Next Steps

• Start the Savvy Quiz

Core Skills for Math

Click on the skills below to see what you can do at home to help your child develop essential art skills.

show all · hide all

• Develop an understanding of addition and subtraction (e.g., 1 ball can be put together with 2 balls to make 3 balls) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  FREE		Baby Birds Expert Created Activity Support your child's understanding of addition and subtraction with this next and the baby bird cut-outs.
  99 ¢		Take Away Apples Expert Created Activity Support your child's understanding of addition and subtraction with these tractor cut-outs.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Counting Beans Parent Created Activity Keep a plastic container filled with different beans -- all colors and sizes. On a rainy afternoon, spread out a sheet or blanket on the floor and pour the ...more beans out on a baking tray on the sheet. Give your toddler different cups, spoons, muffin tins to move, sort, count, and compare beans. You can make observations about numbers, sizes, textures, colors... the variations are endless! (less)
  FREE		Math Hopscotch Parent Created Activity Chalk a hopscotch board on the ground but make it larger than the normal 10 squares based on how high your child can count. Take a foam block and ...more write either F or B on each side of the block. You will also need to use dice or make dice out of more foam blocks to determine how many blocks your child will hop. To start the game, each child should roll the F/B block to determine whether he has to move forward or backward and the dice to determine the number of spaces. With very young children, this game works best with one die. For older kids, it's fun to use two or three dice to incorporate addition and subtraction. Physical activity and early math skills! (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $6.99		Toy	How Much Is a Million? By now your older preschooler is tired of one to ten. She can do it in three other languages, none of which you speak. She is ready for the big ...more stuff. We have the book for you--an answer for the impossible "How much is a million?" question. The book is wonderfully fun, and it actually works to help little minds wrap around the seemingly impossible task of conceptualizing big numbers, something your preschooler will begin to work on in kindergarten. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician shows his young friends and their pets that a million goldfish would need a fishbowl as big as a whale, that even seven full pages of the book printed with miniscule stars add up to only 100,000, that a million children standing on each other's shoulders would reach higher than airplanes fly. And then he tackles a billion and a trillion too. When the 100th day of kindergarten rolls around, with its celebration of all things 100, your little one will be ready for the counting to begin! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  $14.99		Toy	Number Play Grades Pre K - 1. Ten puzzles from one to ten. Each puzzle has familiar objects which teach the meaning of numbers, tactile, and visual reinforcement concepts. Washable, crepe rubber. ...more 5 3/4"W x 3 3/8"D. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Compare written numerals (e.g., which is more 3 or 2) (show details)

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Candles on a Cake Parent Created Activity Who doesn't love a birthday cake? Use this fun idea to help your little ones work on addition and quantity. Begin by making a cake out of playdough. ...more Put candles in the cake and count them. Then place the cake on a plastic lid and make another one. See how many cakes with different numbers of candles you can make. Which cake is the one for your child this year? Next year? For big brother's birthday? It's fun doing math with playdough cakes! (less)
  FREE		Number Line Parent Created Activity Create a number line from 1 to 20 on the floor with masking tape and numbers that have been cut out of construction paper. Each number should be about ...more a foot apart. Practice counting up or down, adding or subtracting by having the kids jump and move up and down the number line. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $14.99		Toy	Number Play Grades Pre K - 1. Ten puzzles from one to ten. Each puzzle has familiar objects which teach the meaning of numbers, tactile, and visual reinforcement concepts. Washable, crepe rubber. ...more 5 3/4"W x 3 3/8"D. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $33.50		Toy	Developing Number Concepts: Addition and Subtraction (Developing Number Concepts) Grounded in teacher awareness, this series includes information about observing and assessing children at work, adaptations for diverse student needs, as well as classroom management. Students solidify beginning number concepts ...more through independent and small-group explorations that encourage the use of a variety of easy-to-handle manipulatives. The Planning Guide includes planning and classroom management tips. Grades K-3 Book 2: Addition and Subtraction (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify money (e.g., count pennies, identify a dollar bill) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  FREE

