About this rhyme
Five monkeys bounce on the bed and tumble off one by one — a counting-down rhyme with a silly doctor.
A popular counting-down action rhyme. Because its origin is unclear, we describe it rather than print the words.
We don’t print the words of this rhyme because it may still be in copyright or its origin is unclear.
What children learn
- Counting backwards from five
- Taking away one
- Safety — no jumping on beds!
Vocabulary
- five
- the number after four
- fewer
- a smaller number
- doctor
- a person who helps sick people
Movement & activity idea
Hold up five fingers and fold one down each verse.
Parent tip
A lovely first taste of subtraction: “five take away one leaves…?”
Try a Learning Activity
Read → quiz → practise on the Language island and work towards a 🏅 Gold Medal.
FAQ
Where does “Five Little Monkeys” come from?
A popular counting-down action rhyme. Because its origin is unclear, we describe it rather than print the words.