Materials
Teddy bear counters or poker chips sandwich-size plastic bags masking tapemarker
Instructions
1. Prepare several bags with various numbers of counters or chips. You might choose to fill a bag with four, one with five, one with six, and another with seven. The number of items in the bag depends on the children's comfort level with counting.
2. Seal each bag securely with masking tape. Write how many counters are in the bag on the masking tape.
3. Review the number of objects in each bag with the children.
4. Demonstrate how the items can be manipulated through the plastic to create a number of different combinations.
5. Encourage the child to manipulate the objects in as many ways as he can think of. He can record his efforts on a work sheet that you provide.