Ideas for lesson plans related to numbers

During circle time:

Games with dice

• Use 2 dice (preferably a red and a blue one), 2 cards and some beads of the
same size. Divide the group in two halves: One group will be the blue dice and
one the red. Let the children take turns in throwing the dice. The number
showing on the dice indicates the amount of beads they can add to the cord.

You can play this game the other way around as well: The cord will be full of beads to
start off with, the amount showing on the dice will indicate how many beads should be
removed. The first group to empty the cord is the winner

Number games
You will need:

• Flashcards with objects and numbers (see downloads section)

• Counting materials (e.g. shells, beads, chips, pen caps, buttons)
• Small cords

Discuss the numbers with the children. Put a number on a mat, and have the
children place the numbers from 0 through 10 in the correct order. Now, use the
flashcards with numbers. Discuss these with the children. Have the children
match the "number" objects with the correct numbers. This is a good exercise to
see who already knows the number, who knows the correct order, who can
relate the objects to the numbers etc.

Have the children place the numbers 0 through 10 in the correct order on a mat
(This does not have to be a circle time activity, it can also be done individually).
When the child is already familiar with the correct order, have him or her place
the numbers in random order to make it more difficult. Now, let the child place
the correct amount of e.g. beads under the cards with the numbers. When they
are ready, you can also have them place the correct object card with the
number cards. You can increase difficulty even more by asking the student to
"add two more", or "three less" to one of the piles.
 Have a child place the numbers 0 through 10 in the correct order on a mat.
When the child is already familiar with the correct order, have him or her place
the numbers in random order to make it more difficult. Let them add the number
in e.g. beads to the correct number. After this, ask them to add 2 more to each
number (10 becomes 12, 4 becomes 6). They can use stamps to create the
same number, and have them place it with the number card.

Chair count
Put some chairs behind each other. Call out one of the children and have him or her sit
down on the number you say (e.g. "Please sit down on chair number 3"). Continue until
all chairs are done

Counting games
• Let the children count the number of girls and boys in the classroom. Are there
more boys than girls or not?
• Let the children count the number of laced shoes in the classroom, the number
of velcro shoes etc.

How many children have blonde hair, and how many children have brown hair? Which
group is larger