Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to count sticks and recognize numbers up to a certain value.

Materials and Prep

• Counting sticks (can be made from craft sticks or gathered from nature)
• A clear space to work on

Activities

1. Counting Stick Hunt

   Hide the counting sticks around the room or outdoor area. Encourage your child to find the sticks and count them as they collect them. Once all the sticks are found, count them together to see how many were collected.

2. Number Line Game

   Create a number line on the floor or a large piece of paper using masking tape or markers. Place the counting sticks randomly along the number line. Ask your child to find a specific number and collect the corresponding stick. Repeat this activity with different numbers to practice number recognition.

3. Counting Stick Tower

   Encourage your child to build a tower using the counting sticks. As they add each stick, ask them to count and say the number out loud. This activity helps reinforce counting skills and introduces the concept of building structures.

Preschool Grade Talking Points

• "Today, we are going to have fun with counting sticks!"
• "Counting sticks are special because we can use them to practice counting and recognizing numbers."
• "Let's go on a counting stick hunt! We will search for sticks and count them as we find them."
• "Now, we will play a game using a number line. We will find sticks that match the numbers on the line."
• "It's time to build a tower with our counting sticks! We will count and add sticks to make a tall tower."
• "Great job counting and using the counting sticks today! You are becoming a counting expert!"