Number

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK, MONTH, YEAR
Insert the details for surprise activities into five small gift bags (pajama day, lunch at the park, special snack, etc.), one for each day of the week. Number the bags from 1 to 5. Each day, present the group with a challenge such as cleaning up properly, following the rules, sharing, etc. In the afternoon, if the group succeeded, randomly pick a number from 1 to 5. Select the bag with the corresponding number and reveal the surprise activity. Depending on the activity, the group can enjoy it right away or the next day.

CIRCLE TIME

Nancy Hamelin suggests an imaginary game to begin each day. (Open thematic letter - numbers) Print the letter and insert it in an envelope. Place the envelope in an easy to find place in the daycare. During circle time, have the children find the letter and read portions of the interactive story to them.

AREA SETUP

(Open number chart) Print, laminate, and hang the chart at children's eye level. With Velcro, they enjoy attaching the correct number of symbols to each number.

Arrange a store area : cash register, pretend coins, crayons, brown paper bags, empty containers, small scale, aprons, etc. (Open pretend money) Print and laminate several copies.

PICTURE GAMES

Choose from the different sizes of numbers 0 to 9. (Open picture game - numbers) Print and laminate the desired formats. The numbers may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Have children speak of the numbers they are familiar with. Examples of questions are: the date of their birthday, their address, their telephone number, their age, the number of fingers or toes they have, etc. When one child provides an answer, the others must identify the number. The numbers may also be used simply to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner.

ACTIVITY SHEET
Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow the instructions. (Open activity sheets workbook - numbers)

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
Have fun with these great workshop ideas provided by Caroline Allard.

Construction or Building blocks:

• A bin with one white block, two red blocks, three blue blocks, etc.
• Cars, figurines, wooden blocks to sort, count, or create patterns
• Laminated cardboard pieces representing parking lots with numbers on each one which represent the number of cars which may park on them

Arts & Crafts:

• Precut shapes and a craft according to specific instructions (ex. you must use one red circle, two yellow triangles and five green squares).
• Pasta collages

Drawing:

• Coloring pages involving numbers
• Color by number
• Count crayons while you are at it!

Role Play:

• Convert the role play area into a classroom décor to learn numbers! A chalk board, a shirt for the teacher, glasses, notebooks, pencils, paper, calculators...
• Decorate the area with giant numbers 0 thru 10 cut out and hung on the wall
• Add a desk to the area if you have one on hand
• Use the cash register and pretend money....for pretend counting!

Manipulation:

• Memory game with Educatout pictures or numbers 0 thru 10
• Have parents send in old calculators, remote controls, or telephones! They all have numbers and children can learn to recognize them by manipulating these
• Objects of all kinds for counting, dividing into smaller groups or placing in ascending or descending order.

Small figurines, beads, blocks, etc.

• Modeling clay with number shaped pastry cutters
• Magnetic board and numbers. A simple baking sheet will do.
• Abacus
• Board games with simple rules to count from 1 to 6
• Thread beads and count them (two red, 5 yellow, etc.)

Pre-reading:

• Books about numbers
• Poster representing groups of objects for numbers 0 to 10 or more
• Flashcards for visualizing numbers (1 apple, 2 oranges, 3 bananas...)

Pre-writing:

• Numbers for tracing
• Connect the dots with numbers 0 to 10 or more
• Various worksheets for number recognition and learning to count while having fun
• Old typewriter for the fun of making numbers and letters appear on a piece of paper and to encourage number
• recognition

Motor Skills:

• All motor games which begin with 1-2-3 go!
• Obstacle course with numbered instructions (ex. jump in the hoop one time, go through the tunnel two times, etc.)
• Indoor or outdoor hopscotch

Sensory Bins:

• Bin filled with rocks of various colors to sort and count
• Bin filled with colored balls, socks, or anything at all as long as the content can be sorted, arranged into patterns, and counted!

Science:

• Color combinations....one drop of blue with two drops of yellow, you have green!
• Simple recipe with ingredients measured with a measuring cup...that's playing with numbers!

WORD FLASHCARDS

The flashcards may be used during circle time, in your reading and writing area, or to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards) Numbers, number one, prize, dice, paper money, coins, telephone, remote control, time, date, hopscotch, pair

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

Somersault contest
(Open - Olympic scoring game) Print and laminate. Have children perform somersaults one at a time. The number cards can be used to judge their peers. Add up the total score.

Number Race
(Open numbers 0 to 9) Print and cut out the numbers. Hide them in the daycare. Following your signal, the children must collect all the numbers.

Who does this number belong to?
(Open picture game - numbers) Print and laminate. Place the large numbers in a circle on the floor. Be sure to have one number per child. Hold the small numbers in your hand. To begin the game, each child stands behind a number. When the music begins, the children walk around the circle. When the music stops, they must quickly sit on a number. Pick a card from the stack in your hands. The child sitting on that number must sit in the center of the circle. The game ends when there is only one child left.

