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
