NUMBER ORDER AND RECOGNITION
Number Shuffle
Materials: index cards and a pen or marker
Set up: write a number (1-10) on each card. Shuffle.
Instructions: Have the child put the cards in numerical order.
Ten Card Match Up
Materials: 12 playing cards, two pairs of ace through six, dice
Set up: Each player takes one set of cards and lays them in order, in a row face up.
Instructions: Each player takes turn tossing a die and counting the number of dots on the side that lands up. The player then picks up the card with the same number and set it in his discard pile. Each player takes turns tossing the die until one of the players has gathered all his cards. Note: If a player lands on a number for a card he has already picked up, that is the end of his turn and the next player goes.
Number Transformation
Materials: 7 counters
Set up: arrange the counters in a straight line
Instructions: Have the child count the counters and tell you how many there are. Rearrange the counters into another pattern and ask the child if there are still seven. Repeat with another random pattern.
Twister
Materials: index cards and a pen or marker
Set up: write a number on a card, using various numbers that your child knows.
Instructions: Lay the cards on the floor in a random fashion. Call out a number and have your child place a hand or foot on the appropriate card.
Dominoes and Dice
Materials: a set of double-six dominoes, a pair of dice
Set up: Lay all the dominoes out on the table, face up, so both players can see them.
Instructions: Each player throws the dice and then must find the domino that matches the dots on the dice (ex: you throw a 2 and a 6, you must find the domino that has a 2 on one end and a 6 on the other) and add it to your pile. Players take turns until all the dominoes are picked up. If you roll and that domino is already taken, your turn ends and the next player takes his turn. Whoever collects the most dominoes at the end of the game wins. Play until all the dominoes are gone (which can take awhile) or set a timer and play until time runs out.
Writing Numbers – use different things to practice writing numbers – chalkboard, marker board, magna doodle, play dough, pipe cleaners.
Dots and Numbers
Materials: 20 index cards, marker
Set up: On each of ten index cards write a number from 1 to 10. On the other set of index cards, mark each with a number of dots to correspond with the numbered cards.
Instructions: Show the child how to match the dotted cards with the numeral cards. These are good to use for a game of memory.
War (card game for 2 players)
Materials: child’s deck of cards (has a 1 instead of an ace)
Set up: Remove all face cards from the deck, so you are left with 1-10 in all suits. Shuffle and deal out all the cards.
Instructions: Show child how to leave deck face down in front of them and turn over one card. Ask them whose card has the higher number. Whoever has the higher card takes both cards and keeps them face-up in a pile. Play continues until each person has used up their piles (you will then reshuffle your winning pile and repeat until someone has all the cards). If the numbers are identical when you lay down the cards, a war is declared. Each player must put three cards face-down beside their card in play and then a fourth card face up. Whoever has the higher card takes all the cards that were played. Play continues until someone has all the cards. Since this game can sometimes take a long time, you might want to use only two suits of cards if playing with a younger child.
Number lines
Materials: paper, pen, crayon
Set up: make a number line without adding the numbers.
Instructions: Write two numbers on the number line. Ask the child what comes before and after each number. Do this with various numbers.
Optional: (need paper and pen) draw a blank number line with an empty box in the middle. Tell the student you are thinking of a number between one and 20 and they must try to guess. As they guess the numbers, tell them no, that number is less, or that number is more and write those numbers on the number line in the appropriate places until they guess the secret number.
COUNTING AND SIMPLE ADDITION
Number Sequence activities
Make simple connect the dots pictures for your child to do.
Using a white board – write some numbers in a row (ex: 7 8 10) and have your child fill in the missing number in the sequence
Number Toss
Materials: paper, pen or marker, counters, two pennies
Set up: Using a pen, divide the piece of paper into an eight square playing board. Ask your child to choose eight numbers between 1 and 10 and write one number in each square. Each player takes a penny and the playing board is set between the two players on the table.
Each person tosses their penny onto the board. If it doesn’t land on the board, player repeats his throw. When you land on a number, you collect that many counters, counting them out loud as you take them. After two throws, each person counts their counters out-loud. Whoever has the most wins the game.
Optional: Take three and then four turns before adding up your total counters.
Domino Number Match
Materials: index cards, pen, dominoes
Set up: write a number on each index card
Instructions: Have your child pick a domino and place it face up on the table. Have him place two number cards above the domino to match the two numbers on it. Then he must add all the dots together and put that number card below the domino.
