Materials
6 medium-sized boxescraft knife (adult only)6 beanbag animalstwist tiessets of objectsnumber cardsplastic hoopsgarden/floral wire
Instructions
1. Cut the flaps off the boxes so that one side is open.
2. Attach a beanbag animal to the top of each box: Put the open side of the box face down on the floor. Poke two holes in the center of the top of the box, about 2" apart. Attach the animal between the two holes by wrapping a pieceof garden wire over the animal and through the two holes. Use a twist tie to attach it securely to the box.
3. Place a set amount of objects or a number card on the floor and cover it with a box.
4. Place a trail of hoops across the floor leading to the boxes.
5. Hold one hoop on its side near the end of the trail for children to crawl through, or attach it to a chair so it will stand on its side.
6. Explain to the class that they have to step inside the trail of hoops and then crawl through the final hoop to get to thespecial boxes.
7. Once a child travels the course, she lifts one box to see what's underneath. If it's a set of objects, she counts them. If it's a number, she identifies it.
8. When the player is finished, she puts the box back over the items or number card and returns to the start line.
9. Continue the game as players travel the course of hoops and look beneath a different box each time.Transitions: Use this activity as part of your daily transition routine. When it's time for children to go home, have them travel the course and peek beneath a box before they get to pack up and leave for the day.