  How Many Pennies Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to identify and count money with real pennies and the candy store goodies on this page.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		The Change Game Parent Created Activity Teach your preschooler to distinguish between pennies, nickels, dime and quarters by emptying out some change from your wallet and having your child sort them and count them for you! ...more As they become more advanced, they can count up the total amount of change you have. This is a great activity for when you have to wait and keep your little ones entertained. (less)
  FREE		Coin Games Parent Created Activity This is a great fall-back for when you find yourself waiting somewhere with your kids and you're empty handed. Take one of each kind of coin from your wallet ...more and play guessing games with them. For my youngest child, I give clues to describe which coin I'm thinking of: "This one is silver, it has a face on one side, it's the biggest" etc. For my older children I make it harder, "This one equals twenty-five cents" or "100 of these equals a dollar." It's a great way to learn the value of different coins. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $6.99		Toy	How Much Is a Million? By now your older preschooler is tired of one to ten. She can do it in three other languages, none of which you speak. She is ready for the big ...more stuff. We have the book for you--an answer for the impossible "How much is a million?" question. The book is wonderfully fun, and it actually works to help little minds wrap around the seemingly impossible task of conceptualizing big numbers, something your preschooler will begin to work on in kindergarten. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician shows his young friends and their pets that a million goldfish would need a fishbowl as big as a whale, that even seven full pages of the book printed with miniscule stars add up to only 100,000, that a million children standing on each other's shoulders would reach higher than airplanes fly. And then he tackles a billion and a trillion too. When the 100th day of kindergarten rolls around, with its celebration of all things 100, your little one will be ready for the counting to begin! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  $23.99		Toy	Buy It Right Shopping Game

  

• Add and subtract to ten, using concrete objects (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  How Many Balloons Expert Created Activity Support your child's understanding of addition and subtraction as you display and hide the hot air balloons with cut-outs.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Breaking the Piggy Bank or Banking 101 Parent Created Activity Sorting, counting, and rolling coins is a great way to teach your child about money. We put all our spare change in my son's piggy bank and then when ...more it's full, my son gets to dump it out and we roll the coins together. First we have him sort the different coins, then put the coins into stacks of 5-10, then we roll the coins. Great fine motor skill builder, too, since it takes dexterity to drop each coin into the coin wrapper. When we're done, we either take the rolled coins to the bank or we let him spend the money on a small item of his choice. (less)
  FREE		Pretend Grocery Store Parent Created Activity Set up a room in your house like a grocery store. Put some of your kids' favorite foods on tables and other low pieces of furniture -- these will ...more make the aisles of the grocery store. Then give your kids something to use as a basket. My youngest uses his little push walker with a small basket in the back. My oldest has a picnic basket. Then give the kids some money -- real or pretend -- to use to 'buy' their food. Not only is this activity fun, but you can use it to teach young children colors, shapes, counting, and food names. Older children can learn about making a recipe, finding food from all the food groups, and addition and subtraction. And, who knows, the next trip to the grocery store might be a little more fun for them! (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $6.99		Toy	How Much Is a Million? By now your older preschooler is tired of one to ten. She can do it in three other languages, none of which you speak. She is ready for the big ...more stuff. We have the book for you--an answer for the impossible "How much is a million?" question. The book is wonderfully fun, and it actually works to help little minds wrap around the seemingly impossible task of conceptualizing big numbers, something your preschooler will begin to work on in kindergarten. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician shows his young friends and their pets that a million goldfish would need a fishbowl as big as a whale, that even seven full pages of the book printed with miniscule stars add up to only 100,000, that a million children standing on each other's shoulders would reach higher than airplanes fly. And then he tackles a billion and a trillion too. When the 100th day of kindergarten rolls around, with its celebration of all things 100, your little one will be ready for the counting to begin! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  $23.99		Toy	Buy It Right Shopping Game

  

• Compare sizes of basic pictured shapes (e.g., larger, smaller) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Juggling Clowns Expert Created Activity Support your child's differentiation of large and small as she uses the cut-outs to help one clown juggle large balls and another juggle small balls.
  FREE		Biggest To Smallest Expert Created Activity Support your child's size sorting and classifying skills with this Goldilocks and the Three Bears activity.