Counting cups –
Materials: small objects to count (pennies, beans, pom poms), permanent marker, small clear plastic cups
Set up: On each plastic cup make a series of dots (on one cup put one dot, on another put two, on another put three, etc.). Provide as many objects to count as necessary to fill all the cups.
Instructions: Show the child how to put the objects in the cups according to how many dots are on the cup.
Counting Bowls
Materials: counters, three small bowls
Instructions: The goal of this game is to practice beginning addition. Put four counters in the first bowl. Put three counters in another bowl. Now help your child pour the first bowl of four counters into the third bowl. While he is pouring the counters have him say “four”. Then add the second bowl to the third bowl while saying “plus three”. Then have him count the total amount in the third bowl.
Number Combinations
Materials: paper, pencil, six objects (blocks, pennies, tally sticks)
Set up: set up the blocks in two groups of three.
Instructions: On the paper write 3+3 and ask the child how many are in each group. After they answer, ask how many objects are there all together. Tell them that three plus three is the same as six. Ask the child to rearrange the blocks another way (ex: 2 and 4). After they have done this, write 2+4 on the paper and repeat the earlier dialogue. Repeat this with other combinations.
Cuisenaire rods activity
Materials: Cuisenaire rods (or something similar)
Instructions: Have your child choose a rod and lay it in front of him. Then let him choose other rods to find which two rods together will equal the same.
Optional: Start with two rods together and find out which rod by itself is the same.
Optional: Using a piece of paper and a pen, record the numbers for the rods you are working with - ex: 3+2 = 5
Optional: Have the child make stairs with the rods.
Marble game
Materials: cereal box, scissors, marbles, counters
Set up: Cut a cereal box in half lengthwise and cut four arches into one of the two long sides. Above each arch write a number.
Instructions: Take turns rolling the marbles along the floor and into the arches and keep track of your points. Points are awarded based on the number written above the arch. Have the child use the counters to count out points and keep track of the score.
Covered Numbers
Materials: counters, small square of paper, piece of paper, pen
Set up: place four counters on the piece of paper.
Instructions: Have the child tell you how many counters are on the paper. Write that number below the counters. Now cover up the four counters with the small piece of paper and lay three more counters down beside them. Ask the child to tell you how many counters there are and write “three” underneath. Now, uncover the four counters and have the child count all of the counters and you add a plus sign between the 3 and 4 and an “= 7” beside them. Do this with different numbers.
Optional: Place ten counters in a row and cover up six. Tell the child to guess how many counters there are and that six counters are underneath the piece of paper. After their guess, tell them you will count from six. Six (under the paper), seven, eight, nine, ten. This will give them practice in holding a number in their mind and counting from it.
Optional: (will need counters, paper, pen, abacus) Put ten counters on the piece of paper in the shape of a triangle with one counter at the top and four at the bottom, leaving space for the child to count them. Have the child count them and write the number beside the pyramid. Have the child cover their eyes and, while their eyes are closed, cover up some of the dots with another piece of paper, leaving the number 10 that you wrote, where they can still see it. Ask them how many dots they can see. Ask them to figure out how many are hidden, using the abacus. Do this again, covering different counters this time.
Counting On
Materials: counters, paper, pen
Set up: on one sheet of paper make a grid of five squares in a row. On another sheet of paper make a grid of two rows with five squares in each row.
Instructions: Give the five square grid to the child and have them put three counters on the grid. Ask them how many more counters they need to fill it up and make five. Write on the paper 3+2=5. Do the same with the ten grid and another amount of counters.
MEASUREMENTS, WEIGHTS, MONEY
Dry rice with a funnel, measuring cups, and measuring spoons – compare measurements, which cup holds more, etc.
Tape measure or a ruler – measure stuff around the house
Cook!
Water play – measuring cups and spoons
Opposites – small and large, empty and full, more or less, etc.
Measuring games
Materials: paper clips, small toys or objects to measure
Instructions: Show child how to use paper clips to measure the length of different objects and compare sizes.
Bucket Balance Ideas
Estimate how many pennies it will take to balance a block or other small toy.
Use measuring cups and water to make comparisons.
Make comparisons with different objects.
Use unit cubes – which is more 3 or 5?, etc.
Judy Clock Ideas
Practice telling time – to the hour, the half-hour, quarter hour, minutes, seconds
Compare with digital clocks
Practice counting by fives by going around the numbers on the clock.
Time Bingo
Materials: paper, pen, Judy clock, pennies or counters
Set up: Make a simple bingo board on the piece of paper. In each square write a different time, using a digital clock format.
Instructions: Set the Judy clock to a specific time and show it to your child. Have them look for that time on their bingo board and mark it with a counter. Use regular bingo rules or fill in all the squares.
