Mr E and Miss K made these for their morning tea. A note of warning for children with nut allergies as this activity uses peanut butter. Although we didn’t try it, I think you could easily substitute the peanut butter with jam or another spread of your choice.

Ingredients:

• Apples
• Peanut Butter
• Mini Marshmallows

Method:

1. Cut an apple into eight slices.
2. Spread peanut butter onto one side of each slice.
3. Place some mini marshmallows on top of the peanut butter.
4. Sandwich it with another apple slice.

So simple, silly and yummy!

We talked about the letter shape for a, and the short vowel sound “a”.

Here’s a free handwriting printable of lower case letters of the alphabet, including the letter a.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment; I’d love to hear from you. If you are new here, you might like to receive updates direct to your email. We have many fun ideas to share.

The post Letter A: Laughing Apples and Handwriting Printable by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Our last early math game, Mummy and Baby Dinosaurs, focused on counting and numeral identification. Children learn best when presented with a variety of games that reinforce the same mathematical concept. Today we will continue with another math game that focuses on numeral identification.

Bingo is such a versatile game; you can use it to reinforce so many different concepts. This math game, Teen Bingo is great for kids who can identify and name numerals from zero to ten, but may not necessarily be able to identify and name all the numerals to twenty.

Math Game: Teen Bingo

Focus: Math Number, Numeral Identification

Desired Results: Name and identify numerals 11-20;

Pre-Test: Display a set of numeral cards from 11 to 20, in random order. Ask the child to point to a given numeral. Can the child identify any or all the numerals from 11 to 20? Select a numeral card from 11 to 20. Can the child name any or all the numerals from 11 to 20 with the correct naming of number words in the ‘teens’?

Evidence of Learning: The child is able to identify and name all the numerals from 11 to 20, with the correct naming of number words in the ‘teens’.

When working with young children, remember to:

• Show them how to do the task before expecting them to complete the task independently.
• Limit the range of numbers being presented when introducing a new mathematical idea.
• Provide children with a variety of early math games, which repeat the same mathematical understanding (e.g. counting, numeral identification, subitising, etc).

Teaching & Learning Experiences:

Download and print out our free printable Math Game: Teen Bingo.

• One page has all the numerals from 11-20; cut these out and place them into a box.
• I have also provided two pre-made bingo sheets with the numerals 11-20 randomly placed in a table.
• There is also a blank bingo sheet template so that you can quickly create your custom made bingo sheet with numerals your child may need more practice with.

As each card is drawn out of the box, name the number. Ensure the correct naming of number words in the ‘teens’, (not to be confused with numbers ending in -ty).

Stamp the corresponding number on the teen bingo sheet. A numeral may be placed several times on a given bingo sheet. Encourage children to be thorough as they find the corresponding number on their teen bingo sheet.

The game is completed when all the numbers on their teen bingo sheet has been stamped.

Mr N&M are highly competitive, a trait exacerbated by being twins. When playing this game I remind them that it’s about finishing, rather than being the fastest.

You could use counters to cover the numbers, but my boys love using stamps. There’s only 2 of them, (unlike a class of 20), so I indulge them.

Extension Activity: Kids need to be familiar with the forward and backward number sequence, and be able to count from any given number. Challenge kids to stamp the number before or number after the card drawn from the box.

More Activities for Preschoolers

Three to Five: Playful Preschool is stuffed to the brim with tried, tested and loved playful learning ideas for preschoolers. There are 25+ ideas for preschoolers, ten printable resources and additional links to over 50 more activities. A great resource for parents. Download your copy here.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment; I’d love to hear from you. If you are new here, you might like to subscribe to our RSS feed or receive updates direct to your email. We have many fun ideas to share.

The post Math Game: Teen Bingo by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

 
As a teacher, one of the most exciting (and in my case, possibly frantic) tasks, is setting up a classroom. How should the environment be set up to assist learning? What should be constantly available for students? I think visual prompts to assist reading skills certainly belong to a section of the classroom.

Reading: When Children Don’t Know The Word

 
When a child is learning to read, they often come across words they don’t know. Here are some useful questions to help children figure out those new words.

