If you are not yet a subscriber, click here to SUBSCRIBE and get direct access to our growing list of FREE printables.
Igneous Rocks, Nomenclature and Fact Cards
FREE Rock Learning Materials
Monday, June 30, 2014
We've wrapped up our Rock Study and here are the materials that we've used. You can DOWNLOAD these files for FREE from our SUBSCRIBER PAGE and hope that you find them helpful :) Sorry if I don't have any Sedimentary Rock printable as I don't have any specimen as of the moment. You can check our Rock Study activity here for a guide on how we used these learning materials.
If you are not yet a subscriber, click here to SUBSCRIBE and get direct access to our growing list of FREE printables.
If you are not yet a subscriber, click here to SUBSCRIBE and get direct access to our growing list of FREE printables.
How to Introduce Numbers to Toddlers (Ages 1 to 3 years)
Sunday, June 29, 2014
I am sharing this as I have received multiple emails from fellow Mommies, asking how did I introduce numbers and counting to Mavi. To answer your questions, here are the Math-related activities I gave to Mavi when he was about one to three years old. Note that the timeline of the activities here are not in order.
1] Familiarization of Numbers using playdough. We made number symbols using PlayDoh. I first introduced 1-9 and as we progressed we did 10 to 19. I shared our Numbers and Letter playdoh mats last year, FREE Numbers and Letters Playdoh Mats.
2] Number matching puzzle. This is one activity I kept on repeating. You can check out this number matching puzzles in Amazon
4] 1 to 1 Correspondence. Again, I just made the graph. He counts the number of circles (with the number symbol on the side) by putting a stamp on it. Here, I showed him that the number represents the amount of circles present. There also learning materials in Amazon that can help reinforce this concept. My favorite are these:
5] Numbers and Stickers. Oh how my son loved this!! I cut out pieces of paper, write a number on the upper left side and place the same number of dots. Then Mavi and I would count along as we cover those dots with stickers. After which point to your child that the number of dots/sticker is represented by that number symbol.
6] Pin Colored/Counting Wheel. I honestly forgot the source of this material but this is one of our favourite. I labeled wooded pegs with numbers and colors so we can match them with the ones in the wheel. (If you happen to know the source please leave me a message!)
7] Montessori-Inspired Activity. The concept behind here is similar to the Montessori Numbered Spindle Box. I used plastic cups and craft sticks instead. Labeled the cups with numbers and asked Mavi to place the correct amount of sticks in each cup.
8] Do a Dot Markers. Now this is not necessary but I just have to mention that we love these markers and we love using it in counting! I still have these markers which I bought in Singapore in 2011. I can't wait to use them with Vito. You can get these in Amazon US, Do A Dot Art! Markers 6-Pack Rainbow Washable Paint Markers.
9] Homemade version of Montessori Number Rods. So I made number rods using foam and used magnetic numbers for the symbol. This helps a child develop an understanding of the quantitative relationship between numbers. Here's the link in Amazon US if you are thinking of buying one, Montessori Counting Rods.
10] Ordering numbers. So simple, we used magnetic numbers and I just wrote the numbers 0 to 9 on a piece of cardstock for the control chart. At first Mavi would match the magnetic numbers to the numbers in the cardstock. As we progress, I made him match the numbers in order of what is written. We would recite the numbers after each activity. Repetition of this activity will help the child understand the concept of ordering and counting. Here are some suggested links if you want to get your own magnetic numbers:
11] Number Crafts. Oh the first activity on numbers!! Expose them to number symbols similar to your alphabets. You can do this by doing crafts or reading books together.
12] Number Flashcards. Oh we found a way to make our flashcards useful. We counted those pictures on the flashcards using counting chips. My son loved this!!!
These are all easy to prepare math activities and I hope that I was able to give you enough ideas to bootstrap your math learning journey with your young one/s.
Happy Sunday!
1] Familiarization of Numbers using playdough. We made number symbols using PlayDoh. I first introduced 1-9 and as we progressed we did 10 to 19. I shared our Numbers and Letter playdoh mats last year, FREE Numbers and Letters Playdoh Mats.
2] Number matching puzzle. This is one activity I kept on repeating. You can check out this number matching puzzles in Amazon
- The Learning Journey Match It! Counting
- Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Wooden Number Puzzles With Storage Box (40 pcs)
4] 1 to 1 Correspondence. Again, I just made the graph. He counts the number of circles (with the number symbol on the side) by putting a stamp on it. Here, I showed him that the number represents the amount of circles present. There also learning materials in Amazon that can help reinforce this concept. My favorite are these:
5] Numbers and Stickers. Oh how my son loved this!! I cut out pieces of paper, write a number on the upper left side and place the same number of dots. Then Mavi and I would count along as we cover those dots with stickers. After which point to your child that the number of dots/sticker is represented by that number symbol.
