COUNT ON IT
Why play this way?
This activity offers new opportunities to count as you play! By using a homemade abacus, your little one will experience numeracy concretely while learning that puzzling through mathematical challenges is fun and rewarding. By incorporating this visual tool into your home, your little one will feel empowered to use it in their everyday life.
SET THE STAGE FOR PLAY: 10 Minutes
Ready
A long piece of string/rope, or a tension rod
Several paper towel/toilet paper tubes
Scissors
Tape
Set
Create a DIY abacus by cutting your paper tubes into 10 segments.
String the 10 segments onto your rope, string, or rod.
Attach either end to something solid (e.g., across two chairs or against the wall).
- Adjust the number of segments to appropriately challenge and meet your little one where they are in their development.
Put your math play to music with this L•M•N•O•PlayList!
Play!
Count forward and backward by sliding your segments.
Use your abacus to show quantities such as:
- The number of pancakes you want.
- How many forks you need to set the table.
Ease transitions with your abacus: Pull over the number of segments (minutes) you want to count down. Then, subtract one segment each minute until time is up!
Take turns splitting your segments into two groups, creating math stories, and showing them on your abacus.
- “Jack baked 3 cookies. Sam baked 4 cookies. How many cookies do they have altogether?”
- “9 birds were in a tree. 3 birds flew away. How many birds are left in the tree?”
