Five Little Ducks

5 little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK but only three little ducks came back.

Five Little Ducks is a traditional English language poem of unknown origin. During the 1980’s and 90’s several different folk singers recorded their own versions of the song; this was followed by versions created by children’s TV shows making it as popular and widespread as it is today. In some versions the ducks ‘went out’ rather than went swimming, sometimes the ducks don’t come back or the mother duck has to go and fetch them. This version is based on one I learned at a sing and sign class that introduces daddy duck so that children can learn the words and signs for both mummy and daddy. See below for the signed version.
It’s also great for counting along to on your fingers.

Video Credits:
Produced by Sarah Simi & Ed Hartwell (Woolly Vision)
Animation and Direction: Ed Hartwell
Art Direction: Sarah Simi
Duck puppets: Sarah Simi
Set Elements: Laura Gardner (Little Egg Designs) and Leeanne Bell
Music performed by Gemma Storr
Recorded by Steve Pretty

Lyrics:
Five little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Momma duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK but only three little ducks came back.
Four little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Momma duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK but only three little ducks came back.
Three little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Momma duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK but only two little ducks came back.
Two little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Momma duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK but only one little duck came back. 
One little duck went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Momma duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK but none of the ducks came swimming back.
No little ducks went swimming one day, over the hills and far away. Daddy duck said QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK and all of the five little ducks came back.

Five Little Ducks – Makaton signed version
Signing provided by Suzanne and Tracy of Singing Hands