Those for have been following on this blog will know that I love creating or thinking of new activities using open-ended materials such as pebbles, shells, sticks, buttons etc... following the ideas of the Reggio Emilia approach.
This year, I added two activities on our shelves.
Associate Numerals to Quantity
The first one is an activity helping children to associate numerals to quantities. The manipulatives are very appealing to the children.
Collect loose parts (don't forget to include natural loose materials such as pebbles here or even shells). I used small wooden cookies to display the loose parts clearly but you could use curtain big rings or even scallop shells (the flat part). I collected pebbles on the beach and wrote numerals on each single on of them before varnishing them. The child playing that game picks a pebble, places it on top of a wooden cookie and picks his/her loose parts. He/she then needs to place the right amount of loose parts on the cookie, according to the numeral he/she picked. Simple but extremely effective. The children love this game because they are creating their own learning and their own rules with the loose parts while their senses of touch and sight are being tingled.
Numeral recognition with pebbles
Collect loose parts (don't forget to include natural loose materials such as pebbles here or even shells). I used small wooden cookies to display the loose parts clearly but you could use curtain big rings or even scallop shells (the flat part). I collected pebbles on the beach and wrote numerals on each single on of them before varnishing them. The child playing that game picks a pebble, places it on top of a wooden cookie and picks his/her loose parts. He/she then needs to place the right amount of loose parts on the cookie, according to the numeral he/she picked. Simple but extremely effective. The children love this game because they are creating their own learning and their own rules with the loose parts while their senses of touch and sight are being tingled.
Numeral recognition with pebbles
A very simple number pebble game for the younger kids to help them with their number recognition.
Once again, I use the pebbles I collected at my local beach. I placed them in basket and showed the children how to use them during at circle time. It's a very simple activity but it helps children still struggling with their numbers. All the children need to do is to sort out the pebbles according to the numbers written on them. Each time they pick one pebble, the teacher calls the number and they then match it with the correct row of pebbles. Simple. But effective as the children love that type of manipulatives.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this post. Please share your own experience below in the comment box. I would love to hear from you.
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Check our post about children using pebbles to draw pictures or in coordination with the Montessori long rods. Click here
Love your blog. Great activities and great use of natural loose materials. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your nice commnent. I feel the children become more engrossed in the activity they have picked when the manipulatives are open-ended. Keep checking our blog for more ideas within the next few weeks.
DeleteThank you so much for your nice commnent. I feel the children become more engrossed in the activity they have picked when the manipulatives are open-ended. Keep checking our blog for more ideas within the next few weeks.
Delete