Beans and Pasta Shapes

A meaningful activity never has to be a big, fancy, deal.

In fact, at this age, lessons are so short and simple, that they are constantly happening.  Even when you aren't meaning too!  Which is why we should be thoughtful about our time and interactions with our little ones.  They are ALWAYS learning from you!  Scary!

I've been so bad about snapping pictures, blogging really.  But today I managed to snap a few of our post-breakfast fun!  

We read:

as a little introduction to our activity.

Then I grabbed:

• index cards
• pasta and beans (stolen from our sensory table)
• glue
• marker

I drew a circle, triangle and square then labeled it at the bottom.  As I drew, I talked about the shape and letters I was writing.

He chose to start with the circle.

I glued on the drawing and let him get busy with the pasta and beans!

We talked about the shapes, how many sides they had, and real life objects that are those shapes.

Did he finish all 3?  No.

Did he finish 1?  No.

That is how he rolls.

All of 5 minutes later, we hung them on our magnet board.  Glue dripping and all.

The most important part of crafty looking, glue, paint-ishy projects is the PROCESS, 

not the end product.

We had a good 5 minutes talking about these shapes, all while doing a little fine motor work!  That is what the process was about!

One-to-One Correspondence (continued)

You guys must be some One-to-One Correspondence Loving Fools, because that seems to be a top post each week.

Which is GREAT!  It's such a great Math Readiness Skill!

If you would like some background on this topic check out the original post:

One-to-One Correspondence

Two new games we've added to our Play Space are simple (and similar) ways to practice counting and the meaning behind those numbers you are chanting.

So this first one isn't really new...at all: 

 

We made it before Christmas.  The opposite side is painted green and has sparkles on it.   Yes, it was meant to be a Christmas Egg Carton Tree craft.  However, cutesy crafts just never go as planned in our home.

BUT if you just flip over the egg cartons, voila, a perfect way to organize and partition off little objects!  Which is the best way to enforce one-to-one correspondence in it's most basic form!

 This is the second:

I was planning on making it a train.  Right now they are cars that he drives all over the mat.  So they will probably stay that way.

I'm thinking this time we will paint the side you see!

To Make:

You will need egg cartons, staples (or glue if you are patient) and some objects to count.  

Cut egg cartons and assemble into a shape of your choice.

Rules of the Games:

1. Every ball needs a home.  

2. Every home only needs one ball.

3. Count the balls as they are placed in their "home."

I'm starting to hear some more number words recently!  His favorite seems to be 9, which is strange.  Every time we're counting his voice gets really loud on 9, like most people do for 10.  He cracks me up!

(and Carter, 2 years old)

One-to-One Correspondence

Great book for this lesson!

If your child is already in preschool or has started kindergarden, then chance are, you have heard the term "one-to-one correspondence" before. Maybe it's been listed on their Skills Accomplished list or Report Card.

It is usually explained as the ability to match one object to one (corresponding) number or object.

Example: 1 egg per egg carton holder. 12 total.

or

Example: 2 socks to 2 shoes.

This concept is so fundamental that we often don't even think about it. Most people want to jump right into teaching their kiddos to count 1-10. While Rote learning (memorizing counting numbers) is a handy tool, it can just be like singing a song and have no meaning to them. In order to lay a strong foundation for mathematic understanding they need to fully understand the meaning behind each of those little ol' numbers!

Children (all people really) learn best by using concrete examples, hands-on and FUN learning!

There are so so many ways to practice this concept for all developmental levels and can be as simple as:

• Count your fingers and toes (touching each of them).
• Count all of the animals in a book.
• Covering the numbers 1-5 with the corresponding amount of stickers.
• Counting the trees or cars you pass on a walk!

Teacher Tip- 3 techniques to help teaching this concept:

1. Scanning- Have your child move their hand over the object as you count out loud. Better yet...touch it!
2. Organize- If the items are scattered about you can move them together. Once counted, you can move them into a line or in an organized shape. Your child can then go back if they lose track, reorganize their thoughts, and pick back up.
3. Partition- Assign separate "compartments" for all objects, counted and not yet! Like egg cartons, cups, baskets, paper cut into different shapes labeled with a number.

Do NOT let this explanation scare you. Most likely you are already doing these things and you hadn't even thought about it! See you are a teacher!

Here is an example of us playing (and secretly practicing 1-to-1 correspondence yesterday).

See that isn't scary!

And do not let these two pictures fool you. This lasted all of about 3 minutes!

There are so many ways to practice this! Here are some from a quick google image search:

No Time for Flash Cards

Rockabye Butterfly

What other ways do you practice this concept? Please share!

Valentine's Day for little people!

Valentine's Day is three weeks away, and I have a few fun ideas to share with you to give you a jump start!

Art Activity:

Ice cube painting! This is really fun, easy, and not as messy as real paint! And, I save the jumbo craft sticks after they are done, and just reuse them!

Supplies Needed:

Jumbo craft sticks cut in half, foil, and an ice cube tray.

1. Fill an ice cube tray with water, cover with foil.
2. Stick craft sticks through the foil into the trays.
3. Freeze

Next:
Grab a box of red (or any color) Jello.
Draw a few hearts or leave the paper blank.
Sprinkle the dry Jello onto the paper, and let your child use the ice pops to paint! 

He is using his five senses! I love it!

Let dry and cut into hearts or hang up as is!!

Songs:
(I am having blogger issues with the formatting! Sorry)

Love:

Tune:  Row Your Boat 
Love, love, is all around,

It will grow with you.

