The rhyme goes like this:
“One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.”
It is short, easy to sing, and has a story inside.
The rhyme talks about catching a fish, letting it go, and the fish biting a finger.
Children enjoy it because it has counting numbers, an animal (fish), and a funny twist.
Learning Numbers Through the Rhyme
The first and most important thing this rhyme teaches is numbers from 1 to 10.
One to Five: The rhyme starts with “One, two, three, four, five.”
This helps children remember the order of numbers.
Six to Ten: Then it continues with “Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.”
Example:
If a teacher sings:
“One, two, three, four, five,”
The children can clap five times.
If the teacher sings:
“Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,”
The children can count on their fingers.
This makes counting fun and musical.
Learning About Animals – The Fish
The rhyme introduces a fish.
Children may have seen fish in an aquarium, river, or pond.
Fish live in water.
Fish have fins to swim and gills to breathe.
Some fish are colorful and pretty.
In the rhyme, the child “catches a fish alive,” which shows curiosity and adventure.
Example:
Teachers can show a picture of a goldfish or a toy fish.
They can say: “Look, this is the fish in the rhyme.
It swims in water.”
This way, kids connect the rhyme with real life.
Learning About Fingers
The rhyme also teaches children about fingers and their names.
When the fish bites, the question comes: “Which finger did it bite?”
The answer is: “This little finger on my right.”
That means the fish bit the smallest finger, also called the pinky finger.
Names of fingers (for kids to learn):
Thumb
Index finger (pointing finger)
Middle finger
Ring finger
Little finger (pinky)
Children can wiggle their fingers and learn their names while singing.
Example:
Teacher asks: “Show me your little finger.”
Kids raise their pinky finger.
Then the class sings the last line together.
Learning Emotions and Feelings
The rhyme shows a funny story with feelings.
The child is happy to catch a fish.
But when the fish bites, the child feels pain.
That’s why the fish is let go.
Through this, kids understand that sometimes we feel happy, sometimes hurt, and sometimes we must make decisions.
Example:
Teacher can ask: “What do you do when something hurts you?”
A child may say: “I tell my mom” or “I cry.”
This helps children talk about feelings.
Music and Rhythm in the Rhyme
Rhymes are like little songs.
They have rhythm and melody.
When kids sing, they also improve their memory and listening skills.
The repeating pattern makes it easy to remember numbers.
Singing with clapping or actions makes the rhyme more enjoyable.
Example:
Teacher claps while saying:
“One (clap), two (clap), three (clap)…”
Children follow along.
This teaches both rhythm and counting.
Storytelling Through the Rhyme
This rhyme is like a mini story:
The child catches a fish.
The fish bites the finger.
The fish is let go.
It has a beginning, middle, and end.
Example:
Teacher can ask:
Beginning: “What happened first?”
(Child caught the fish.)
Middle: “What happened next?”
(The fish bit the finger.)
End: “What happened last?”
(The fish was let go.)
This teaches kids how to sequence events in order.
Moral or Lesson of the Rhyme
Even though it is short, the rhyme has lessons:
Be kind to animals.
– The fish is let go after being caught.
Be careful.
– Sometimes animals can hurt us.
Learn from experience.
– The child understood that fish can bite.
It’s not just about counting – it’s about life lessons too.
Skills Children Learn from the Rhyme
This rhyme builds many skills:
Language Skills: New words like “caught,” “alive,” “bite.”
Math Skills: Counting numbers 1–10.
Science Skills: Learning about fish and fingers.
Social Skills: Talking about feelings, sharing stories.
Memory Skills: Remembering the rhyme sequence.
Fun Activities with the Rhyme
Teachers and parents can make the rhyme more fun with activities.
Activity 1: Finger Play
Kids use their fingers to count from 1–10 while singing.
Activity 2: Toy Fish Game
Use a toy fish.
Pretend to “catch” it and act out the rhyme.
Activity 3: Drawing
Kids draw a fish and color it.
Teacher writes numbers 1–10 around the fish.
Activity 4: Acting
One child acts as the fisher, another as the fish.
They perform the rhyme as a short play.
These activities make learning interactive.
Examples for Better Understanding
Example 1: Counting Fingers
Teacher: “Show me three fingers.”
Kids: (Raise three fingers.)
Then sing: “One, two, three.”
Example 2: Understanding Actions
Teacher: “What happens when you catch a fish in the rhyme?”
Kids: “It bites the finger.”
Example 3: Talking About Safety
Teacher: “Should we hold fish with bare hands?”
Kids: “No, because it can bite.”
Real-Life Connection
The rhyme connects with real life:
Kids see fish in markets, ponds, or aquariums.
They know animals can bite if touched.
They learn numbers are everywhere – in shops, buses, books.
Rhymes make these real-life lessons simple and playful.
Why This Rhyme Is Important
It is short and easy for small kids.
It teaches counting, words, animals, and safety.
It makes children laugh and enjoy learning.
That’s why “One, Two, Three, Four, Five” is loved in schools worldwide.
