Take It Away

Using items from around the house, your child will count and practice using number cards to match the number of household items.

Learning Area(s): Math; Physical Development

MATERIALS

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• 10 counting items (counting bears, beans, matchbox cars, blocks, etc.)
• 10 number cards (index cards or paper  labeled with numbers 1 to 10) or a deck of playing cards with face cards removed

LET'S PLAY

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Pick up a number card and show the card to your child. Together, count out the number of items and place them on the table. For example, show her the number 5 card and count out five toy cars. You can say, “Let’s count five cars as we park them here in a parking lot.” Remove one car by driving it away and say, “Now how many cars are there?” Count together to see if she was correct. You can place the number 4 card next to the remaining cars to show that there are four cars left. Review the take away process by saying, “We started with 5 cars. We took 1 away. Now we have 4 left.” Continue to remove objects, one at a time, and place the appropriate number cards next to the objects.

Next, encourage your child to take a turn picking a number card and counting out the correct number of objects. She can practice taking one item away or even adding one item to the set and matching it to the correct number card.