Show it, tell it,

Feel it, share it.

Make it part of you!

I Love You! 
Tune: Three Blind Mice 
I love you!  I love you! 
Yes, I do.  Yes, I do.

I love you every night and day. 

I love you when I work and play. 

I love you in so many ways.

I love you!

Math:

• Candy heart sorting: printable sorting mats and graphs can be found here at ABC School House (also other fun Valentine printables too!)
• Symmetry:
• Cut out a heart and put paint in the shape of half a heart on one side.
• Fold and press down lightly. Ta-da! 

Valentine Mail Boxes:

There are probably about 1,000 ways you can decorate a shoe box to collect valentines in. I chose to make ours like a post office mailbox. It is more 'boyish' for Valentine's Day!

Tape the lid on, and use a knife to cut a hole in the front.
Cut a hole in the back so you can easily remove the Valentines!
Cover the box in blue construction paper.
Add a flag, hearts, and decorations!

The boys didn't help me with this, but they did sit and eat lunch while I worked on it. We have a party to attend on Valentine's Day, and I thought all the kids would enjoy shoving valentines into the slot! Although, we are going to have to practice doing this!

12 Days of Christmas: Epiphany Cookies

On the 10th Day of Christmas my grandkids gave to me,

lots of cookies to decorate and eat.

We are back from a wonderful Christmas holiday, filled with tons of family memory making.

Did you know that the TRUE 12 Days of Christmas start on December 25 and end twelve days later on January 5? These twelve days after Christmas is also known as Epiphany, the time when the three wise men followed a star to meet the new King, little baby Jesus.

Baking cookies is a fun tradition in most families during the holiday season and is a great way to extend the holidays. It is not only a lesson in math and science with the measuring, pouring, counting spoonfuls, etc., it can be a Bible story or a devotion.

1. Star Cookie Cutter: The angel told the three wise men to follow the star and, when they did, it took them to Bethlehem where they found Jesus. They gave Him their gifts: a bag of gold, a jar of frankincense, the perfume of flowers sort of like potpourri, and a special box of myrrh - the perfume of spices.
2. Heart Cookie Cutter: The heart represents love. What do you think of when you see the heart? Do you know that God loves you and He loved you so much He gave you a sacrificial gift, His Son, Jesus? Sacrificial? What's that? Well...do you have something that you really love -- more than almost anything? You only have one like it - maybe a special blanket - and you give it away. Well, that's what sacrificial means. Let's say all you had in the whole world was one dollar and you were hungry but you saw someone else who was also hungry. You took your dollar and bought the other hungry person food. That would be giving a sacrifice.
3. Cross Cookie Cutter: The cross represents life. The cross represents Jesus, the reason for the season. The baby Jesus grew up and He learned to walk and talk and became a man. He went to the cross and died for our sins. Jesus went to Heaven to be with His heavenly Father. When we believe in Him, He forgives our sins and then, one day, we will live in Heaven with Jesus forever.
4. Candle Cookie Cutter: The candle represents light of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 5:16 says we are to let our light shine. Our faith, thoughts and feelings are to be full of light. Light gives a welcome feeling. Christmas gives a special opportunity to let our light shine. We can tell others about Jesus and that Christmas is His birthday.

After baking the cookies, frost them or lightly dust them with powdered sugar. Divide them onto plates, making sure that each plate has at least one of each shape. Let your children help distribute them to family and friends.

Even though the receivers of these decorated cookies may not know the meaning of each of the cookie shapes, those who made them do. Meanwhile, the "bakers" have learned a bit more about the story of Christmas and the message of Christ...and special memories are made.

We forgot to take pictures of our cookie making! But enjoy this one!

12 Days of Learning: Sneaky Math Activities

On the seventh day of Christmas my Grammy gave to me:
Fun ways to hide math games!
Don't tell the kids, but here a couple of ways to encourage eye-hand, small motor and math development during the Christmas holidays. It is also a great filler for those times when there hands need to be busy so that you can use your hands dong something else. :)

#1 The Old fashioned paper chains:

Offer strips of red, green, white construction paper cut 1" wide. Have the tape dispenser handy and have your child loop and tape the strips in AB order (red/green/red/green). Add a white one in the mix for ABC pattern, (red/green/white...) Then have him make up his own pattern. This activity will help develop all the skills listed above.

To make this even prettier with a little more interest, cut strips from assorted wrapping paper. Remember to add a foil paper in there somewhere for extra sparkle.

#2 Pony Bead Candy Canes:

Purchase packages of red, green and white pony beads and pipe cleaners from Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels. pour them in a bowl. Cut the pipe cleaners in half and fold the end of the pipecleaner to keep the beads in place.

Encourage your child to pattern the beads to make a candy cane. When they are tired of making candy canes just ask them to create any ornament using the same supplies. You will be surprised at what they will create. I think we still have a peace sign (Brandon) from years past.

*When your child is making the candy canes, remember to remind them of the shepherd's staff and how they travelled from afar to see the baby Jesus.

#3 Popsicle stick stars:

Take several popsickle sticks, glue and sparkley jewels, confetti or glitter.

Have your child glue three sticks criss -cross to make a star. After they have dried, decorate them with confetti, jewels or glitter. They sky is the limit. You ask where is the math? Well how do three sticks make six points? Hmmmmmmm.

This is also a great way to tie in the bright, shiny Christmas star. Tell them that when we let our light shine through out the year, it will brighten our world and other's, as well.

Most of all, HAVE FUN!!!!

Rita