Activity 3: Recognizing sets of one and two
Materials:
2 plastic cups and 3 of the same objects—it’s great if they float.
Try It Out:
- During bath time, give your child 2 cups. Put 1 floating object in 1 cup, and 2 of the same floating object in the other cup.
- Point to the cup with 2 floating objects and say, “This cup has 2. How many are in this cup?”
- Point to the cup with 1 floating object and say, “This cup has 1. How many are in this cup?”
- Play a game in which you hide the cups with objects behind your back. Show 1 cup at a time to your child. Ask: “How many are in this cup?”
Making the Most of This Activity:
- Try pointing out other sets of 1 and 2 as you move throughout your day. For example, at the park, there may be 1 slide and 2 swings. Or in the car, there may be 1 cup and 2 books in the backseat.
- Give your child opportunities to create sets of 1 and 2 items. At the supermarket, have your child put 2 apples in a bag, or choose 1 box of cereal.
Reflect:
Was your child able to point out any sets of 1 or 2 during eating, dressing, bathing, or other routines? If not, your child will develop this new math concept with time and practice.
