We have 10 fingers!

I saw this today and decided to make my own version and laminate it to assist some tots in counting their fingers!
Although my tots can count to 30 the concept of all those numbers gets lost if you do not assist them in making a visual connection to those numbers. So this is what we did.

I had the tots place their hands over the hands on the page we created. Then I had them count out loud their fingers on each hand. Some breezed by doing this activity - others did struggle. I will leave this out for the tots to practise whenever they have an urge to do so. 

What's on the shelf for Valentines Day?

The collection!

Counting coins - transfer from one heart to the other.

Opening and shutting small containers / putting in and out erasers.

Also used for memory and matching skills, sorting + counting.

Counting heart gems,sorting and putting them into the heart tray.

Pouring mini erasers from one pail to the other.

I spy Valentines jar - which the kids filled.  

Gems and containers on our light table.

Used for counting - matching - sorting, pouring etc.

Then top that with play dough fun - using valentines cookie cutters!

Do they use that stuff?

There are often times when I get asked if the children actually choose to use the practical life items I place out for the children in the classroom.
Indeed they do! I think it's because they are different. They are not pre-packaged toys - they are something outside of the box. I also present the objects before independant use, so the children have an idea of how they may manipulate the objects. Not because I don't think they would come up with their own solutions - but because some kids simply need a stepping off point. Besides I think it also makes the object more important since they were presented as something special.

Here the children use the I Spy Christmas Tubes and some Christmas icecube trays with glitter pompoms & Christmas erasers. Great for fine motor practice, sorting , matching, sequencing, counting and sensory stimulation etc. The presents our magical elf 'Stanley' brought for the children to count.  The puzzle the one boy is using was very difficult, but he is a really great puzzle expert! He even stumped one of our teachers - he had to show her how it went together! LOL It's really interesting to watch the children use the objects with great interest since most people would simply look at them as just stuff without a purpose.

So - do they use that stuff? YUP!

This week I added magnets with a jar of jingle bells and pipe cleaners bent into candy canes.

 

Fun to play with!

Inventive ways to count to 10

I am always trying new and interesting ways for my toddlers to count to 10 - I want them to not only be able to count to 10, but I also want them to conceptually identify 10.

Today we used plastic discs and 10 cups - we put one disc into each cup and counted them outloud as the discs dropped into the cups.

We then took 10 large cups and place the smaller cups inside and counted them outloud as well.

Easy right! the kids really enjoyed both activities. :)

Counting

We often use this magnetic animal Tic Tack Toe board for counting! It's visual - easy to use and appeals to the toddlers as a great manipulative. The squared off sections makes it easy to place the animals while counting. There are 10 pieces - just the right amount so we don't get overwhelmed and most of the children can now count to 10. It's also great to do sequencing.

One of my garage sale finds! If I remember correctly it was 50 cents.

Sensory Tub Counting Search

I love this great counting activity from Playing in Prep! I can see using this for the alphabet as well! The extensions on this can be endless!
http://playinginprep.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/sensory-tub-counting-search/

I first saw this linked on Funtastic Early Childhood Ideas facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=224459094245373&view=wall&notif_t=event_wall#!/pages/Funtastic-Early-Childhood-Ideas/172996439419071

Counting to 10

One of the parents, of a new child in my class, came to me and said, she was so surprised her son started counting to 10. I told her that was wonderful, and get ready for him to count to 20, because that's what we normally count to. I told her we also count to 20 in French. She was surprised. Her shock makes me wonder if parents actually are aware of the programs they sign their kids up for.
The children in my class are so smart - they blow my mind! But then again if children are presented with challenges - they often achieve them - with repetition and if we present them in many forms to keep them interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOmSbb-2aNI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20xpI9V150w&NR=1&feature=fvwp

I love these videos that present counting in french!

Counting common objects

In our classroom, we thought it would be a good idea to use toys and resources that were commonly utilized by the children, to present our counting activities. We surmised it would encourage counting and number recognition outside of formal circle times. The results were very positive and we did see children independantly repeating the exercises as they had experienced during formal presentations.

In this activity the children are presented with a card that has a number on it. The child tells the teacher what that number is, and then selects that number of blocks to build a tower.

Once the tower is built the teacher will assist in counting the number of blocks out loud, so the class can follow along.

As a result, we now observe the children building towers and counting the blocks during independant play times!

In this activity we use the numbers from a puzzle and the Little People from the play sets.

We started out by placing the numbers and Little People out ourselves and then asked the children to go over and identify the group that has a selected amount in it.

Once that was accomplished the children then layed them out on their own.

Again the result was independant counting practice during informal class time.