MATH ACTIVITIES SUBMITTED BY BRENDA ALWARD  MARCH 30, 2007

*Glue a colored piece of paper in the bottom of muffin tins.  Provide buttons.  Children will match the buttons to the colors in the muffin tins.

*Place buttons, M&M’s, Skittles, etc. in a jar.  Have children guess how many are in the jar.  Take out and count together.

*Cut red, yellow and blue cellophane into shapes.  Children will glue the shapes on waxed paper, overlapping edges as they glue.  Hang them in the window and let the light shine through.  Can add a construction paper frame.

*Cut a 12 inch circle out of white tagboard.  Divide the circle into eight sections and color each section a different color.  Draw corresponding dots onto spring-type clothes pins.  Children will match colors by clipping the pins onto the circle.

*Create a color memory game.  Glue a colored piece of paper to two index cards.  Mix the cards up and place face down on the table.  Children choose two cards; if the color matches, they keep the cards.  If they do not, they replace them.  You can also do this with shapes, numerals, numerals and corresponding quantities.

*Place colored shapes on the table or carpet and have children sort buttons, beads, etc. according to the colored shapes.

*Cut six squares of different colors of construction paper.  Insert them into the sides f a plastic photo cube. Do the same with a second cube, using the same colors.  Children move the cubes around to find the matching pairs of colors.  You can also use one cube as a color die.  Children roll the die and name the color that comes up.

*On a piece of paper, attach different colored self-stick dots, in a pattern.  Give children more dots and let them continue the pattern across the paper. 

*Turn a shoebox upside down and cut two parallel slits in the top.  Draw different colored dots on the ends of one set of tongue depressors and matching dots on the ends of another set.  Insert one set of sticks in one of the rows.  Children can insert matching colored sticks , from the second set, into the other row.

*Cut small matching shapes out of different colors of construction paper.  Place shapes in a paper bag and allow children to each draw one out.  Play music and have children move around the room and find their “partner in color.”  As they find their partners, children can form a circle and dance to them music until all have found their partners.

*Cut large shapes out of selected colors of paper and spread them on the floor.  As the children to perform various tasks.  “Mike, can you jump over the purple square?”  “Mary, put your foot on the red circle.”  To end the game, have each child find a shape to stand on and name the color of their shape.
OPPOSITES

Rough/Smooth (rocks ,fabric, etc. )
Hard/Soft
Light/Dark
Open/Closed
Heavy/Light
Thick/Thin
Empty/Full
Wide/Narrow
Many/Few
Big/Small
First/Last
PATTERNING

Boy/Girl patterns
Building block patterns
Leaf patterns
Button patterns
Create a pattern with two colored napkins at snack time
Clap the rhythms of
*On the left-hand side of an index card, write a numeral and on the right side, punch a matching number of holes.  Children take turns counting the holes and naming the number.  Older children can be given the card with just the numeral and allow them to punch the appropriate number of holes.

*Cut five apple shapes out of cardboard.  Write a numeral on each and cut a hole large enough for a child’s finger.  Children can stick their fingers through the holes and name the number of “worms” they see peeking out of the worm.

*Number the bottom of muffin tins and provide children materials they can count.  Have children identify the numeral and drop in the corresponding number of counters.

*Divide a paper place into sections and place a numeral in each section.  Provide spring clothes pins.  Children will clip on the paper plate the appropriate number of clothes pins

*Place a numeral on an index card.  Provide paper clips.  Children will identify the numeral and place the corresponding amount of paper clips on the card.

*Make counting books.  Each page has a number and children can place pictures on the pages, corresponding with the number.
*Classify blocks by size and color

*Compare sets using the terms less and more

*Sort buttons, pasta, keys, coins, balls, jar lids, shells, leaves, rocks, cards.  (Keep in mind the age of your children when choosing sorting materials.)

*Go on shape and color hunts around the room, school or outdoors.

*Give children a small card with a number on it.  Put a large card, with a number on, on the floor and ask children with the matching number to jump, hop, skip, etc. The child then places their small number card on top of the big one. 

*Create graphs

*Use a weather calendar to keep track of sunny, snowy, rainy days, etc.  Can use this information to make a graph at the end of the week or the month.

*Measure using pieces of yarn, the length of their hand, etc. 

*Compare sizes of objects

*Count number of steps it takes to move from one place to another

*Use blocks to build towers the same height or length as other objects

*Pass around shapes and have the children feel with eyes open. Then blindfold children and have them feel the shape.  Can also see if children can make shapes using just the sense of touch.

*Use cut out shapes to create collage or designs

*Stencils of shapes for children to trace

*Use trays filled with salt for children to practice drawing shapes and writing numbers

*Use masking tape to create large shapes on the floor.  Allow children to walk, crawl, hop along the outline of the shape.

*Have children identify how many body parts they have. (How many noses?  How many ears?  How many pieces of hair is always a fun one!)