Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children compare, sort, group, organize and measure objects and create patterns in their everyday environment.

Skill Progression: Comparing and Ordering

Age: 42-48 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 42-48 Months.

Put children into pairs. Have three containers, one with single unit blocks, one with double unit blocks, and one with triple unit blocks. Give each child a small container and have each child take a handful from each container. Children then go in pairs to find a spot on the floor together. Children should sit across from each other. Give each child three small pieces of paper and a pencil. The adult needs to move from pair to pair to observe the children’s understanding and clarify when necessary.

Have children line up the objects in front of themselves on the floor. The adult guides the following activities: 1) Count how many objects you have altogether. Now write that number on the first piece of paper. 2) Now put the objects that are alike together in groups. You should have three groups at the end. Put one of the pieces of paper under each group. At the top of each piece of paper draw a picture of what is in that group. Now write down on each piece of paper how many objects are in that group. 3) Look at your partner’s objects. Do any of your groups have the same amount of objects as your partner? Put a circle on the paper under the groups that have the same number as your partner.

The child will group the like-objects, and determine which sets have like amounts.

This is a more formal math activity that can be done in the classroom, but you can make it game-like. After they have finished the first set of activities. Let them design activities for each other. Give them more paper and have them develop similar things for their partner to do.