Mathematics
Young children are eager to learn mathematics and use it daily, often without realizing it. Adults can support children's natural curiosity by providing positive experiences and hands-on activities, such as counting blocks, creating shapes, and finding class favorites. This approach helps develop computational and analytical skills and fosters a healthy attitude towards mathematics.
5 additional materials to further children's learning and exploration: Unifix cubes, math manipulatives, wooden pattern blocks, geoboards, and real-working cash register.
KDI's List:
31. Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols.
32. Counting: Children count things.
33. Part-whole relationships: Children combine and separate quantities of objects.
34. Shapes: Children identify, name, and describe shapes.
35. Spatial awareness: Children recognize spatial relationships among people and objects.
36. Measuring: Children measure to describe, compare, and order things.
37. Unit: Children understand and use the concept of unit.
38. Patterns: Children identify, describe, copy complete, and create patterns.
39. Data analysis: Children use information about quantity to draw conclusions, make decisions, and solve problems.
1
Planning Form
Name of Activity
Unifix Cube Counts
Originating Idea
Children will practice counting from 1 to 10 using unit cubes. Children will develop fine motor skills by manipulating the Unifix cubes. Children will understand the concept of number quantity through hands-on activities
Curriculum Area
Highlight 1:
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies
KDIs
32. Counting: Children count things.
Materials
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Promethean Board or any other computer set up with access to YouTube
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Introducing the song Counting to 10 Forward and Backward by Jack Hartmann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb5n2o-NWSQ
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Unifix cubes
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Container for cubes
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Counting mats or large number cards with 1-10
Appropriate Age group
GSRP – ages 3 to 5
Beginning of Activity
Introduce numbers 1 to 10 using the counting mats or large number cards. Explain that each number represents a specific quantity. As you show each number card, use the corresponding number of Unifix cubes, placing them next to the number. For example, place 1 cube by the number 1, 2 cubes by the number 2, and so on.
Middle of Activity
Give each child a set of unit cubes (enough to count to 10). Call out numbers randomly and ask children to find the corresponding quantity of cubes.
Early:
Children may rote count objects by saying numbers in random order.
Middle:
Children may count up to 10 objects may double-count or skip numbers.
Later:
Children may count objects correctly with one-to-one correspondence.
End of Activity
Gather the children together and review the numbers and quantities they worked with. Ask a few children to share which number they liked counting the most and why.
Follow-up Ideas (2)
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Dino Sort
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Shape Pizza
2
Planning Form
Name of Activity
Dino Sort
Originating Idea
Children will enhance their counting skills and learn to sort objects according to different attributes (color and type/species) using dinosaur counters.
Curriculum Area
Highlight 1:
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies
KDIs
33. Part-whole relationships: Children combine and separate quantities of objects.
Materials
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Lakeshore Dinosaur Counters
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Different colored craft trays, sorting mats or similar color matching containers
Appropriate Age group
GSRP – ages 3 to 5
Beginning of Activity
Hand out a set of plastic dinosaurs to each child or small group. Ask children to count how many color dinosaurs they have. Each child takes turns sharing their count with the group. Encourage them to show their dinosaurs while counting. Give the remaining dinosaurs to everyone after they count in order to sort them all.
Middle of Activity
Each child will then take turns gently tossing their dinosaurs into the correct colored trays to sort them by colors.
Early:
Children may create or divide a set from a group of objects.
Middle:
Children may combine objects into a set or divide a set of objects and be able to describe what they are doing.
Later:
Children may combine objects into a set and say how many there are as well as divide a set of objects and tell how many there are.
End of Activity
Allow children to share what they sorted and why. Emphasize the importance of sorting and organizing.
Follow-up Ideas (2)
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Unifix Cube Counts
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Shape Pizza
3
Planning Form
Name of Activity
Shape Pizza
Originating Idea
Children will learn to identify and name different shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle) while creating a pizza with various shape toppings.
Curriculum Area
Highlight 1:
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social studies
KDIs
34. Shapes: Children identify, name and describe shapes.
Materials
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20+ Glue sticks
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Various writing utensils like pencils, crayons, and/or markers
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Precut Shapes enough for everyone plus the teachers
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20+ premade pizza cards for the number of toppings used
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20+ large brown circles for the pizza dough
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Lots of small red circles for the pepperoni
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Lots of gray squares for the mushrooms
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Lots of black triangles for the olives
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Lots of yellow rectangles for the cheese
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Appropriate Age group
GSRP – ages 3 to 5
Beginning of Activity
Start by asking the children if they know what shape a pizza is. Show them a pizza and identify its shape (circle). Then talk about other toppings that go on a pizza and what shapes those are.
Middle of Activity
Show children the pizza construction of making a pizza by demonstrate gluing various shapes to your pizza. Give the children their own pile of “toppings” and a pizza dough and allow them to glue on the toppings of their choice. See if the children are able to count the toppings they used and write the number on their pizza card.
Early:
Children may manipulate shapes in play, match some shapes without identifying their individual attributes.
Middle:
Children may recognize and name basic shapes like circle, triangle and square while using the same label for a similar shape calling a rectangle a square and be able to identify a few shape attributes a circle has 1 side, a triangle as 3 sides, etc.
Later:
Children may identify two-dimensional shapes like rectangle, diamond, oval and some three-dimensional shapes like cone, cube and pyramid, know what makes a shape a shape regardless of the size or orientation.
End of Activity
Have each child share their pizza with the class, describing the shapes they used and how many of each shape.
Follow-up Ideas (2)
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Unifix Cube Counts
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Dino Sort