Math Through Music and Manipulatives - Learning Beyond Flashcards, Worksheets, and Timed Drills

Posted: October 31, 2020 | Updated: October 31, 2020
Created by: Ms. Sylvia

Math is in everything we see and everything we do, whether we notice it or not. Celebrating that by talking about the math we see and experience, then integrating it into all subjects is part of developing a mathematical mindset and overcoming the ingrained fear or dislike so many of us have around math.

With that in mind, it seems obvious that math practice doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t!) just mean worksheets, timed drills, and flashcards. For young children, that means taking every opportunity to count, to add, to subtract, to practice making equal groups (which can be framed as “sharing fairly”, a concept to which preschoolers are often whole-heartedly devoted). One fun vehicle for that practice is song. One way to reinforce the concepts from the song are manipulatives.

Before I offer a Halloween-themed subtraction song, a note about manipulatives. Sounds sinister doesn’t it? No one likes to be manipulated. But “manipulatives” are actually a great thing in learning and teaching math! They are an essential tool for mathematical comprehension. When we talk about learning math, a manipulative is something that can be touched and moved (i.e. manipulated) to physically show a mathematical idea. They improve accuracy and understanding, and are often the best, most appropriate initial support you can offer a young or confused mathematician. They support students in understanding and demonstrating more advanced concepts and processes than they could access in the abstract.

In the case of this song, it will help to have “ghosts” to take away each verse and to get creative with. We recommend these.

Here is the song in its original form. Note that there are many songs like this, which slowly subtract. You can find one to suit the season and your child!

Six ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Six ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be [how many? Yes! 5!] five ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door

Generally, the song continues as you count down ghost by ghost until there are “no little ghosts lurking in the door”... but who is to say it has to go one by one? That’s a great starting point, but use this song to meet your elementary students’ mathematical needs. For example, if two jumped out at you, how many would be left? If half jumped out at you? If four jumped out at you?

Manipulatives can help young children answer these kinds of extension questions. They can help older children who get them incorrect check their answers. They can help older children facilitate the song for you get children. Of course, some children may be ready to do the calculations in their heads and that is a wonderful check of their understanding, but don’t be shy about adding manipulatives. Often, abstract manipulatives like rocks or pennies work perfectly. For this song, you may want to make these simple, quick ghost crafts to use as manipulatives and to build fine motor skills.

You may be surprised to hear that upper elementary and middle school math whizzes can be just as challenged by this song as young learners. All you need to do is get creative with the lyrics. For example: “There were 100 ghosts lurking in the door/ But if 17 x 4 of them jumped out at you, you may be sure, there’d be [How many? Yes! 32!] thirty-two ghosts lurking in the door." Then consider testing place value by having 1,000 ghosts join them, then keep dividing, subtracting, and using any other process your little mathematician is working on. It takes a little creativity.... but then again, most math does!

Have fun!

Five ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Five little ghosts in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be four ghosts lurking
In the shadow of the door

Four ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Four ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be three ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door

Three ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Three ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be two ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door

Two ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
Two ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door
But if one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be one ghost lurking in the shadow of the door

One ghost lurking in the shadow of the door
One ghost lurking in the shadow of the door
But if that one should jump out at us —Boo!—
Be absolutely sure
There would be no ghosts lurking in the shadow of the door!