Carton of Eggs*
Questions To Consider:
1. How does this child match up each egg to a space in the carton?
2. How does he grasp and move the eggs?
3. In what ways does he attempt to fill the carton?
4. Can he represent addition and/or subtraction up to five (5) objects?
Why this is Important:
Games that require a child to place one object in an individual designated space encourage understanding of one-to-one correspondence. Standard 4.2.1 (Represent addition and subtraction by manipulating up to 5 objects) and Standard 4.2.2 (Begin to represent simple word problem data in pictures and drawings) are foundational skills for mathematics. When you play this kind of game with this child, you can give him the assistance he needs to be successful.
Materials:
4.2.1: Represent addition and subtraction by manipulating up to 5 objects.
· empty egg carton cut into a section of 5 (horizontal is best)
· five (5) plastic eggs in a bowl (if no plastic eggs are available you may use any small manipulative or math-related item and make believe the materials are eggs - unifix cubes, snap cubes, etc.)
4.2.2: Begin to represent simple word problem data in pictures and drawings.
· crayons or pencils
· paper
What to Do (4.2.1: Manipulating Objects):
1. Place an empty egg carton and the bowl of plastic eggs on a table. Invite this child to sort the eggs with you.
2. Demonstrate the process of putting one egg in each section of the egg carton. Ask him to repeat the action. I'm going to put one egg here in this space. I'll put another one in the space next to it. (MOVE LEFT TO RIGHT)
3. Allow this child to use trial and error to determine how the eggs can be placed in the carton.
4. When there are only a few remaining empty spaces, count the number of spaces together. Ask this child to count out how many eggs he will need to fill the spaces.
There are one, two, three spots left in the carton. That means we need three more eggs. Can you help me count three eggs? We have two eggs and we need three more to fill the carton.
5. Repeat the process a few times, or for as long as this child is interested. After the egg carton is filled, ask the child to count the eggs.
6. Now let's scaffold...
I see that we have five eggs. Let's take two eggs away. How many eggs are left?
You have three eggs...how many eggs do we have in all if we add 1 more?
What to Do (4.2.2: Representing Simple Word Problem Data):
1. Provide crayons or pencils and paper.
I am bird and I have a problem! I have five nests and I can only lay one egg in each nest. Sometimes I like to take my eggs out of the nest to warm them up and give them a kiss because I love them so. Let's draw five nests.
2. Child draws five nests – in classroom practice, have a real bird's nest, craft bird's nest, or photograph available.
I am ready to lay some eggs. I think I can lay three eggs. I will lay one egg in each nest. Can you draw the three eggs that I laid?
3. Child draws one egg in each of the first three nests.
Let's count how many eggs we laid - 1, 2, 3. Oh! I think I have two more eggs to lay. I will lay one egg in each of the remaining empty nests. Can you draw two eggs?
4. Child draws one egg in the remaining nests.
Let's count how many eggs I laid in all. Uh oh! One of eggs cracked! Let's take the egg out of the nest.
5. Child X's out one egg.
How many eggs do we have in all now?
6. Repeat in a different way.
*Adapted from Teaching Strategies GOLD activity