Magnetic Fishing Number Game

This fishing number game is a perfect activity to accompany the nursery rhyme '1, 2, 3, 4, 5 once I caught a fish alive'.  Kids will have fun singing, counting, and ordering numbers as they catch the fish. 

Magnetic Fish Number Game


It's rhyme time again.  Today's nursery rhyme is '1, 2, 3, 4, 5 once I caught a fish alive'.   Check out our other ideas from our nursery rhymes list or scroll to the bottom for more fish ideas. 


Magnetic Fishing Number Game


Magnetic Fishing Game - Supplies



  • Card/ Paper (or old pieces of artwork) to cut into fish shapes
  • Laminator / Laminating pouches
  • Paper clips
  • Whiteboard marker pen (UK link/ US link)
  • Magnet (UK link / US link)
  • String
  • Stick or long piece of wood or plastic



How to make a magnetic fish number game


We used coloured coffee filters that we had left from our colour mixing activity to make our fish, but you could use any card, paper or artwork. Click here to see how we made our coloured coffee filters.


  1. Cut your paper into fish shapes. (TIP: I made a template out of card which I drew around for each fish)
  2. Draw on an eye 
  3. Laminate
  4. Add a paper clip to each fish
  5. Add numbers to the fish using a whiteboard marker pen (by using this pens you can easily change the numbers, but if you want the numbers to be permanent write them onto the fish before laminating them.)

For the fishing rod attached a piece of string with a magnet on the end to a stick or long piece of wood or plastic. 



Magnetic Fish Number Game


Magnetic fishing game


Ideas of ways to play with your fishing game


  • Lay the fish out on a table or the floor and catch them using the magnetic fishing rod. 
  • Read the numbers as you catch the fish.
  • Decide which number fish to catch and then hunt for it before catching it.
  • Catch the fish in order 1-10.
  • Make 2 sets of fish and take it in turns to catch a fish until you both have 1-10.
  • Make it a memory game by turning the fish upside down before trying to catch them.
  • Sing the nursery rhyme '1, 2, 3, 4, 5 once I caught a fish alive 'and talk about the numbers in the rhyme and the order they are in as you play the game.

1,2,3,4,5 Once I caught a fish alive

Magnetic Fish and fishing rod activity

You could also use the fish to learn higher numbers or to learn letters or keywords.  The fishing rod is perfect for letting little scientists experiment with magnetic/non-magnetic objects too.

If you enjoyed that number game then you might also like some of our other counting activities for toddlers and preschoolers
 

More Fish Crafts and Activities




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