Number Scavenger Hunt

Today, we had one of the most exciting and rewarding learning experience. We had a number scavenger hunt!!!!

We prepared a strip of paper for each child with numerals 1-20 written in order. Each paper strip was attached to a small whiteboard.  Then my lovely assistant teachers placed the number cards around our pre-school playground. which are easily visible to children.

I asked the children to sit in a group to give the instructions. I asked the children to look around the playground to see whether they find any written numbers, Then, I showed the class  one of the numeral strips and explained that they will go for a scavenger hunt to find all the number 1-20. Once they find a number, they were instructed to circle it to keep track of which ones they are still looking for. Each child had a numeral strip and a writing tool. 

This activity made each child busy and engaged the whole time.

I want to use this scavenger hunt idea at another subject such as alphabet hunt, sight word hunt and other reading-related skills.

 

Counting Forwards and Backwards

We often hear children counting numbers easily, but learning how to count backwards may be a little bit of a challenge.

I have been using various activities to   strengthen my students' counting backwards skills through songs, number line, number hops,  daily drill and the like. 

Then, it's time to take it outside using sidewalk chalk.We use sidewalk chalk to make a hopscotch game. My students jump on to numbers as they count loudly.For the older students you can start at 1-20 and the younger ones can start at 1-10. The rest of the class can count along as well.

 Another way to use sidewalk chalk would be to have the students create a number line in descending order. The older students can start at number 50 and the younger ones at number 20.This activity can work with both the younger  and the older students .  My students had fun jumping and counting at the same time trying to apply good body coordination. This hands-on activity allows the students to visualize counting forwards and backwards- a more meaningful and unforgettable learning experience.

Fine Motor Skills

 Fine motor skills are one of the essential foundation children need before they can actually learn how to write.Fine motor skills help the children develop proper pencil grasp and control of various writing instruments.

To make fine motor skills activities more exciting, I look inside and outside the classroom for materials which can be used as a writing instrument such as feathers, Q tip, Popsicle sticks, chalk, straw, twigs, a bundle of crayons, toothbrush, paintbrush, and the like. 

Using scissors is also a part of developing fine motor skills. It takes a lot of challenge for the students to manipulate a pair of scissors so I provide various materials for them to cut like different textures of paper, straw, clay, sandpaper, dried leaves and more.

Playdough and playdough mat never get out of style. It has been my children's favorite. 

They use their hands to roll and squeeze. This activity not only develops fine motor skills 

but also letters, numbers and vocabulary. Various playdough mats are laminated for longer 

usage.

My K2's love to dip their fingers on to a dish of paint and paint a picture instead of using a 

paintbrush. Some of the younger kids might be hesitant to do so. Constant exposure to the 

activity might help them overcome their fear of getting their hands messy.

You can be more creative using eye drops, pegs, paper clips, tweezers, tongs, toothpicks, 

linking cubes, Lego blocks, rubbers bands and more to provide more exciting activities for

 your students. Many activities can be found in kindergarten websites.