, Judy. (1997). Counting Crocodiles. New York: Gulliver Books Harcourt Brace & Company

Mathematical Topics(s) or Theme(s)
• Counting to 10 up and down

Appropriate Grade Level(s): K

Abstract
A clever monkey uses her counting abilities to outwit some hungry crocodiles. The monkey is on an island and has eaten all the fruit from the trees. The monkey spots another island with banana trees. The monkey counts the crocodiles in the sea that stand between her banana tree.

Suggestions for Implementation

Assessment: The story can be used as an assessment activity with small groups of children as they begin a unit on counting to ten. Reading the story with young children will give the teacher a measure of a child’s number sense, and counting ability prior to formal instruction. The teacher can assess the children's knowledge of counting when reading. While reading she can ask the students what number comes next for each page.

Problem Solving: The story can provide a problem solving context for young children. The students can count the crocodiles on each page in the story to figure out how many crocodiles stand between the monkey and the banana tree.

Counting to ten: The book uses counting concepts to tell a story. The book counts up to ten and down from ten.
Additional questions to pose:
a. How many crocodiles would there be if we added one more to ten?
b. Ask the students as you read what number do you think will come next?

Extension: Have the students create their own counting book. The students can write the numbers 1 to 10 in the book. One page for each number. Then the students can draw a picture to represent the number on the page. For the number one they could draw one monkey and so on. Then the students could read their books for review. You would be able to see if the students could write their numbers, and correctly represent the number with pictures.