Home Preschool Curriculum Guide

Learning The Concepts Of Size, Colors, Shapes, Numbers, And Counting

~~ Understanding Size ~~

Big and Little

When you teach your children about big and little you're teaching them to observe and compare the world around them. Here are some simple activities that provide lots of comparison opportunities.

What's Bigger? A Lion or a Mouse?

Take a trip to the zoo and compare big animals like elephants and tigers to smaller animals such as lemurs and impalas. Or visit your local humane society or pet store and compare the size of dogs to cats to rabbits and to guinea pigs. Compare the size of animals of the same species, but different breeds - such as a German Shepherd with a Chihuahua, or a Lionfish to a goldfish.

Further the learning by reading the story "The Lion and the Mouse." Is it possible that a great big lion would need the help of a little mouse? This fun web site has an illustrated story about "The Lion and the Mouse" adapted by Tom Lynch

Pancakes Come in All Sizes!

Start your morning off right by making a delicious batch of pancakes! Make big pancakes and small pancakes and compare the sizes. Here is a delicious pancake recipe to get you started.

Long and Short

Play the game, "The Long and Short Of It"

What you'll need:

Directions:

Pinch a length of yarn between the thumb and pointer finger of each hand so that the yarn hangs down. Ask your child which hand has the longest or shortest string. If your child is correct let him/her have a turn asking you. If your child is not correct, let him/her try again. Have your child compare the lengths after each incorrect play and ask him/her to show or tell you about the differences. Switch the lengths of yarn often. When you first begin playing this game, make the lengths of yarn noticeably different. As your child gets better, cut the lengths so that it gets more challenging for your child to notice the difference.

Here are some more ideas for long and short comparisons:

Matching Objects Based on Size

Roll out play dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Match the cookie cutters to the cut out shapes in the dough.

Make a sorting box with a shoebox. Use cookie cutters as guides and as playing pieces. Cover a shoebox with white or brown paper. Next, trace the larger side of a cookie-cutter onto the paper and cut out with a cutting tool. Use cookie-cutters as playing pieces.

Trace household items onto paper and let your child match the objects to the tracings. Try to use different objects such as keys, lids, pencils, crayons and other creative things.

Variation: Use a clay recipe that can be baked to create a game board for cut out cookie shapes.

Variation: Use a strong piece of cardboard and cut out objects and have your child match them.

~~ Identify Colors and Shapes ~~

In order to help your child recognize primary colors and learn the names such as red, yellow, blue, green, white, and black -- talk about colors everyday. For example: Talk about the colors you are wearing. "I really like that blue shirt you're wearing." Also, use colors to describe everyday things for example, "Our car is green," "Look at that beautiful yellow flower!" Ask your child to do the same.

Play Candyland

Color with your child. Set the crayon box near them, away from you. Ask your child to hand you a certain color crayon from the box

.

Play I Spy Color Game

This can be played in the car, while out for a walk or in the house. Just say, "I spy, with my little eye, something that is red!" See if your child can guess what it is.

~~ Recognize Shapes Such As ~~
Circles, Squares, Rectangles, and Triangles

Talk about the shapes of things in your environment. The more you talk about shapes and the more your child observes them, the better they will understand.

Go On A Shape and Color Hunt!

What you'll need:

Directions: Draw shapes on the cardboard and cut them out. Color the shapes to play the color version of this game.

How to play: Put all your shapes into the hat, box or bowl. Take turns picking a shape from the bowl, and then try to find that shape somewhere around the house.

Variation: The color version of this game can be played two ways. First: Find an object in the same color as the colored shape you picked from the box or bowl.

Variation: Find the shape you picked in that same exact color (this variation is a little harder).

~~ Match & Draw Objects Based On Shape ~~

Shape-Matching Concentration Game

Play a matching game with index cards. Make identical sets of index cards with a shape drawn on each card (so that you have 2 cards with circles, 2 with triangles, etc.). Turn cards over and match the shapes for a game of concentration. For beginners, have children match the shapes first without playing concentration.

For a variation, color the shapes and have your child match colors and shapes or just the colors.

Puzzling Shapes

Create a puzzle of shapes out of cardboard with a cutting tool. Have your child put the pieces back together.

Trace Some Shapes

Draw some shapes on paper with a pencil. Invite your child to trace over them with a colorful marker.

Follow-The-Leader Shape Copier

Play follow-the-leader by drawing shapes and have your child copy it. Then allow your child to lead by drawing a shape that you copy. Use a white board or chalkboard.

Drawing Shape Pictures

Make some shape cards out of index cards. Put them in a box and take turns choosing a shape from the box. Draw or trace the shape you selected onto a piece of paper.