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Kiddy Connects 2 years&up. Construct colorful creations with this snap-construction set. These soft, playful blocks will promote fine motor development and creativity.
  $24.99		Toy	Lego Duplo Zoo The LEGO DUPLO Zoo includes two figures and lots of safe, easy to use bricks in different shapes and colors to help younger builders get their start, all in a ...more durable and practical storage tub. With so many possible creatures and scenes to build, there's no limit to what they can imagine! (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify and sort basic plane figures: square, rectangle, triangle, circle (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Shape Sorting Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to sort shapes as they sort the cut-outs of circles, triangles, and squares.
  99 ¢		A Castle Of Shapes Expert Created Activity Support your child's awareness and recognition of shapes as they look for circles, triangles, rectangles, and squares in the building block castle pictured on this page.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Sorting shapes Parent Created Activity Get a bunch of household objects that fall into 3 shape categories -- circle, square, and triangle. For instance, you can use a wallet, a coin, a ball, a piece ...more of bread cut into a triangle shape, a tomato. Once you have many objects, about 5 of each shape, put them on a table and ask your child to sort them by shape. Great both for sorting and shape recognition. (less)
  FREE		Shape Singing Parent Created Activity This fun activity will help your child with listening and shape recognition. Place cut-outs of several shapes -- triangle, square, circle, rectangle, etc. -- in a bag. Have each ...more child pick out one shape. (If you are playing with one child, you can repeat the game several times until all the shapes have been used.) To play the game, sing "Do you have the triangle, the triangle, the triangle? If you have the triangle, please stand up!" Change the song for each shape and change the movement too if you want -- jumping, shaking, dancing, smiling are all a lot of fun. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Kiddy Connects 2 years&up. Construct colorful creations with this snap-construction set. These soft, playful blocks will promote fine motor development and creativity.
  FREE		Toy	My First TV Fun & Games Sesame Street Elmo's World Plug n Play TV Game comes with five built in games which include: Elmo's shape match, Elmo's Sea Search, Elmo's Super Soccer, Elmo's Shape Jump, and ...more Dinner with Dorthy. Age 3 + (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify top, middle, bottom (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  Top, Middle, Bottom Expert Created Activity Support your child's differentiation of top, middle, and bottom as you help him to identify children at the top, middle, and bottom of the illustrated playgound equipment.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $19.99		Toy	Melissa and Doug 100 Piece Wood Blocks Set Kids can use their creativity and imagination to build all sorts of things with this 100-piece set. The structures are only as tall and wide as the child's imagination! With ...more endless possibilities, it's sure to provide hours of engaged play. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $19.99		Toy	Counting and Sorting Farm Each of these soft pens has a number of stuffed farm critters inside: 1 chick (in a nest), 2 sheep, 3 pigs and 4 cows. Kids will develop fine motor, ...more counting and sorting skills as they remove and replace the animals. plus, there are plenty of opportunities for make-believe barnyard play. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify left and right hand (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  FREE

  A Visit To The Bakery Expert Created Activity Support your childs differentiation of left and right while fostering counting skills with this activity that has you counting the bakery goodies from left to right.

  Sample Activities

  FREE

  Left or Right? Parent Created Activity Teach your child left and right with this fun game! Call out a body part such as "left foot," "right shoulder," etc. and then toss a ball or balloon ...more to a player who tries to hit the ball with that body part. That's the only rule. No winners or losers...just fun! (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $5.99		Toy	Left Hand, Right Hand: A "Hands-On" Book About Left and Right Most of the time, we take our hands for granted, but this unusual book gives younger children an opportunity to ponder their hands, understand how to use them, and learn ...more to tell left from right. They learn how their thumbs make picking up objects an easy task. The book?s unique design consists of eight board pages on its left-hand side and eight more on its right-hand side. Pages are die-cut to match the general shape of hands. They explain the many uses of hands in simple words and attractive color illustrations. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $5.99		Toy	My Hands (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) Hands Clapping, waving, pushing, pulling, scratching, digging, tickling--how many ways do you use your hands every day? Find out how important your hands are!

