Materials
- Large wood or plastic trucks
- Small blocks
What to do
1. Bring toy trucks and small blocks outside. As the children are playing, encourage them to build something with the small blocks. Point out that they can use the large trucks to move the blocks to where they want to build.
2. Ask the children to put one block in the truck and deliver it to the construction site. Count out loud with them as they load the block.
3. When they return, ask them to put two blocks in the truck and deliver it. Count out loud with them as they load the blocks.
4. Continue in this manner, adding one block on each trip until you reach a total of five blocks in each truck. Remember to count out loud with them each time.
5. Accompany the children to the construction site and help them build a large house or any other structure they want.
More to do
1. Math: As you help the children build, count the number of blocks used.
2. More Math: Make a large block graph on the sidewalk with chalk. Draw a graph six squares high and five squares long. In the bottom row of squares, print the numbers 1 through 5 (both numerically and alphabetically). Ask the children to place one block in the first column, two in the second column, and so on until the graph is filled. Count each block as they are laid in each column, starting at one each time. When the graph is finished, count all the blocks in it.
-Virginia Jean Herrod, Columbia, SC
Instructions
1. Paint a paper plate yellow on one side and black on the other. Let dry.
2. Fold the plate in half so that the black is on the inside.
3. Fold orange paper in half and cut out a triangle about 6 1/2 " by 11." This will
be the beak.
4. Glue the beak along the folded line inside the plate.
5. Cut two circles from black paper and fold them in half. Glue them on the
lower part of the plate.
6. Make a paper plate "bird" for each child
7. As you say the following poem, the children will hold their birds in one hand
and use the fingers of their other hands to be the worms.
While little bird sang a song
Five little worms wiggled along. (wiggle fingers)
Little bird smiled with glee
"I'll get me one," said she. (the "bird" eats one thumb disappears)
While little bird sang a song
Four little worms wiggled along.
Little bird smiled with glee
"I'll get me one," said she. (the "bird eats another one index finger disappears)
Continue until the five worms (fingers) have disappeared.
