Four Currant Buns In A Bakers Shop

Children love playing shops! And Four Currant Buns In a Bakers Shop offers the perfect opportunity for budding bakers and shoppers with lots of imaginary bun eating too!

Four currant buns in a baker’s shop,

Round and fat with sugar on the top,

Along came a *boy with a penny one day,

Bought a currant bun and took it right away.

*

Three currant buns in a baker’s shop,

Round and fat with sugar on the top,

Along came a *boy with a penny one day,

Bought a currant bun and took it right away.

*

(sing each child’s name instead of *boy & repeat the verses subtracting one bun each time until they are all sold out)

You don’t need much to sing this song,  some large coins in a purse (I use interesting foreign coins left over from holidays) and some pretend buns. Toy bricks work well, which I explain are magic pretend buns that can have any flavour icing on the top.

Tell the children that you are going to play shops, and choose someone to be the baker. Set the scene and describe what sort of buns the baker sells and explain that everyone can come and buy one because you will give them each a shiny penny.

Set the bricks out on a chair in front of the class,  and describe each special ‘bun’ individually, the children love getting imaginative and guessing what each one is like, whether it has a cherry on the top, or cream in the middle. Now count out the ‘pennies’  from the purse. Explain that when each child hears their name in the song,  it’s their turn to come and choose a bun.

The child who is the baker holds the purse, and as each customer comes to buy a bun from his shop, he holds out his hand to receive the penny. Each time the children count how many buns are left and sing the next verse until all they are sold out. At the end of the song ask the baker how many pennies he has in his purse, and ask the children to describe their special bun. Finish off with everyone ‘eating’ their pretend buns.

This counting song offers excellent number practice and introduces money and the concept of buying and paying for things. Pretend play is fantastic for developing the imagination and language skills and the role play is wonderful for building confidence.  So much learning with so much fun!