  

• Perceive and recognize shapes (e.g., puzzles with interlocking pieces) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Three Shapes Expert Created Activity Support your child's awareness and recognition of shapes as they look for circles, triangles, and squares in the every day items pictured on this page.
  99 ¢		Squares & Circles Expert Created Activity Support your child's awareness and recognition of shapes as they look for circles and squares in the every day items pictured on this page.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Chalk the Walk Parent Created Activity Mark off an area of your driveway, sidewalk or any other washable surface and let your kids go to town with Sidewalk Chalk. You can ask them to draw ...more shapes, letters or numbers, or just let the little ones doodle. I'll draw objects or animals and then ask my son to run and jump on them, which adds a little physical activity. My son loves to finish up the chalk play by leaving daddy a welcome home message on the driveway! (less)
  FREE		Sidewalk Shape Game Parent Created Activity Draw shapes on the sidewalk with chalk (do 2 or 3 of each shape if you have multiple children). Then make a game out of finding the shapes. ...more For younger kids, you can just ask 'can you find the triangle' and have them go stand on it. For older kids, you can make it more of a race -- 'Can you find the square' and then everyone runs to stand on a square. A variation is to draw different colored shapes and have them find a specific colored shape 'find the pink rectangle'. There are many different ways that you can modify this activity so that it is always a challenge to your child. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Kiddy Connects 2 years&up. Construct colorful creations with this snap-construction set. These soft, playful blocks will promote fine motor development and creativity.
  FREE		Toy	My First TV Fun & Games Sesame Street Elmo's World Plug n Play TV Game comes with five built in games which include: Elmo's shape match, Elmo's Sea Search, Elmo's Super Soccer, Elmo's Shape Jump, and ...more Dinner with Dorthy. Age 3 + (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify basic shapes in a variety of common objects (e.g., windows, pictures, books, buildings, cars, etc.) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  FREE

  A House With Many Windows Expert Created Activity Support your child's awareness and recognition of shapes as they look for rectangles in the windows of this house. Also support fine motor skills and early writing strokes as ...more they create panes in each window. (less) Created by Core Knowledge

  Sample Books and Toys

  $19.99		Toy	Bingory Part Bingo, part Memory, Bingory is an entertaining and challenging memory game for kids and parents alike. Be the first to complete your bingo card by finding matching pairs and ...more you win ! (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $24.99		Toy	Peg N Lace Geoboard Busy hands eagerly create attractive designs with this wonderful Peg 'N' Lace Art activity. The uniquely shaped peg with four holes allows children to creat 3D designs by lacing through ...more each peg in different directions and angles. Includes 25 pegs, 12 colored laces, and pattern cards! (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Quantify groups of objects (e.g., as many paintbrushes as dolls, paintbrushes as pots of paint, cookies as children, etc.) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Fish Bowls Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to quantify objects with this activity that has them determining which fish bowls contain more fish.
  99 ¢		Which Is More? Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to quantify objects with this activity that has them determining which sets of illustrated items contain more.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Counting Sticks Parent Created Activity This is an activity to help your toddler with counting. Take large tongue depressors and glue different amounts of beans or fuzzy pom-poms onto them. Make enough sticks to show ...more numbers 1-10. Let your child help you count each bean or pom-pom that is on the stick. You can write the number at one end of the stick, or even spell out the number on the back of the stick. You might also put google eyes on the stick to make it look like a caterpillar or a snake. (less)
  FREE		Picture Sort Parent Created Activity Sort pictures into groups of boys/girls, tall/short, hair color, or young/old. Kids could also make a line of all the pictures from youngest to oldest or shortest to tallest.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $36.99		Toy	Beginning Sorting Set Count, sort and classify with these durable soft rubber counters. Our set comes with 48 Mini Dinos, 36 Fruity Fun Counters, 36 Mini Motors® and 48 Friendly Farm® Animal Counters ...more in two sizes. Sorting tray sold separately. Ages 3 to 7 (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $20.00		Toy	3D Feel & Find 3 - 7 years. With 20 matching wooden shapes and textured tiles, children can count, match, sort, and identify objects. Sort the geometric or object shapes for focused learning experiences. ...more For visual or tactile play, independently or in groups. Includes cotton bag. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Use simple measurement and divide objects (e.g., break a cookie or candy bar into two equal pieces, use comparative words such as longer-shorter) (show details)

