Inspired by a preschool visit where they take learning outdoors, I pick up our blue sheet, a stack of numeral cards and a die. In between their scooter and running races, we sat and played a quick maths numeral card game.

Maths: Numerals Card Game

This game helps children work towards:

• Naming and identifying numerals. These skills are required so that we can record our maths.
• Using the correct corresponding numeral for a given set of objects.

Materials:

• A die
• A set of numeral cards. Here’s a free printable of the set we used.

How to Play:

Place the numeral cards face up on the ground. Take turns to roll the die and pick up the corresponding numeral card. If the card has already been taken, the child forfeits a turn. Play until all the cards have been taken.

You can play as a team with the goal of picking up all the cards. Or you could have a competition to see who can pick up the most cards.

Identifying vs. Naming a Numeral

When children are just beginning to identify and name some numerals, it is important to consider that identifying a numeral and naming a numeral are different skills.

An example of identifying a numeral: A child is asked to point to a card with the number ‘two’ on it. He/she points to a card with the numeral ‘two’ on it.

An example of naming a numeral:  A child is able to say the number word ‘two’ when presented with a numeral card with the numeral ‘two’ on it.

Some children may be able to identify numerals, but find it difficult to name a numeral. As such, it is important to ensure children are given opportunities to practise both identifying and naming numerals.

Scooter races, running races, and sneaking in a few quick rounds of our maths numerals card game. I think I’ve found an new, productive and enjoyable Spring time afternoon format.

Does your child need more practise with their numerals? Here are some more maths games that work with numerals.
Dice Bingo – Subitising
Button Paperclip Number Cards
Counting: Handful of Buttons

(I originally published a version of this post on KidsActivitiesBlog.com).

N & M: 4 years, 3 months
September 2012

The post Maths: Does Your Child Know Their Numerals? by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

 
Macro concepts & core enduring understandings:

 
Children begin exploring number and pre-algebraic concepts by pattern making. Genuine algebraic thinking begins with the development of a child’s ability to:

• Recognise, describe, create and continue repeating patterns;
• Describe repeating patterns in terms of the number of elements that repeat;
• Understand that the equals sign means ‘is the same as’.

 
Set the stage for learning:

 
To begin, make patterns using only colours or shapes. If using colours, place a variety of small dishes with different coloured paint on the table and the same block shape (e.g. squares) in each dish. If using shapes to make the patterns, use the same paint colour in each of the small dishes and place different shaped blocks in each paint dish. To extend the activity, you may provide different paints and shapes simultaneously.

 
Provide each child with a large piece of paper with lines drawn either vertically or horizontally, well spaced from each other for the child to print their patterns.

 
Support learning:

 
Encourage a child to:

• Create a wide variety of patterns.
• Describe the patterns verbally. Eg. ‘This pattern is made from triangles. The colours repeat. They go yellow, purple, yellow, purple…”
• Label the patterns using numbers that indicate the number of elements that repeat. Eg yellow, purple, yellow, purple is a ‘two’ pattern.
• Determine if two groups have the same number of objects and describe the equality. Eg ‘The number of shapes in this pattern here is the same as the number of shapes in that pattern there’.

The post Kindergarten Math: Patterns and Algebra with Block Printing by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Using a metronome,

it’s as simple as counting along with each beat.

In Australia, New South Wales, Kindergarten children (aged 5) are working towards being able to count forwards to 30 from a given number and backwards from a given number in the range 0 – 20, so don’t forget to practise counting backwards as well as forwards.

If you don’t have a metronome you could make a pendulum from string and anything that can be used as a weight.

N & M: 3 years, 9 months

This post was shared with

Link and Learn
After School
It’s Playtime
For the Kids Fridays
Kids Co-Op

The post Metronome Counting by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

 
This activity is for kids in the emergent counting stage. They know some number words but can’t count visible items. They either don’t know the correct sequence of number words or can’t coordinate the words with items.

Materials

Paper clips
Buttons
Glue gun
Cardboard
Marker

Making Button Paperclip Number Cards

1. Glue buttons onto paper clips
2. Cut large cardboard rectangles for number cards.
3. Write numerals zero to five on the number cards.

Aim of the activity

Help kids know the corresponding numeral for a set of objects.

How to play

Ask kids to slide the correct number of button paperclips onto the numeral cards.

Extension

Extend the activity by placing the numeral cards in either a forward or backward counting sequence.

Other skills practised

I found that this activity was also good for practising fine motor skills.

Sliding paperclips onto the numeral cards was tricky work for little fingers.

N & M: 3 years, 7 months

This post was shared in the following linky parties:

It’s Playtime

The post Button Paperclip Number Cards by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.