Counting with Acorns

We visited granny over the weekend, and did not take a lot of toys with us, so we improvised! We went outside to harvest some acorns, and took them inside and use it to play and count.

Half the fun was to harvest them under the big oak tree.

Lela took the basket with acorns inside, and she let brother help her to fill one egg carton tray. This is great for fine motor skill development, hand eye coordination and one-on-one correspondence.

She counted the acorns as she placed them into the holes, realizing that there are 30 holes for big acorns to fit. If we could place two acorns in each hole, how many would be able to fit? 60. (Multiplication/double up)
Working with 5 rows across, If we took out one in each row, how many are left? 25(subtraction). If we only add three in each row, how many will we have? 15 (counting or multiplication)

All the while brother turned the other tray around and was adding acorns to the smaller holes. He is also counting up to ten nicely. Great for his fine motor skill development too! He does have an obsession on holes, circles and all things round.

We played again, this time we made a game: I made a pattern in the one tray, and she had to copy the pattern on hers. Then she had a turn to make a pattern. All the while using mathematical vocabulary when playing.

Brother invented his own game: trying to remove the acorns as quick as we put them on the tray! Oh, brothers!

Great fun, frugal and educational too!