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Colorful Cupcake Decorating Parent Created Activity Kids really love this activity. You and your child can begin by baking a batch of cupcakes as you usually would (using a simple cake mix is the easiest). ...more Make the cupcakes nice and big so that the children can hold on to them for easier decorating. Take a container of ready-made frosting (whipped is the easiest to spread) and divide it up into four small bowls. In each bowl, mix in a small amount of red, blue, green, or yellow food coloring. Give the child a small spoon and show them how to use the back of the spoon to spread the frosting over the cupcakes. They can then decorate with sprinkles or candy once they are finished frosting. (less)
  FREE		Homemade Playdough Parent Created Activity Mix together the flour, salt, water, food coloring, cream or tartar, and cooking oil in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until the mixture forms ...more a large 'ball' and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove the ball from the heat. Once it is cool to touch, knead it until it is smooth. Your playdough will then be ready for playtime or it can be stored it in an airtight container for future use. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $64.99		Toy	LER2256 Tabletop Measurement Center Make a pocket for every student to use for hall passes, book checkouts, lunch tickets, assignments, homework collection, and much more. Includes 32 blank name cards, 32 blank 3" x ...more 5" cards and two double-sided title cards. Measures 28"W x 27"H. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $21.95		Toy	Measuring Monkeys Measuring Game

  

• Extend a sequence of ordered concrete objects. (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		At The Ballet Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to sort objects by height using the ballet stage and ballerina cut-outs.
  99 ¢		Big Or Little? Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to sort objects by size using the country road scene and the gingerbread man cut-outs.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $33.50		Toy	Developing Number Concepts: Counting, Comparing, and Pattern (Developing Number Concepts) Grounded in teacher awareness, this series includes information about observing and assessing children at work, adaptations for diverse student needs, as well as classroom management. Students solidify beginning number concepts ...more through independent and small-group explorations that encourage the use of a variety of easy-to-handle manipulatives. The Planning Guide includes planning and classroom management tips. Grades K-3 Book 1: Counting, Comparing, and Pattern (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $66.15		Toy	Guidecraft Unit Blocks These European quality unit blocks are made to resist dents and dings. You'll notice the difference. These blocks are finely sanded and rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, and are ...more splinter-free to protect tender, young hands. All blocks are guaranteed for life. Features 45 unit blocks of varying shapes Rounded, sanded edges for splinter-free clocks Resists dings and dents Guaranteed for life For children of all ages (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Compare objects according to linear measure (e.g., longer-shorter; taller than -- shorter than, etc.), weight (e.g., heavy --light), capacity (e.g., full and empty). (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Thick, Thin, Wide, Or Narrow Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to differentiate between thick, thin, wide, and narrow with this activity that has him selecting between pairs of illustrated objects to identify this that are thick, ...more thin, wide, and narrow. (less) Created by Core Knowledge
  99 ¢		Long Or Short? Short Or Tall? Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to differentiate between long, short, and tall by choosing the speficied size from each pair of pictures.

