“Budding Architect”
MATERIALS:
20 index cards or paper cut into small, equal squares (similar to the size of index cards), a marker, or little circle stickers that are the same color. The circle stickers are preferable so that all the circles are identical, instead of making each circle with a marker.
Make one circle on two cards, two circles on two cards, three circles on two cards, four circles on two cards, five circles on two cards, six circles on two cards, seven circles on two cards, eight circles on two cards, nine circles on two cards, ten circles on two cards. Divide into two piles, with the number of circles 1-10 represented in each pile. From the first pile, lay the cards out in front of your child representing five numbers (e.g., a card with one circle, four circles, seven circles, two circles, and ten circles).
Show your child a card from the other pile that you are holding that matches one of the cards in front of your child.
- Ask your child to find the card with the same number of circles as the one you are showing (e.g., show him the card with two circles on it and ask “Which other card has the same number of circles on it as this one?”).
- If your child cannot find the correct card by visually finding it (which most likely your child cannot do with cards that have more than 1,2 or 3 circles on them, tell your child to count each circle on your card and then find the identical card by counting.
Once your child is able to match cards in this manner, you can change the activity. For example, turn all twenty cards face down on the table, then tell your child to turn one card over and then another to see if they match (have the same number of circles). If they do, your child can keep them. If not, he turns them back over face down and it’s your turn. Continue until all the cards are matched, and the person with the most matches wins!
