Materials
large number of 3" x 5" pieces of colored papermarker10 small shoeboxesscissors or craft knife (adult only)rubber stamp and stamp pad or stickers
Instructions
1. In advance, print a numeral between 1 to 10 on each piece of colored paper. Attach one number card to each shoebox. Cut a slit in the lid of each box and display the boxes randomly around the room.
2. Tell the children that they are going to practice being mail carriers.
3. Let the children help write numerals (1 to 10) on many pieces of colored paper to make "postcards" (one number per card). You may want to do this step ahead of time, without children's help.
4. Demonstrate how to pick up a numbered postcard, identify the numeral, and then use the rubber stamp and pad to make a "stamp."5. The mail carriers "mail" the postcards by placing them in the "mailboxes" with the matching numeral.
6. Empty the mailboxes and invite the children to practice numeral sequencing or recognition.
7. A similar activity is to use paper shapes in place of numbered postcards. Attach one shape to each of six shoeboxes and have children match shapes.
