Objective

By the end of this lesson, the toddler will be able to understand basic arithmetic concepts using pool noodles.

Materials and Prep

• Pool noodles
• Scissors (for adult use only)

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Counting Pool Noodles

   Have the toddler count the number of pool noodles you have. Encourage them to touch each noodle as they count and say the numbers out loud.

2. Addition with Pool Noodles

   Take two pool noodles and ask the toddler to count the total number of noodles. Help them understand that when you combine two groups of noodles, you can add the numbers together to find the total.

3. Subtraction with Pool Noodles

   Take a few pool noodles and ask the toddler to count them. Then, remove some noodles and ask them to count again. Help them understand that when you take away some noodles from a group, you can subtract the number of noodles taken away from the original total.

Toddler Grade Talking Points

• "We are going to play with pool noodles and learn about numbers!"
• "Let's count how many pool noodles we have. Can you touch each noodle as you count?"
• "Now, let's take two pool noodles and count how many we have in total. We can add the numbers together."
• "We can also take away some pool noodles and count how many are left. This is called subtraction."