| Math is as easy as 1 2 3. As adults we tend to | | | | activity if you teach a preschool class. |
| complicate things. Always remember that "Keep it | | | | Sorting and Grouping: |
| Simple" applies to children more than it does us. If | | | | This activity is great. It gets their little minds |
| you make learning easy and fun for your children, | | | | working and they have so much fun all at the |
| they are more likely to be able keep it in their | | | | same time. Get 3 pieces of paper and color one |
| mind and have a head start when it comes to | | | | large circle on each. Make sure each paper has a |
| learning. | | | | different color. Then get 3 groups of items. Make |
| This is all you have to do: | | | | sure each group matches one of the colors on |
| Use concrete items you can find around the | | | | the piece of paper. Then ask the child to sort |
| house. Items that are more familiar to the child | | | | them regarding color. |
| will work best. Try and use items that look the | | | | Example #1: One paper has a red circle on it, one |
| same, as this will also help with grouping and | | | | has blue, and the other has brown. I would set |
| sorting activities. | | | | out a bunch of red pom poms, blue popsicle |
| I am going to use apples and oranges in my | | | | sticks, and brown crayons. Then I would say, put |
| description of the activity but feel free to use | | | | all the red things on the paper with the red circle, |
| whatever items you desire. | | | | all the blue things with the blue circle etc. |
| Depending on the age of the child will make a | | | | Example #2: Put out two empty containers on a |
| difference on how many items are used. I am | | | | table. Put a bunch of crayons and markers all |
| going to use an example with a child who is the | | | | mixed together in the middle of the table. Ask the |
| age of around 4-5. | | | | child(ren) to put all the markers in one container |
| Simple Adding and Subtracting: | | | | and the crayons in another. |
| Line up 4 apples and let the child count them. 1, 2, | | | | Everything I have mentioned in the adding, |
| 3, 4. Take one away and put it behind your back. | | | | subtracting, and sorting/grouping activities can be |
| Now ask the child to count the apples. 1, 2, 3. | | | | altered anyway you wish. Add more items, use |
| Then explain what was done. We had 4 apples | | | | different items, sort by size, shape, feel, |
| and we took one away, so now we only have, 3. | | | | temperature. You can turn any activity into a |
| Ask the child to count them again. Do the same | | | | small math lesson. Even cleaning can be turned |
| with adding. Put 3 apples out and ask the child to | | | | into a math activity. How many buckets of toys |
| count them. Then add two apples and ask the | | | | did we clean up? Or, How many chairs do we |
| child to count them. Explain that adding two apples | | | | have around the table? How many children are |
| to the three apples that you had equals 5. | | | | here today? If Marisa went home, how many |
| Depending on the numbers that your child(ren) | | | | children would be left? The possibilities are endless. |
| can count up to, you can add more items to the | | | | Make math fun for preschoolers, they will become |
| activity. This activity can be done every day or a | | | | better, faster learners if we make it fun and |
| few times a week. Make sure there are not | | | | easy. Let's give them a head start. |
| many distractions around when doing this activity | | | | *To add numbers into the sorting activities, ask |
| so all of their attention is focused. You can do this | | | | the child(ren) to count as they sort through the |
| activity individually or as a group, or even a circle | | | | items and put them where they belong. |