  Sample Activities

  FREE

  Measure with Me Parent Created Activity Which things in the house are taller than your child and which are shorter? Help her find out by cutting a length of yarn to her height and then "measuring" ...more pieces of furniture, large toys, etc. to see which are shorter than her and which are taller. You can make this a game by writing down several household items on a piece of paper and having your child guess ahead of time whether she thinks it will be taller or shorter than her. Write down the guesses, and then see whether they were right as you work through your measurements. Learning to measure is an important skill for older preschoolers and kindergarteners. This activity is a great way to practice and have fun! (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Balance This well-made, appealing wooden scale from Haba allows a young scientist to explore the concepts of weight and gravity. Hands-on experiments with anything and everything around the house will be ...more in order. Which is heavier, an apple or a banana? What if you eat some of the apple and peel the banana? And how do seven m&m's stack up against one chocolate chip cookie? Then, after snack-time, you might start to wonder whose keys weigh more, Mommy's or Daddy's? Honey, have you seen my keys around? Not to worry, it's all for the sake of scientific learning. (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  $29.99		Toy	Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Set Ah, tinkertoys. The very mention of tinkertoys brings on a flood of nostalgic memories, doesn't it? Can't you recall almost exactly the feeling of fitting the rods and wheels together? ...more Don't you remember the wacky structures you used to create and proudly display? One of the best things about these classic toys is precisely that store of memories that makes us want to get down on the floor and relive a piece of childhood with our own kids. So let's see if we can help them create something even wilder and wackier than what we did way back when. (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source

  

• Identify familiar instruments of measurement, such as ruler, scale, thermometer (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		The Muffin Man's Best Expert Created Activity Support your child's understanding of measurement and measuring tools as you follow this recipe for the The Muffin Man's muffins.
  FREE		Three Bear's Porridge Expert Created Activity Support your child's understanding of measurement and measuring tools as you follow this recipe for the Three Bears' Porridge.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $20.00		Toy	Little Cook Tool Kit A real educational experience for children ages 5+ with adult supervision. Set includes a whisk, rolling pin, spatula, wooden spoon, pastry scraper, measuring cups, measuring spoons, melon baller and herb ...more pot. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $4.50		Toy	How Big is a Foot Thrown in jail because the bed he made for the Queen is too small, an apprentice comes upwith a more accurate way of measuring size.

  

• Count from 1-31, first beginning with 1 (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  Let's Count Expert Created Activity Support your child's counting skills with this gumball machine and gumball cut-outs.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		What is a Dozen? Parent Created Activity Help your preschooler learn what a dozen is and practice counting to 12. Let your child decorate an empty egg carton with crayons, markers, stickers, and/or paint. Then he ...more can fill each compartment with any small item, such as marbles, small toy cars, crackers, or whatever he'd like, as he counts to 12. You can also use the egg carton to teach him about subtraction. If you take out 2 marbles, how many are left? (less)
  FREE		Bubble Count Parent Created Activity My 4-year-old daughter made up this game, and I thought it was rather clever! As I blow bubbles, she pops them with her finger and says a number, starting ...more with the number 1. As the bubbles float by, she pops them and counts the next number, and the next, until she forgets what number she was on or can't count any higher. Because the bubbles come out at different rates, the game requires a one-to-one correspondence understanding which is essential to the concept of what numbers represent. It reinforces sequencing and is fun and motivating. It is also great for those kinesthetic learners out there! You could also do it with the alphabet, or with more open-ended groups such as colors or animals. Happy popping! (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $6.99		Toy	How Much Is a Million? By now your older preschooler is tired of one to ten. She can do it in three other languages, none of which you speak. She is ready for the big ...more stuff. We have the book for you--an answer for the impossible "How much is a million?" question. The book is wonderfully fun, and it actually works to help little minds wrap around the seemingly impossible task of conceptualizing big numbers, something your preschooler will begin to work on in kindergarten. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician shows his young friends and their pets that a million goldfish would need a fishbowl as big as a whale, that even seven full pages of the book printed with miniscule stars add up to only 100,000, that a million children standing on each other's shoulders would reach higher than airplanes fly. And then he tackles a billion and a trillion too. When the 100th day of kindergarten rolls around, with its celebration of all things 100, your little one will be ready for the counting to begin! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  $12.99		Toy	Caterpillar Race Players race against each other to see whose caterpillar will cross the finish line first.

