Materials
10 small objects with different shapes (different sizes of balls, various blocks
rectangle, oval, square)
dark cloth
tray
number cards
Instructions
1. Ahead of time, place a set of objects (five or fewer to start with) on a tray.
Cover the shapes with a dark cloth.
2. Invite a child to come and press her fingers over the cloth, feeling the number
of objects in the set. You can also ask the child to identify the shape.
3. Ask her to count the number of objects out loud. Then ask her to choose the
matching number card for that set of objects. For example, if she counts four
hidden objects, she would choose the numeral 4 card.
4. Uncover the items and count them together as a group.
5. Ask the children to identify the shapes.
6. When the children are counting well up to sets of 5, increase the number of
objects to sets of 6 through 10.