1. Can I sound it out?
2. What is the first sound?
3. Do I know any other sounds?
4. Do I know the sounds of some groups of letters?
5. Can I look for a little word in the bigger word?
6. Re-read the sentence.
7. What word would make sense? Does it match the print? Try it out.
8. Read on to the end of the sentence. Think about a word that would make sense.
9. Look at the pictures.
10. Do I know a word that looks like this one?
11. Can I change some letters to make a word I know?

 
These questions would also be helpful to have readily at home as children practise and integrate their reading skills and strategies.

 
Click here for a free printable of the above reading strategies when children don’t know the word. (In the free printable PDF version, the words “free printable” have been removed).

The post Reading: When Children Don’t Know The Word by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

 
Our last early math game, counting with egg cartons, focused on counting and developing a one-to-one correspondence. Children learn best when presented with a variety of games that reinforce the same mathematical concept. Today we will continue with another math game that focuses on counting and numeral identification.

 
This math game, Mummy and Baby Dinosaurs is a simpler version of our numerals card and dice game. This mummy and baby dinosaurs game is suitable for children who are unable to identify and name all numerals 1-10. This early math game is great for pairs of children or individuals. To support effective peer tutoring, pair a child with a child who is more confident with counting and numeral identification.

Math Game: {Numeral Identification & Counting} Dinosaurs

 
Focus: Math Number, Numeral Identification & Counting

 
Desired Results:

• (A) Name and identify numerals 1-10;
• (B) Use the corresponding numeral for a set of objects.

Pre-Test:

• (A) Display a set of numeral cards from 0 to 10, in random order. Ask the child to point to a given numeral. Can the child identify any or all the numerals from 0 to 10?
• (B) Display a set of numeral cards from 0 to 10, in random order. Provide a collection of counters (about 20). Point to various numerals and ask the child to make a pile of this many counters. Does the child make the correct collection of counters to match each numeral?

 
Evidence of Learning: Display a set of numeral cards from 0 to 10, in random order. Provide a collection of counters (about 20). Point to various numerals and ask the child to make a pile of this many counters. The child counts with a one word, one counter match. The child has a concept of the number of items in a collection. The child makes the correct collection of counters to match each numeral.

 
When working with young children, remember to:

• Show them how to do the task before expecting them to complete the task independently.
• Limit the range of numbers being presented when introducing a new mathematical idea.
• Provide children with a variety of early math games, which repeat the same mathematical understanding (e.g. counting, numeral identification, subitising, etc). To support this, there are variety of counting games, numeral identification games, subitising games, etc. as part of this  Early Math Games series.

 
Teaching & Learning Experiences:

 
Print out our free printables Early Math Games: Numeral Identification & Counting with Mummy and Baby Dinosaurs. One set of cards shows Mummy Dinosaurs with a numeral in the range 1 to 10. The other set of cards shows a collection of Baby Dinosaurs in the range 1 to 10.

• Model the activity. Select a baby dinosaur card. Count the baby dinosaurs and match the card to a corresponding mummy dinosaur card. Continue until all cards have been matched.
• Let the child select a baby dinosaur card. Count the baby dinosaurs and match the card to a corresponding mummy dinosaur card. Continue until all cards have been matched.
• {Formative assessment}: Can the child count with a one word, one dinosaur match?
• {Formative assessment}: Can the child identify any or all the numerals from 0 to 10?

 
Extension Activities:

• Extension activity one: Place either the mummy dinosaur cards or the baby dinosaur cards in ascending numerical order, resembling a number line. The early introduction of the number line establishes a good framework for understanding number in all its’ various forms; (natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers). 

Don’t miss our next Math Game: Teen Bingo, or browse through our many math games.

More Activities for Preschoolers

Three to Five: Playful Preschool is stuffed to the brim with tried, tested and loved playful learning ideas for preschoolers. There are 25+ ideas for preschoolers, ten printable resources and additional links to over 50 more activities. A great resource for parents. Download your copy here.

The post Math Games: Numeral Identification & Counting, Dinosaurs by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.