  

• Count from 1-10 (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Count The Shoes And Socks Expert Created Activity Support your child's counting skills as he counts the shoe and sock cut-outs to determine whether there are more shoes or socks.
  99 ¢		Match Me Expert Created Activity Support your child's counting skills as you put apple cut-outs on one tree for him to count and match on another tree.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Button Collage Parent Created Activity Try this fun activity to practice counting and sorting, and end up with 3 pieces of artwork! Collect an assortment of buttons before starting. You may find that you ...more have extras around the house that came with clothes or you can buy some at a fabric store. Write the numbers 1, 2, and 4 on separate sheets of construction paper. Next, have your child sort the buttons by the number of holes each has, placing buttons with one hole on the sheet marked "1," two-hole buttons on the sheet marked "2" and so on. When all of the buttons have been sorted, your child can use glue to create one-hole, two-hole and four-hole button collages on the construction paper. (less)
  FREE		Matching Butterflies Parent Created Activity This is a great activity to work on early math skills. Begin by cutting triangles out of different colors of construction paper. Write a number on one triangle and ...more draw the same number of dots on another triangle. Make sets like that for 1-10 (or 20 for an older preschooler). Then, begin the game by having your children match the number of dots to the actual number. Then clip the triangles together with a clothespin in the middle making a butterfly shape! Once you've matched everything up, you can take the butterflies apart, save everything in a box, and you have a great anytime learning activity. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $6.99		Toy	How Much Is a Million? By now your older preschooler is tired of one to ten. She can do it in three other languages, none of which you speak. She is ready for the big ...more stuff. We have the book for you--an answer for the impossible "How much is a million?" question. The book is wonderfully fun, and it actually works to help little minds wrap around the seemingly impossible task of conceptualizing big numbers, something your preschooler will begin to work on in kindergarten. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician shows his young friends and their pets that a million goldfish would need a fishbowl as big as a whale, that even seven full pages of the book printed with miniscule stars add up to only 100,000, that a million children standing on each other's shoulders would reach higher than airplanes fly. And then he tackles a billion and a trillion too. When the 100th day of kindergarten rolls around, with its celebration of all things 100, your little one will be ready for the counting to begin! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  FREE		Toy	My First TV Fun & Games Sesame Street Elmo's World Plug n Play TV Game comes with five built in games which include: Elmo's shape match, Elmo's Sea Search, Elmo's Super Soccer, Elmo's Shape Jump, and ...more Dinner with Dorthy. Age 3 + (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Recognize and write numbers 1-31 (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		How Many Bugs In A Rug? Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to count and recognize written numbers with this ladybug counting page and numbered cut-outs.
  99 ¢		Write The Numbers Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to recognize and write numbers with this page that takes them from tracing to writing numbers 1 through 6.

