Skills:            measurement

Materials:     clear packaging tape, large dry lima beans, common classroom objects to measure, such as a pencil, crayon, block, eraser, etc.

Directions:     Lay a 14” piece of packaging tape on the table sticky side up.

Place ten lima beans end to end in the middle of the tape as shown.  Fold the top of the tape down, the bottom up, and seal.  Trim off the ends.  Children take the bean counter and place it on the end of the object to be measured.  How many beans long is the object?

Adaptations: Have children record their measurements.

Ask children to find something in the room that is 2 beans long. Can they find something 5 beans?  10 beans?  etc.

Seriate Snakes

Skills:           serration; measurement; comparisons

Materials:     colorful yarn or ribbon; play dough

Directions:    Cut the yarn into 5 graduating pieces from 2” – 10”.  Ask the children to put them in order from shortest to longest.  Next, ask them to roll “snakes” from play dough.  Can they arrange them in order?  Which one is longest?  Shortest?  Can they make two snakes that are the same?

Adaptations:  Use straws, cardboard rollers, or sticks to make similar games.

Have children order rocks, shells, books, etc. from small to large.

Kitty Cat –Position Scat

Skills:         positional words; opposites; following directions

Directions:   *Use the pattern on the attached page to make kitty puppets for each child. (Click here to download.) Have children place their kitty in the appropriate position as you sing the song.