ice cube trays – Early Math Counts

Ice Cube Trays as a Sorting Tool

Early Math Counts — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:00:44 +0000

Many years ago I went to visit one of my students at her center and it was one of those days when everything I saw seemed new and exciting. Sometimes, when you have been in the business of child care and education for as long as I have, you begin to think you have “seen it all.”

Clearly, even if you feel that way, it is never true. We are so lucky to be in a profession where there is “newness” in every corner. The materials change, the environments grow, and the children’s approach to learning is forever novel and exciting.

On that particular day, my student had set out ice cube trays as a means of sorting materials. She added another twist – tongs and big tweezers – so that children sorted using these tools. She had put out materials such as cotton balls (easy to squeeze and pick up) as well as bouncy balls (really hard to squeeze and pick up). The activity had so many dimensions and challenges that the children were mesmerized by the task. They thought it was fun and funny that the balls kept popping out of the tongs and tweezers, so they did not become frustrated or bored. It was a lovely to watch.

A simple sorting activity can be made more interesting and multidimensional by adding a novel tool or dimension. Go ahead and try it!

Make Your Own Spooky Halloween Game

Early Math Counts — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 10:28:03 +0000

Children might be frightened by some of the scary parts of Halloween so think about your group before you put together your this game.

I saw this one on Pinterest. It looks easy enough to put together and might be fun (it is also filled with math!)

Give each child an ice cube tray (this one has pumpkin shaped cubes) and fill a bowl with squishy eyeballs. These are also available as bouncy balls. Children take turns rolling the dice and then placing the corresponding number of eyeballs in their tray. With younger children, the goal can be to fill their tray. For older children, you can add another dimension by having the children fill their trays exactly. That means they have to roll the exact number to fill the tray or they have to count out the eyeballs, fill the tray and then take away the remainders. This way, they continue to play instead of simply waiting.

Patterning and Sequencing Kit

Early Math Counts — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:00:30 +0000

This kit is a really nice way to support patterning and sequencing in your program. I think young children might find it interesting, since it has small spaces that can be open and closed, and you can change up the patterns by inserting a different card.

I was thinking it would be nice to create one of these using an ice-cube tray or an egg carton (the ice cube tray would be more permanent). With manipulatives you already have in your program, you can make a pattern on one side of the tray and have children copy the pattern on the other. You could also extend a pattern by putting in the first part of the pattern and ask children to complete it. I have created the examples below so you can clearly see what I mean.

Copy the Pattern

Complete the Pattern

Sometimes it is nice to buy beautiful materials and sometimes it is nice to create beautiful materials. Give it a try and let us know what you think.