In Class Presentation:
Recommended Age: 4 years and on (can be younger depending on the child’s experience and skills)
Purpose: Verification that the child can sequence numbers 1-10 and correctly match the quantities that correspond to the symbols.
Level of Parent Involvement: Medium initially to present the activity then low when the child works independently.
Prerequisites
- Child must be able to identify numerals 1-10
- The child must be able to count accurately up to ten
At Home Presentation
Materials
- 10 small squares of paper with the numbers 1-10 written on them
- An elastic band or paper clip to keep the papers with the numbers together
- 55 pieces of shell pasta (you could use stones, buttons, beads etc… provided you have 55 and they are the same)
- A tray/basket to keep the activity in
Preparation
- Write numbers 1-10 on the small pieces of paper
- Count 55 pieces of shell pasta and pace in a sealed container which the child can open and close independently
- Place items on tray/in basket
Steps
- Invite the child to the activity telling them “today we are going to do some counting”
- This activity may be done at a table or on the floor if the table isn’t big enough
- If the child has a work mat invite them to get their mat and unroll it where they would like to work, if the child doesn’t have a mat a towel may be used
- Indicate to the child where to sit, behind the mat/towel on the left side and sit next to the child on their right
- Take out each piece of numbered paper randomly placing them on the mat/towel each time asking the child “what’s this?” confirming the child can recognise all, leaving ‘10’ for last
- Invite the child to put the numbers in order starting at the top left corner of the mat/towel, leaving a small space between each
- Take a piece of pasta, saying this is one, and place under the 1 numeral (in the middle)
- Take out 2 counters one at a time, counting one, two, placing them under the 2 numeral
- Continue placing the pasta up to 5
- Invite the child to place the remaining numerals
- Leave the child to work independently
- Come back when the child has finished placing the pieces of pasta
- Invite the child to place all pieces of pasta back in the container and work independently, placing the pieces of pasta from the beginning
Variations
- On another day introduce the concept of odds and evens by running your finger from the piece of paper to the piece of pasta, noticing that your finger stops
Then run your finger through the middle of the two counters under numeral 2 noticing your finger can pass through, repeat with remaining cards
Explain to the child that odd numbers are where your finger stops (1,3,5,7,9) and even numbers your finger runs through (2,4,6,8)
Note: by only having 55 objects (pasta) this acts as a control of error if there are too many or too few pieces at the end
