This one requires a really big storm one with thunder and lightning but it is a nice way for the children to think about “how far” the storm is. If you are inside and the skies get very dark and the rain is coming down hard, bring the children to the window to look for […]
An abacus is an ancient counting tool that has been used all over the world, for centuries, primarily in Asia. The frame is traditionally made of wood with wire or small wooden rods running through it. On each of the rods there are beads that move from one side to the other. Children being using […]
I’m sitting at my dining room table watching the rain pour down so hard that I can’t see out of my windows and although it is 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the sky is as black as the night. My kids used to love to play in the warm rain and they especially loved to […]
I like a good old bucket balance in a preschool room. Even though there are all sorts of scales available and they each have their place and their use, the bucket balance engages children in ways that some others might not. The bucket balance asks children to figure out which side is heavier, which side […]
On Monday, I wrote about a really interesting estimation activity that one of my students worked on in her student teaching classroom. Today, I want to show you another estimation activity that is an example of what I see much more frequently. For this activity, the teacher put marbles in a large glass vase. The […]
I had the great good fortune to observe a very interesting Estimation Activity the other day at a local child care center. Before the observation took place, my student and I discussed how estimation can be a pretty engaging activity for young children because it feels like a game – a guessing game. We talked […]
Do you have a Jenga set in your classroom? If not, you should. Jenga is a set of small wooden blocks designed to be set up in a tower formation. Players take turns removing one block at a time and placing it on the top of the tower until the tower becomes so unsteady that […]
We recently launched the Early Math Matters professional development series. As a member of the Gateways Registry and an early childhood teacher in the state of Illinois, these courses are free and now available on-line though the ilearning system. In the comfort of your home, you can complete 8 hours of professional development focused on […]
The Lego Company thinks it can. According to this article in The Guardian, the head of the Lego Foundation, Hanne Rasmussen, is investing a lot of money in new research that will unequivocally prove the educational value of play. Check it out.
Over the years, I have blogged about 100+ kinds of manipulatives, from the homemade variety to the expensive stuff, from the kinds designed for toddlers to tools for early school-aged children. I really like interesting, diverse, multidimensional tools that can be used in a variety of ways and for many developmental levels. Today, let’s take […]