Recently we started Mima’s first project – Math Journal – where she works on her first numbers (1 to 5) and basic math concepts. It is a 5-days-a-week program, 12 weeks duration, including supplementary but still important topics like opposites, sequence of actions, board game concept, prepositions, vocabulary topics and lots of fascinating activities, tracing, coloring, stamping and many other things. It turns out to be a complete fun for both of us and I will definitely write another article about it.
In the framework of the Math Journal, to practice numbers 1 and 2, I made Math Sorting Cards for Early Learning. Because things have to be multifunctional, the cards were designed with different activities in mind, not only for a 2 or 3-year old child learning basic math, but for later and for wider range of activities.
The cards are in two color options: in full color and black-and-white. I enjoy my coloring time thinking over new lessons for Mima, applying and mixing colors and relaxing at the end of the day, so a black-and-white outline is just right for me. From the other hand, the color version saves time and works as well. So, the choice is yours.
1. Learning to Count
This was the initial idea where all started. You may print out color version of the Math Sorting Cards or, as I did, have a black-and-white and color it the way you like it the most. For a 2-year-old a work of an adult is a must while a 3-year-old can cope with the coloring job that makes it even more engaging. And, of course, I suggest to laminate the cards for durability.
First, the cards are introduced to the child as they are on the page (not cut into separate squares). Ask the kid to count objects on a card and assign the related number. Move from one card to another when your little student is ready (they like watching closely, pronounce animal sounds, move their fingers over the picture). It seems that this activity is too easy, but for a little child it requires concentration and thinking to attribute a number to the quantity. Be patient and enjoy this wonderful experience.
Very quickly the child will grab the logic (1 on the left and 2 on the right) and it will be a sign when it is time to cut the cards out. Repeat the procedure now by placing the cards at random and asking to match the numbers. Use different manipulatives (like numbers, or dots, sticks or even LEGO bricks in the same quantity).
2. Fine Motor Skills and Math. Card Sorting Slot Activity
In a shoe box (or any box) make 2 slots, mark them 1 and 2 and have the child sort the cards depending on the quantity of characters they contain. The slots shall be just a little bit wider than a card itself that requires the child to make an effort. This exercise develops fine motor skills, concentration, wrist rotation, hand-eye coordination while learning to count and attribute a number to the quantity.
3. Develop Communication Skills. What Makes Them Different?
The objects on the cards are different: in size, pattern, colors, properties. Have the child compare and find as many differences as possible. Speak about it, describe a picture using already known facts. For example, if it is an animal, ask where it lives, what sound it makes, how it behaves and so on.
4. Big – Small – the Same. Long - Short. Comparing Size
The cards intentionally contain different types and sizes of animals and objects. Ask the child to compare two cards of the same type (animal or object) explaining his or her opinion, and suggest to sort them accordingly into one of three categories: Big, Small, Same. Or Long - Short. Symbolic hints will help to ease the job (like, big circle signify Big sorting option, small shall mean Small and two equal circles of middle size may mean Same).
You may want to use a box with slots as described in the Activity 2 and by doing so you train fine motor skills at the same time.
5. Simple Addition: 1+1 or 2+0. Explaining Zero
This is about the cards with two animals or objects. The characters may be of the same size but differ by the appearance or characteristics. This activity will make the kid look for small details and think deeper over the question if there is 1+1 addition (2 objects with any difference: color, size, any other distinction, that makes two unlike things on the card) or 2+0 (two absolutely identical objects where there is no, or zero, other type of things or differences). It is a great way to explain ZERO concept as something that is calculated in the addition but is void in fact.
6. Multiple Addends. Cards Addition
One more fun game to play with these cards – simple addition problems where numbers 1 and 2 added to another number or quantity. Next step will be moving to problems with more than two addends.
Chose any picture, place another one next to it, and one more. Ask the child to count objects on each card, attribute the relative number and connect them with the “plus” sign to make the math problem. Calculate the sum. It is fun and makes learning interesting and progressive. As soon as your student masters the concept, the bigger numbers will work in addition without any trouble.
Moving further, you may want to use different and mixed manipulatives in one math problem thus making the child concentrate and diversify his or her counting skills.
7. Learning Odds and Evens. Coloring Cards for Busy Folders or Morning Circle Time
Introduce the odd and even number concept by proposing the child one card for coloring, each day – for Morning Circle Time, as a part of busy box or home assignment.
Print black-and-white pages of the Math Sorting Cards, cut out and suggest the kid a card with one object on an odd-numbered day and with two objects on an even-numbered day. This way you teach a pattern – one day is odd, another day is even followed by the odd again, and so on. Having colored a few times, the kid will already expect the right quantity on his or her card.
8. Teaching Skip Counting by 2s
Take a card with 2 characters and put it on the table saying “two”, add a number “two”. Than get another cards with 2 characters, put it next to the first one and say “four”, add a number. Continue like this till you get to 10. Have the child repeat the same with his or her cards. Explain that this is a skip counting by 2s.
If the kid gets lost in the counting, he or she can count by ones to find the number they were at. Visually seeing the pairs of two makes clear understanding of the concept and explains the value of the skip count (this method is faster than counting by 1s).
9. Crafts
They are so cute, little animals and objects on the cards. You can print as many copies as you need to complete a craft project. The child will love coloring, cutting, gluing, decorating with glitters, ribbons, words – to make the one-of-a-kind card or album or any fancy craft masterpiece.
10. Introduce Matching Concept to Toddlers
Print out 2 copies of the Math Sorting Cards and make them ready (color if they are black-and-white, laminate and cut out to make the cards ready to use).
Begin with 2 pairs and explain how to match. Add a new pair or pairs each time you play the matching game. Later on place more pairs in random order on the table and have your toddler match similar pictures.
Simple yet amazingly effective math cards will help your 2 and 3-year-old child master basic math concepts, learn counting and enjoy lots of fun activities. They are a great resource to quick start your journey into the Math world.
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