Lollyellen
08-07-2009, 06:44 AM
Thankfully, the preschooler set are a forgiving bunch...They don't require expensive teacher store-bought doodads and games when you want to work in a little educational-geared play. We did it "old school" the other day and had a great time!
Charlie's been into counting lately, so we created "counters" out of the pasta I happened to have in the pantry (seashells), some food colors, and a little rubbing alcohol (and baggies). It took about half a day for the counters to dry, so be sure to plan that into your activity.
It was easy...just line a cookie sheet with foil or waxed paper, then a layer of paper towels.
Then pour a little (maybe a tbsp) rubbing alcohol in a baggie and squirt some food color in there as well (use a lot if you want bright colors, a little if you want pastels). Then add a handful of pasta to the baggie, close it REALLY WELL and work it all around so the food coloring soaks the pasta with color. Leave it in baggies until the color looks right (I left mine in there for probably an hour or so, for really bright color).
When the color looks right, dump out the pasta on the lined cookie sheet to dry. You'll want to let it dry for probably half a day, at least.
Repeat with whatever colors you like.
I did several shades of green, and all the other colors in a rainbow, so we have a bunch!
When the counters were complete, I just drew a colorful rainbow out of markers onto manilla paper, and Charlie familiarized himself with his new counters by lining up matching colors seashells onto each color of the rainbow.
Then, I just hand-drew some very simple games out on the same large manilla paper on the fly, like so...
Counting Game
http://www.maternitycorner.com/lollyellen/countersgame.jpg
http://www.maternitycorner.com/lollyellen/countersgame2.jpg
Counting Stories
http://www.maternitycorner.com/lollyellen/countersgame3.jpg
With a little prompting, Charlie dictated this story and I just wrote it down (disregard my punctuation error within it - I just noticed it! :lol: ) Find a way to work in counting or colors into your story and end it with a surprise (in this case, a prompt to turn the page for the answer to a riddle). A fun way to spend time creating and learning together.
What's great about these games is not only do they teach basic counting and colors, but on a different level, sitting down with your child to perform quiet learning activities like this also reinforces concentration and focus, reading/question order, and a lot of other general pre-preschool skills! :)
It's SO easy and takes so little effort, and if you keep the games you make (along with the counters) in a handy drawer, they can always have something to do while you're making dinner, or otherwise busy - or like this morning, when you're sipping coffee and trying to come to terms with the act of simply cranking your eyes open for the day, all the while your kiddo is demanding some kind of immediate brain-engagement. :tup:
Handy Tip: Take your games to a local teacher supply or library where they have a laminating machine. Pay a couple of cents to have each game laminated, so they'll last!
Charlie's been into counting lately, so we created "counters" out of the pasta I happened to have in the pantry (seashells), some food colors, and a little rubbing alcohol (and baggies). It took about half a day for the counters to dry, so be sure to plan that into your activity.
It was easy...just line a cookie sheet with foil or waxed paper, then a layer of paper towels.
Then pour a little (maybe a tbsp) rubbing alcohol in a baggie and squirt some food color in there as well (use a lot if you want bright colors, a little if you want pastels). Then add a handful of pasta to the baggie, close it REALLY WELL and work it all around so the food coloring soaks the pasta with color. Leave it in baggies until the color looks right (I left mine in there for probably an hour or so, for really bright color).
When the color looks right, dump out the pasta on the lined cookie sheet to dry. You'll want to let it dry for probably half a day, at least.
Repeat with whatever colors you like.
I did several shades of green, and all the other colors in a rainbow, so we have a bunch!
When the counters were complete, I just drew a colorful rainbow out of markers onto manilla paper, and Charlie familiarized himself with his new counters by lining up matching colors seashells onto each color of the rainbow.
Then, I just hand-drew some very simple games out on the same large manilla paper on the fly, like so...
Counting Game
http://www.maternitycorner.com/lollyellen/countersgame.jpg
http://www.maternitycorner.com/lollyellen/countersgame2.jpg
Counting Stories
http://www.maternitycorner.com/lollyellen/countersgame3.jpg
With a little prompting, Charlie dictated this story and I just wrote it down (disregard my punctuation error within it - I just noticed it! :lol: ) Find a way to work in counting or colors into your story and end it with a surprise (in this case, a prompt to turn the page for the answer to a riddle). A fun way to spend time creating and learning together.
What's great about these games is not only do they teach basic counting and colors, but on a different level, sitting down with your child to perform quiet learning activities like this also reinforces concentration and focus, reading/question order, and a lot of other general pre-preschool skills! :)
It's SO easy and takes so little effort, and if you keep the games you make (along with the counters) in a handy drawer, they can always have something to do while you're making dinner, or otherwise busy - or like this morning, when you're sipping coffee and trying to come to terms with the act of simply cranking your eyes open for the day, all the while your kiddo is demanding some kind of immediate brain-engagement. :tup:
Handy Tip: Take your games to a local teacher supply or library where they have a laminating machine. Pay a couple of cents to have each game laminated, so they'll last!