So if I were to create one new tool for this school year, I would create a set of number cards, and laminate them. I would make them out of large 5 X 8 white index cards and number them from 1-20 (more if I had more than 20 children in the class).

These can be used throughout the day for all sorts of classroom activities, from lining up (shuffle the cards, distribute and let the children figure out where they are in the line) to dividing into groups (odds and evens).  Clearly, the youngest children would not be ready for odds and evens, but used appropriately, the use of the cards can follow the development of the children, rather than the other way around.

Start small.  Begin by handing out the cards and help the children identify their number.  If they don’t recognize the numeral, try and see if they can count the dots (pips).  I created these dots to replicate the pips on a die, but you can also put them in lines up to 10 which is a strategy for supporting Base 10 understandings.  This format can also provide additional cues to odd and even because you can see if the dot has a partner (even) or if it stands along (odd).

You can add other visual clues, such as color.  Make all of the even numbers shades of blues and greens, and all of the odd numbers shades of reds and oranges.  Once distributed, the children can divide themselves into groups based on numbers or colors, or both.  This mingle and sort activity can be used daily, during large group time, transitions, or taking turns.

As the children get older (older 4s and 5s) use another set of cards with tally marks and Roman numerals.

It got me thinking about organic ways to get children involved with environmental issues as well as a simple way to have children sort their garbage every day.  It didn’t seem quite possible at this center because the children would have to cross over to the other building with their garbage, but when we went back to the center side, lo and behold, they had their very own recycling station there.

I tried to put myself in the place of the classroom teacher and imagine how difficult it would be to have all of the children walk down the hall with their garbage so they could sort and recycle it.  I suppose it could be a hassle, but maybe there was a way to sort it out in the classroom and then have a few children tote it down each day with a teacher.  They could put “Glass, Metals, and Plastics” on one shelf of the cart, “Landfill” on another and “Paper” on the top.  The cart then could travel down to the Recycling Station and a the recycling team could sort it into the appropriate bins.

Or, you could set up a recycling station in each classroom with 3 bins labelled with pictures so that children participate in the process all of the time.  Not only does it require sorting when disposing of the garbage, but it requires that children recognize attributes (plastic, dirty paper vs. clean paper, etc.) and categorize the items appropriately.

This is one of the classroom systems that is easy to set up and makes sense if you are playing the long game with children.  It may be hard today and even this week, but in the long run, it will be worth it.