Digital Time card game
Materials: poster board, marker, ruler, scissors
Set up: Using the ruler and marker, make 24 playing cards on the poster board. Cut them out with the scissors. On each card, write a digital time, starting with any time, but make sure that each card shows a time five minutes after the card before.
Instructions: Deal all the cards to the players. The first person puts a card face up in the middle of the table. The next person lays a card alongside the first, with a time that is five minutes earlier or later than the card just played. Play continues in this fashion until someone uses all their cards. If you can’t play a card you miss a turn. Whoever uses up all their cards first wins the game.
Counting Seconds
Materials: a clock or watch with a second hand.
Instructions: This activity will introduce the child to the concept of seconds. Show the child the second hand on clock and watch it go around. When it gets to the twelve help the child count how many times the hand moves before it points to the next number on the clock (the number 1). Repeat this with the second hand pointing to another number.
Money Ideas
Introduce coins one at a time
Compare amounts – how many pennies for a nickel?, etc.
SHAPES, PATTERNS, AND SORTING
Go on a shape hunt.
Sorting
Materials: string or sorting circles, legos, colored blocks in assorted sizes or pattern blocks
Set up: set up one circle. Ask the child to put all the blue square blocks in the circle, etc. Do this with many different things.
Optional: Set up two overlapping circles. Have the child put squares in one and circles in another or, for something harder, put all the blue pieces in one and circles in another. You will have to show them that pieces that are blue AND circles go in the overlapping part of the sorting circles. Harder – red pieces that are not triangles and triangles that are not red (with red triangles in the overlapping section).
Draw large shapes on sheets of paper. Give the child a shoe lace to trace the outline you made (or have them outline it with glue and then put yarn on the glue).
Wooden blocks (the colourful kind) or legos
Sort all by size or color
make patterns (blue, red, yellow, etc. or by shape)
Shape match
Materials: thin sheet of foam, scissors, index cards, black marker, Ziploc bag
Set up: Cut out different shapes from the foam. Trace each shape onto an index card. Store all pieces in a Ziploc bag.
Instructions: Match each foam piece to its outline.
Pattern Beads –
Materials: pipe cleaners, pony beads in assorted colors, hot glue gun
Set up: Put beads on a pipe cleaner, following a specific pattern (ex: red, blue, green, red, blue green) and glue the beads on each end to keep them in place. Provide the child with another pipe cleaner and enough beads to complete the same pattern.
Instructions: Show the child how to follow a pattern.
Make a Shape Book
Materials: paper, stapler, crayons
Set up: cut paper into desired shape and staple together to make a book. Write the shape name on the first page.
Have child draw pictures of objects that are that shape and label them for him.
Potato patterns
Materials: 2-3 potatoes, knife, newspaper, paint, paper
Set up: Wash potatoes and cut in half. Using the knife, cut an outline of a shape into the flesh of each potato. Cut down the sides until the shape is raised. Dip each shape into paint and make a pattern on a piece of paper.
Instructions: Have the child copy the patterns you made with his own paper.
Painting Blocks
Materials: children’s wooden blocks (the kind that have triangles and cylinders as well as squares and rectangles), washable paint, paper, paint brush
Set up: Get an area ready for your child to paint.
Instructions: Have your child brush paint on to the bottom of a block and press it onto the paper. Do this with various shapes and then discuss what patterns the blocks make – why does a triangle make a square, etc.
FRACTIONS, GEOMETRY, GRAPHING
Learn about Fractions
Make a sandwich and cut in halves or quarters.
Draw a large circle on a piece of paper. Have child draw a line straight through it and color each half a different color. Then take another piece of paper and draw another circle. Have the child draw a line to make two halves. Then have them draw another line to half the halves. Color each section a different color. Discuss halves and quarters. Do this activity again with different shapes (star, square, heart, etc.)
M&M Graphing and Predictions
Materials: Make a graph on a piece of paper (six columns by 12 rows), package of m&m’s, crayons (same colors as the m&m’s)
Set up: Open the bag of m&m’s and spread them out on the table.
Instructions: Ask your child some questions to make some predictions (which color will have the most or least; how many total; etc.). Have the child color the first square in each column to match the different colors of the m&m’s. Now have him sort them and put them in the appropriate column.
Geoboard shape activity
Materials: geoboard, rubber bands
Instructions: tell the child to make a pattern of specific shapes – all squares or all triangles.
Optional: If you have two geoboards, use a rubber band and make a shape on one. Have the child repeat that shape on his own geoboard.