Teacher Resources – Burly the Squirrel™

The Burly the Squirrel™ books are designed to support early numeracy development through an interactive counting path embedded in a simple story. As students follow Burly along the forest trail, they help gather acorns while counting forward and backward along the path. The structured routine encourages participation, number recognition, and early number sequencing skills.

Classroom Implementation

One effective way to use the Burly the Squirrel™ books in the classroom is to have students work in pairs, sharing one book between two students. A student who is more comfortable with counting can help guide the activity while the partner follows along and participates. This peer interaction encourages collaboration and helps reinforce number sequencing.

The teacher may also keep a copy of the book and move around the classroom while students work in pairs. This allows the teacher to observe how students are progressing, assist when needed, and pause at different points along the path to ask students what number comes next.

For students who are just beginning to learn numbers, the activity can begin with forward counting only. Students follow the path up the left side of the trail and count each acorn together.

Once students become comfortable counting to at least ten, the activity can progress to the full counting routine. Students return to the beginning of the path and continue by counting up the left side and then counting back down the right side while placing each acorn into Burly’s basket.

This forward-and-back counting structure helps reinforce number order, strengthens counting confidence, and introduces reverse counting in a natural and engaging way.

Skills Supported

Recommended Grade Levels

These books can be used for small group activities, classroom counting routines, or partner-based learning exercises.

Author: S.C. Burklund