6] Pin Colored/Counting Wheel. I honestly forgot the source of this material but this is one of our favourite. I labeled wooded pegs with numbers and colors so we can match them with the ones in the wheel. (If you happen to know the source please leave me a message!)
7] Montessori-Inspired Activity. The concept behind here is similar to the Montessori Numbered Spindle Box. I used plastic cups and craft sticks instead. Labeled the cups with numbers and asked Mavi to place the correct amount of sticks in each cup.
8] Do a Dot Markers. Now this is not necessary but I just have to mention that we love these markers and we love using it in counting! I still have these markers which I bought in Singapore in 2011. I can't wait to use them with Vito. You can get these in Amazon US, Do A Dot Art! Markers 6-Pack Rainbow Washable Paint Markers.
9] Homemade version of Montessori Number Rods. So I made number rods using foam and used magnetic numbers for the symbol. This helps a child develop an understanding of the quantitative relationship between numbers. Here's the link in Amazon US if you are thinking of buying one, Montessori Counting Rods.
10] Ordering numbers. So simple, we used magnetic numbers and I just wrote the numbers 0 to 9 on a piece of cardstock for the control chart. At first Mavi would match the magnetic numbers to the numbers in the cardstock. As we progress, I made him match the numbers in order of what is written. We would recite the numbers after each activity. Repetition of this activity will help the child understand the concept of ordering and counting. Here are some suggested links if you want to get your own magnetic numbers:
- Melissa & Doug 37 Wooden Number Magnets in a Box
- Roscoe Learning 124 Piece Magnetic Numbers and Counters Math Skills Set
11] Number Crafts. Oh the first activity on numbers!! Expose them to number symbols similar to your alphabets. You can do this by doing crafts or reading books together.
12] Number Flashcards. Oh we found a way to make our flashcards useful. We counted those pictures on the flashcards using counting chips. My son loved this!!!
These are all easy to prepare math activities and I hope that I was able to give you enough ideas to bootstrap your math learning journey with your young one/s.
Happy Sunday!
Study of Rocks for Kids
Friday, June 27, 2014
Mavi has always been fascinated with rocks. He's been obsessed with rocks and dinosaurs since he discovered Dinosaur Train. We have piles of rocks in our backyard that he had collected for some time now and he considered them his precious collection. We've already had our experiment on Rock Cycle and it was a hit.
Thus, I had an idea to do this activity to feed his interest. I purchased a set of Igneous Rocks and Metamorphic Rocks (I did not get the Sedimentary Rocks but here's the link for your reference), collected more rocks from the seaside and borrowed books from the library to complete our rock study.
Thus, I had an idea to do this activity to feed his interest. I purchased a set of Igneous Rocks and Metamorphic Rocks (I did not get the Sedimentary Rocks but here's the link for your reference), collected more rocks from the seaside and borrowed books from the library to complete our rock study.
Spice Up Your Life!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to entertain your little ones and at the same time have those sense of smell and taste up to work... I suggest you give them this activity or something similar.
This activity is an introduction to spices. I love to cook and considering that I am Asian, I use a variety of spices in my homecooked meals. Mavi has always been interested in cooking and would ask what's this and what's that. So one day when we were stuck at home and he was begging me to give him an activity, this is what we did.
I took out all the spices I have in the spice rack and printed my Herbs and Spices Cards which I made early this year so we can do some smelling, tasting and matching activity.
As you can seem, aside from the powdered spices I also presented the real ones (garlic and ginger). I ran out of cinnamon sticks though.
So all you needed to do is present each spice, how you use it and where you use it.
Let them have a smell...
touch....
and a taste.
We kept on laughing at his reactions, whenever he tasted a spice that he doesn't like for example the garlic and ginger. Then I asked him questions along the way. How he would describe the cloves, the peppercorns, the cumin etc.
In the end, it was an enjoyable and fun activity for Mavi. As you know kids always love to taste and touch things, and they are most interested in those stuff that Mommy use! So it was nice that he gets to explore spices and how it satisfied his curiosity.
Just in case you don't have any of these spices, just use the ones available in your kitchen! It can be salt, sugar, soy sauce or whatever you feel like using.
Try this and have fun!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)