Blend number sense and movement while you hop from lily pad to lily pad.
Materials:
- Cardstock (green)
- Markers
- Stickers
- Painter’s tape
- Scissors- adult
Instructions:
Make 3 lily pads out of cardstock by cutting an oval shape with a narrow triangle cut from the side. Write the numerals 1-3 on the lily pads (one numeral on each lily pad) and add small circles in a row to correspond with the numeral written. For example, draw 2 small circles on the lily pad with numeral 2 on it. Focus on one lily pad at a time, identify the numeral, and count aloud as your child places stickers in each small circle. Then, attach the lily pads to the floor using painter's tape... and start hopping!
You can keep this activity open-ended and just have fun hopping and talking about the numbers or you can turn it into a game. Some ideas are to spread the lily pads around the room and hop from each lily pad to the next, counting aloud. Or pick a numbered lily pad and choose a movement to do next to it (spin, reach up high, tiptoe, etc.)
- Gross Motor- Builds strength, coordination, and balance of large muscles.
- Fine Motor- Builds strength and coordination of small movements in hands to pick up, squeeze, twist, cut, and manipulate tools and toys.
- Number Sense- Understands concepts of number and quantity.