Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand and apply basic arithmetic concepts through outdoor play activities.

Materials and Prep

• Outdoor space (backyard, park, or playground)
• Chalk or sidewalk chalk
• Counting objects (stones, sticks, leaves, etc.)
• Optional: Jump ropes or hula hoops

Activities

1. Number Hopscotch: Use the chalk to draw a hopscotch grid on the ground. Write numbers in each square, starting from 1 to 10. Practice counting as you hop from one square to another.

2. Counting Collections: Go on a nature walk and collect different objects like stones, sticks, or leaves. Sort them into groups and count how many are in each group. Practice addition by combining two groups together and counting the total.

3. Shape Hunt: Draw or describe different shapes on the ground and challenge yourself to find objects in the outdoor environment that match those shapes. Count how many objects you find for each shape.

4. Measure and Compare: Use jump ropes or hula hoops to measure the length of different objects in the outdoor space. Compare the lengths and discuss which objects are longer, shorter, or equal in length.

Kindergarten Grade Talking Points

• "Numbers help us count and understand how many things we have."
• "We can use shapes to describe different objects around us. For example, a circle is round like a ball."
• "When we add two groups of objects together, we get a bigger group. It's like combining our collections."
• "We can use jump ropes or hula hoops to measure how long or short objects are. It helps us compare their lengths."