If you have dot stickers, white paper, and a pack of markers, this preschool counting activity is perfect for your child! Add a little stem to each dot sticker, and now you have little apples for your child to connect (hello, fine motor) as they count. Fall screams apples, and easy playful learning ideas speak to young children. This winning combination makes an amusing fall activity for kids. Add apple dot to dot to your Breakfast Invitation rotation!
RELATED: Teaching your child how to count? You will LOVE this list of counting activities.
What is one-to-one correspondence?
Introduce one-to-one correspondence to your child early.
One-to-one, what? I get it. Here we are at the parent/teacher conference; hearing math buzzwords, we need to help our children practice at home.
But what exactly is one-to-one correspondence, and how can I help my child at home?
I am here and happy to help and simplify the confusion.
Simply put, one-to-one means the child can match one object to the number name when counting. It is helpful to touch each thing as it is counted.
RELATED: I put together this list of math activities for kids so you have everything in one place.
Counting; the big idea
There is a difference between counting and understanding what the numbers stand for.
Counting is one of the first concepts to master. You will notice that your preschooler can count reasonably early on and that counting has to do with memorization. What is going on with one-to-one correspondence is the quantity.
Quantity understands the concept of how many. My preschooler will match each number name with the apple as he brings his marker along the path. This is also helping with pencil grip. – Yahoo! Double win.
My preschooler is also learning math hands-on! We need to encourage more of this with our early learners.
RELATED: Having open-ended math toys at home help children become stronger problem-solvers and thinkers!
What is my child learning as he plays?
Playful learning prompts are the key to getting kids to let their guard down and take chances in learning. Oftentimes, simple ideas that can be set up in less than five minutes reinforce many skills children will build upon over the years. Setting the stage early allows more significant concepts to feel less threatening and more familiar in grade school.
- Counting
- One-to-one correspondence (touching as he counts)
- Fine motor skills
- Steady hand
- Hand-eye coordination
- Left to right progression
- Prewriting with lines
All of the skills above will slowly build on top of one another to see growth. Allow a little flexibility and listen to how your preschooler thinks.
Supplies
If you are new here, you will quickly see how I create set ups using a few items you may already own. If you don’t own them, I also share how to get many uses from the same supply.
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Dot Stickers
Once you have a pack of dot stickers, you will find many uses to create easy activities for toddlers and preschoolers. A staple supply!
White Paper Roll
This paper is a staple in our home. Place it on the table or a verticle surface. So many uses!
Washable Markers
Share these markers with your kids, or keep them for yourself. I am not one to judge; I like my own pack too.
Set up
- First, I add a row of dot stickers.
- Next, I draw stems and a leaf, so the dot sticker begins to look like an apple.
- I write the number on each apple and invite my preschooler to connect the dots!
Preschool observations
Since I was able to sit with my three-year-old, I could also get some inside scoop on how he thinks as he counts.
But behind the scenes, my three-year-old practiced counting and holding his marker steady He thought it was hysterical to find loops and changes in the path.
And guess what? He is three. This is what three-year-olds do. Let’s not expect mastery, but provide exposure to holding a marker and feeling it in thier hand.
This is just one of the 50+ Fine Motor Skills activities we can introduce to our early learners.
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games to begin the day with play.
Conversations about counting
- How old are you? Let’s count to that amount.
- Let’s move our finger from one to the last sticker. We can count together.
- Wow, this group has 9 apples, and the green group has 12. Which number is larger? How can you tell?
But that’s not all. You’ll want to add a few more apple activities to your fall activity list!
Which apple activity will you try first?
Apple Dot-to-Dot (one-to-one correspondence)
Materials
- Dot stickers
- Markers
- White paper
Instructions
- First, I add a row of dot stickers.
- Next, I draw stems and a leaf, so the dot sticker begins to look like an apple.
- Finally, I write the number on each apple and invite my preschooler to connect the dots.
Notes
Conversations about counting
- How old are you? Let’s count to that amount.
- Let’s move our finger from one to the last sticker. We can count together.
- Wow, this group has 9 apples, and the green group has 12. Which number is larger? How can you tell?
FAQ
Teach counting in a fun way by including movement and play. Consider themes children get excited about and make simple preschool learning activities to learn and review.
You can teach your child how to count at home through an easy and simple setup of hands-on activities, daily conversation, and play.
September is back-to-school, pencils, and apples. Spend time keeping apples in the spotlight before pumpkins take over! Here are 30 fall activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
Love this Beth!! Such a brilliant but simple idea. And yes to the Athleta sweatshirts!!
Thanks for your comment, Patrice! ❤️ My Christmas wish list is typically 5 new Athleta sweatshirts/sweaters. ??