For an advanced version, pick two or three cards and make a picture using those shapes. For example, the cards picked are a square, a triangle and a circle. A square house with a triangle roof can be made - and a circular sun can be put up in the sky. Have fun trying new things.

~~ Identify Numbers & Learn to Count from 1-10 ~~

Count out loud in front of your child when you are doing everyday things. Count objects with your child as you put away toys and games. Count the towels as you put them in the washing machine. Count silverware as you set the table. Count game pieces to ensure that you have everything for the next time you want to play. Count coins and change. If you demonstrate counting, you will show your child why knowing how to count is important.

Children's rhymes are great devices to help children remember how to count:

One, two, buckle my shoe,
Three, four, shut the door,
Five, six, pick-up sticks,
Seven, eight, lay them straight,
Nine, ten, start over again.

Have fun with your child by a taking turns counting. Start with the number 1, then have your child say 2, you would then say 3 and your child would say 4. Continue counting like this until you get to 10. Help your child if they get stuck by saying the next number. They can repeat it after you if they want to. Start the game again and let your child take the lead by starting with 1 and then you would say 2 -- continue to 10.

Add some fun to a daily walk by counting your steps. Take two steps and say, "One, two." Pause, and let your child take two steps to catch up to you and count aloud, "Three, four." Then, take two more steps and count, "Five, six." Continue to 10 and start over again allowing a new person to lead.

Number Toss

What you'll need:

Set up: You'll need a deck of cards with the picture cards and jokers removed. If your child is only ready for 1 or 2 #'s remove any unwanted cards and just play with what you need.

Note: You can make your own cards with index cards. Be sure to draw objects on the cards for your child to count. It is helpful for beginners to see the number of objects that corresponds to any given number.

How to play:

Allow the youngest to go first.

Player one: Pick a card and then count the objects depicted on the card. When finished counting, have the player pick that many bean bags or socks from the pile. (Example: if they pick the # 2, have them count 2, then pick two bean bags or sock balls.)

Player two: Pick a card, count the objects, and take that many bean bags or sock balls.

Once both players have their bean bags/sock balls it is time for some fun! Each player will toss their objects into the laundry basket or box in turn. If your child has 2 objects to toss, let him toss them both. Then it is the next player's turn.

Collect the tossed objects and start again!

Add cards as your child gains confidence. This game can also be played with dice.

~~ Counting Objects in One-to-One Correspondence ~~

Have your child set the table for meals. As your child sets an identical place for each family member, he/she is practicing one-to-one correspondence.

Share!

Sharing is a great way for your child to learn one-to-one correspondence. Slice up pieces of fruit or put out enough cookies for everyone and allow your child to distribute one to each person. This works for toys and gifts too. At your child's next birthday, allow him to give one goodie bag to each person.

~~ Understanding Concepts Such as Empty and Full, More or Less ~~

Fill a balloon with air, explain that the balloon is full of air. Let the air out and explain that the balloon is empty. Repeat.

Use rice, sand, water or beans to fill cups and then empty them.

Play the game, "More or Less"

What you'll need:

If you use cards, before the game, remove jokers and picture cards from the card deck. Take out the numbered cards your child is not ready for such as # 's 6-9. (Be sure to put the higher number cards back in the deck as your child is ready for them.)

Directions:

Player one: Roll the die or pick a card, say the number (help your child count the dots on the die or the symbols on the cards). Next, have your child take that many beans or whatever objects you are playing with and put them in front of her.

Player two: Do the same as player one.

When all the players have their objects compare them to one another. Who has more and who has less at the end of the hand? You can keep track of each hand with tally marks and count the tallies at the end of the game. If you compare your objects, you will also be using one to one correspondence!

~~ Bonus Games! ~~

Go "Fishing" To Learn About Colors, Shapes, Numbers, Letters & More!

This game can be played in many different ways. You create fish-shaped playing pieces. Then you decorate the fish for game variations. For example, play it as a color game by using colored construction paper to make your fish playing pieces. Or decorate each fish with a different geometric shape, or number, or letter.

What you'll need:

Make the fishing pole: Tie a length of yarn or string to the stick or dowel and then tie a magnet to the other end.

Note: An inexpensive toy fishing pole can be purchased at the dollar store for this game.

Make the fish: Draw fish on cardboard (or print them on cardstock) and then cut them out. Attach a paper clip to each fish with tape. Color or paint the fish, add numbers, letters, shapes or words if desired.

How to play: Put the completed fish into a bowl, box or bucket and let your child go fishing! (The magnet will catch the paper clip.) Let your child tell you what kind of fish they've caught - a red fish, a triangle fish, a letter "A" fish, etc. Help your child to identify each fish if they ask.

Note: You might want to make two fishing poles or more so that others can play along too.

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