Play Store

(Open pretend money) Print and laminate several copies. Set up a cash register and have children take turns operating it. The other children each have a bag to "shop" in the store (daycare) and purchase items of their choice (toys in the daycare). You may prefer to give them specific items to look for (ex. Egg cartons). When they have found what they wish to purchase, they must proceed to checkout. Hide the egg cartons throughout the daycare to make it more difficult for them. This game is ideal for tidying up the daycare. Explain that a good store must have organized shelves. Shelves can even be dusted. Most importantly, have them take inventory of the various toys (ex. the number of puzzles on the shelves).

Number Necklace
Use fun foam numbers. Make holes in the numbers with a hole-punch. Provide each child with a string long enough to be tied safely around their neck. Have them thread numbers to make a necklace.

Perforated Numbers
(Open models of perforated numbers) Print, laminate, and perforate the numbers. Place laces with knotted ends on a table. Have children lace the numbers.

Giant Pyramid
Collect twelve rolls of toilet paper. Have children pile them one on top of the other counting out loud every time they add one. One roll, two rolls, three rolls, etc. Keep going until they fall over and then....start again!

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Counting Walk
Take a walk with the children. Have them count the number of houses, cars, trees, etc. as you go along.

Hopscotch
Use chalk or electrical tape. Draw one or several hopscotch designs (depending on the number of children) on the asphalt or floor. Have children play backwards or begin at the end. They should play two by two.

Number Walk
Provide children with sidewalk chalks. Have them write numbers in the driveway for parents to see when they return at the end of the day.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

I'm counting worms
(Open I'm counting worms) Print, laminate and attach an action to mime behind each apple. A child chooses an apple and counts the worms on the apple. If he is correct, read the corresponding mime and have the group act it out. Have another child choose an apple.

I know my phone number
(Open I know my phone number game) Print, laminate and cut out. With Velcro, children inscribe their phone number at the bottom of the page.

The shaking box
Use an empty egg carton. Write the numbers 1, 2, and 3, three times each in different sections of the egg carton. In the remaining sections, glue pictures of a dog, a mouse, and a rooster (or other animal pictures on hand). Children place a button in the egg carton and close it. They shake the box before opening it to see in which section the button landed. If it fell on a number, the children must name the number. If it fell in a section containing the picture of an animal, they must reproduce the sound associated with that animal (barking for the dog, squeak, squeak for the mouse, or cock-a-doodle-doo for the rooster).

Number bingo
(Open number Bingo) Print and laminate. Play number bingo with the group.

Giant Die
Make a giant die with an empty cardboard box or foam puzzle pieces assembled as a cube. On each side, glue a number and an object. For example, 4 trucks, 2 dolls, 4 blocks...One at a time, children roll the die. They must then gather the correct quantity of the object obtained.

In my basket...
Children sit in a circle with various objects placed in the center. A basket circulates around the circle. When children have the basket in their hands, they must count the objects it contains, name them, and add one before passing it to the next player. The game continues until the basket contains all the objects.

SOCIAL AND MORAL ACTIVITIES

Cards
Children form groups of two. Lay one or more card games on the ground so that they can be seen by all. The object of the game is to group together like cards as quickly as possible (example : the four cards bearing number 2, the four cards bearing number 5, etc.). Children all begin simultaneously at your command. The team who finishes first, wins.

I am number...
Assign yourself a number and do the same for each child in the group (all numbers must be different). Begin by saying, for example: "I am calling number 2". Number 2 must then say "I am calling number 3"...

I am a builder
For this activity, children can work alone or as teams. Distribute a different number of wooden blocks to each. Children must create a structure with the number of blocks they are given.

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Measuring
Prepare a water table for the children (or any other exploration bin). Include measuring cups, measuring spoons, etc. Children must measure liquid and attempt to name the numbers.

Quantities
Pour liquid into two different containers and ask children which one contains more and/or less. This activity may also be done with objects which can be counted (Smarties, grapes, dried fruit, etc.) and divided into two groups. Children can then count them to confirm which contained more or less.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

I count while I eat
At snack time, place an apple in front of each child. Cut each child's apple into four pieces. Have them count how many pieces they obtain. Cut again and count one more time. At lunch time, serve small green peas and have children count them....what fun!

Measuring
Prepare muffins, cookies, or another type of recipe. Have children help you measure the various ingredients. Explain how important this is for the success of recipes.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Sand Numbers
Hand out one square of sand paper to each child. Trace the number of their choice onto it. Have them cut out the number you traced (or they traced on their own). Fill a container with water. Have them dip pieces of chalk (sidewalk chalk or other) into the water and color their number with them.

Funny Number
Children choose a specific number and create a character, animal, or object with it.

Number Mobile
(Open-number mobile) Print. Trace the number eight onto a piece of cardboard. Cut it out. Next, cut out the remaining numbers and insert strings of different lengths to hang them from the number eight shape. Add three strings in the predetermined holes on the number eight to hang the mobile from the ceiling.

COLORING PAGES
(Open coloring pages for theme - numbers)

SONGS & RHYMES

One, two, buckle my shoe 

One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, start again

I caught a fish 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5
I caught a fish alive
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
I let it go again

Have fun!

The Educatall team