Support Materials --

Math for All

Numbers

During this 30-minute math program you will:

use simple counting activities with your children.

play number games that help children become more comfortable with numbers.

use materials that will help children make sense of numbers

Activity #1

Count them - eggs-actly!
In this activity parents will use egg cartons to help their children see the meaning of numbers.

Mark the egg carton cups 1-12.

Have your child put one bean in each cup; then count how many beans you have altogether

With an older child, match the number of beans with the number on each cup. How many beans did you use altogether? (Your child should use a total of 78 beans.)
Materials:

pennies
Egg cartons for one dozen eggs
lima beans
marking pens
Additional Activities:
For older children increase the number of beans you put in each cup, starting with 2 per cup. Add the number of beans you put in each cup, starting with 2 per cup. Add the number of beans in cup #1 to those in cup #2, etc. Count and record the results at each step. You will end up with the multiplication table for 2. Challenge older children by using higher numbers in the same manner.

Activity #2

How many to make ten? - "Dimely" Advice!
Make a game board on a piece of paper by drawing two rows of circles with five circles in each row. Each player will need a game board. Put a set of number cards face down on the table. Draw a number card and put the same amount of beans or pennies on your circles. The person who covers the card first is the winner.
Materials:

15 small cards
3 numbered with #1, 6 with #2, 6 with #3
marking pens or crayons
beans or pennies
Additional Activities:
Play the game using pennies and dimes. trade 10 pennies for each dime. The person who gets five dimes first is the winner. Make up your own rules.

Activity #3

Number Neighbors!
In this activity you will help your child put numbers in order. Use 10 clothespins and write one number on each pin, 1-10. Young children can place the numbers in numerical order 1-10; older children can be asked to place the number neighbor to the right or left of a given number.
Materials:

a metal coat hanger
10 wooden clothespins with springs
marking pen
Additional Activities:
Use several coat hangers to show ones and tens. For older children make up small cards using a variety of numbers from 1-100, mix them up and have your child put them in order in a row.
Try this at home:

Use two paper or plastic plates. With pennies, count out the age of your child then see how many different ways you can divide the pennies between the plates, i.e., how many ways can you show " 7."

Try this same activity with the ages of other members of the family and then try using three plates.