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Dice Play that Teaches Kids Numeracy

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience 4 Comments

Dice Play for NumeracyI am a passionate believer in play as the best method for teaching young children.  And sometimes, the kids teach me a little something through play as well!

Part of a play-based learning philosophy is having materials that will invite the child to play with concepts and ideas.  So, being the nut for play and learning that I am, I have shelves and drawers and pockets full of these kinds of materials.  A simple material that’s been getting some increased attention from my kids lately is a container full of dice.

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What's in the Number Bag?

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Positive Guidance and Social Skills Leave a Comment

bagI’m trying something new this year, in an attempt to combine a little bit of a show-and-tell opportunity and a numeracy activity.  I’m calling my experiment “The Number Bag”.  You might want to try it out too, and let me know how it works for you!

My magical, mystical number bag is simply a cloth drawstring bag.  The bag is sent home with a card with a number  written on it (1-5 for starters), along with the activity instructions in case any parents need a reminder.  The child can bring anything they want in that quantity.  For example, for the number 3 they may want to bring three toy cars or three cool rocks.    (I will let parents know that if their child has something really special they want to share, they are welcome to use some creativity to make it work for the number bag.  For example, if the child has a new doll she wants to share, but has the number 3, you might put in three dresses the doll might wear, or a dress with three buttons, and then include the doll to share as well.  Or send the doll along with two other dolls of some kind.) 

[Read more…]

What’s in the Number Bag?

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Positive Guidance and Social Skills Leave a Comment

bagI’m trying something new this year, in an attempt to combine a little bit of a show-and-tell opportunity and a numeracy activity.  I’m calling my experiment “The Number Bag”.  You might want to try it out too, and let me know how it works for you!

My magical, mystical number bag is simply a cloth drawstring bag.  The bag is sent home with a card with a number  written on it (1-5 for starters), along with the activity instructions in case any parents need a reminder.  The child can bring anything they want in that quantity.  For example, for the number 3 they may want to bring three toy cars or three cool rocks.    (I will let parents know that if their child has something really special they want to share, they are welcome to use some creativity to make it work for the number bag.  For example, if the child has a new doll she wants to share, but has the number 3, you might put in three dresses the doll might wear, or a dress with three buttons, and then include the doll to share as well.  Or send the doll along with two other dolls of some kind.) 

[Read more…]

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