Materials
blue plastic tarp or large tablecloth
5 to 10 hula hoops
green butcher paper or poster board (optional)
construction paper or poster board
tape
large open space for pond
Instructions
* Spread out the blue tarp (the "pond") on the ground in an open space
indoors or outdoors. It will represent a pond.
* Place green circles ("lily pads") of butcher paper on the pond. Place the lily
pads close enough so the children can jump safely from one to the next.
* Cut out numbers and place one on each lily pad.
Note: Tape everything down for security.
* Decorate the rest of the pond with stuffed frogs, ducks, and so on.
What to Do
1. Gather the children around the pond. Ask the children what they think it is.
2. Call the children's attention to the numbers on the lily pads. Ask if they can
name the numbers.
3. Tell the children that they are going to take turns being frogs. They are going
to jump from lily pad to lily pad and count while jumping, starting with
number one.
4. Call on a child to start. He can jump to hoop one and count or say, "One!"
The other children can say and count as they jump too.
5. Be sure each child gets a chance to hop across the lily pads.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
* Can the children count and say the numbers as they jump?
* When shown a number, can the children name what it is?
