EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Explore the wonder of numbers
through counting projects with counters and spindles
COUNTERS
PROCEDURE:
Place ten cards in sequence from one to ten. The child recognises the number on the card and places the exact number of counters under the card. One counter goes under the card marked one and two counters go under the card marked as two and so on. The children are given exactly 55 counters to do the activity. That way if the counters are short or extras are leftover after completing the activity, the error is obvious and needs to be fixed, this way the material is self correcting. This activity develops early counting skills and the association between quantity and the number.
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COUNTERS
MATERIALS REQUIRED
CARDS - 10
COUNTERS OR CHIPS - 55
PICTURE 1: ARRANGE IN SEQUENCE CARDS MARKED 1-10
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PICTURE 2: PLACE EXACT NUMBER OF COUNTERS UNDER THE CARDS
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SPINDLE BOX
MATERIALS REQUIRED.
45 equal size spindles or wood dowels or craft sticks
A wooden box with 10 compartments.
SPINDLE BOX
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PROCEDURE:
The wooden box is divided into ten compartment and numbered 0-9. The child recognises the number written on the compartment, counts the number of wooden spindles and places the exact number of spindles in the corresponding compartment. One spindle goes in compartment marked one and two spindles goes in compartment marked as two and so on.
It mainly teaches the children the concept of zero when the compartment of zero is left empty. The children are given exactly 45 spindles to do the activity. That way if the spindles are short or extras are leftover after completing the activity, the error is obvious, this way the material is self correcting. Spindle box develops early counting skills and the association between quantity and the number.