Making bead snakes and counting with beads using pipe cleaners and pony beads are two great activities your preschooler will love.
I bought a package of these beads at the Dollar Tree and B had so much fun threading them onto pipe cleaners (a great activity for motor skill development!).
I started by modeling how to make patterns by thinking aloud. “I’m going to make a red and green snake. Look at my beads. Red, Green, Red, Green…”. But after B made one patterned snake he was over it and I realized I was the only one talking or thinking about patterns so I let it go until next time.
Once B grew bored of making bead snakes, I gave him this muffin tin with number cards in it and we counted the corresponding number of beads into each section. I was surprised by how many times he wanted to do this!
Elise
Saturday 14th of November 2009
I tried threading some material flowers that had a pre cut hole through the centre of them onto some pipe cleaners. My three year old daughter wasn't that interested in it. I may try using beads and see if that tickles her fancy.
Sorting and counting are popular here at the moment as well.
Cassie
Friday 13th of November 2009
Those are good ideas!
vanessa
Friday 13th of November 2009
We did this with noodles the other day and it was a big hit! I'll have to look for some beads so we can make some prettier ones.
Nicole {tired, need sleep}
Friday 13th of November 2009
Great activities! M loves stringing beads onto pipe cleaners, and I've tried the patterning thing with him, but he's just not getting it. I like the idea of pretending they are snakes and going about it that way, maybe that will make it a bit more appealing. I'll try! Thanks for the idea!
Ticia
Friday 13th of November 2009
Love this idea. We'll have to use it with our butterfly study