  Sample Activities

  FREE

  Walk the Numbers Parent Created Activity Trace each of your child's feet onto a piece of cardboard or construction paper and have him or her help you cut out a number of copies of both. ...more Then write a number (1, 2, 3, etc.) on each one, and lay them out in different patterns on the floor. Challenge/teach your child to step on his/her own feet in numerical order, ascending or descending. This teaches your child to follow a sequence and become familiar with number recognition. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $6.99		Toy	How Much Is a Million? By now your older preschooler is tired of one to ten. She can do it in three other languages, none of which you speak. She is ready for the big ...more stuff. We have the book for you--an answer for the impossible "How much is a million?" question. The book is wonderfully fun, and it actually works to help little minds wrap around the seemingly impossible task of conceptualizing big numbers, something your preschooler will begin to work on in kindergarten. Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician shows his young friends and their pets that a million goldfish would need a fishbowl as big as a whale, that even seven full pages of the book printed with miniscule stars add up to only 100,000, that a million children standing on each other's shoulders would reach higher than airplanes fly. And then he tackles a billion and a trillion too. When the 100th day of kindergarten rolls around, with its celebration of all things 100, your little one will be ready for the counting to begin! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source
  $15.99		Toy	Just a Minute (Trickster Tale) This book is like no other in your bookshelves, and it just might become your sleeper hit, your little one's very favorite. Trust us, we've seen it happen. ...more This book uses Mexican cultural traditions to tell an original little story about a Grandma Beetle who uses her old-standby counting skills to stall for time when the skeleton Senor Calavera arrives at her door. Your little one will cheer as Grandma Beetle ticks off all of party preparations in numerical order (in both English and Spanish) and then sits to a fantastic feast with her family and her uninvited but now welcome guest. The rich, Diego Rivera-esque illustrations and the Day of the Dead folk art figures complement the story perfectly. It's a party story, it's a counting game, it's an introduction to Mexican art and culture - it's just a fine, unusual book. And it's a nice reminder that stalling for time is a tradition with roots much deeper than just your dawdling preschooler! (less) Review provided by The Savvy Source

  

• Count from 1-31 from any given number (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  Let's Count Expert Created Activity Support your child's counting skills with this gumball machine and gumball cut-outs.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $4.95		Toy	Dot to Dot Count to 30 Kids can count on fun?all the way up to 30?with the latest in the popular Dot to Dot series. As always, the collection features the cutest pictures and a number ...more line across the top of each spread to keep little ones on track. Children will grab a pencil to begin connecting the dots and creating a cowboy on his horse, a plane, a hot-air balloon with a girl in the basket, an undersea scene, a circus dog, a fire-breathing dragon, and much more. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $15.50		Toy	Counting Bears Reinforce math readiness, logic and reasoning skills as children learn to count numbers, identify colors, and learn to add. Join the bears for sorting, counting and adding.

  

• Count by fives and tens to 50 (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  Fifty Footballs Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to count by fives and tens using these fifty footballs.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $29.99		Toy	Ten Counter An innovative counting abacus with ten arches that hold 1 to 10 beads, each corresponding to written numerals and quantity of objects. A great introduction to counting. Used in homes ...more and schools throughout the world. Measures 6" x 15" x 10". (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $26.95		Toy	Learning Resources Count And Add Wood Puzzles Learn early math in the classroom or at home with this set of 20 wooden self-checking puzzle cards. The 2" x 6" cards help teach counting, adding and matching. The ...more cards come in a wooden box for easy cleanup and storage. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify ordinal position (first -- 1st -- sixth -- 6th) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  FREE

  Give Me The Words Expert Created Activity Support your child's story telling and sequencing skills with this sequence of pictures about momma duck and her babies.

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Leap Frog 6ft Counting Caterpillar Floor Puzzle 21pc Learn to count in a snap with this counting catterpillar kit. Ages 2-5 years
  $12.99		Toy	African Animal Wooden Counting Puzzle African Animal Counting Puzzle by Wild Republic. Help your child learn to count with this African animals educational toy from Wild Republic. This puzzle features african animals pictured in the ...more shape of numbers. The puzzle pieces come in a nice wooden box for easy storage. The animals pictured are: Cheetah Hippo Elephant Giraffe Rhinoceros Lion Zebra Hyena This product has been discontinued; sales are limited to stock on hand. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify pairs (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  FREE		More Opposites Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to identify pairs and oppostites with these pictures and their matching or opposite cut-outs.
  99 ¢		Connect The Shapes Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to identify same and different with this shape matching exercise.

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Kiddy Connects 2 years&up. Construct colorful creations with this snap-construction set. These soft, playful blocks will promote fine motor development and creativity.
  FREE		Toy	Alphabet & Numbers Simple Puzzle Pairs Multiple award winner: Oppenheim Gold Award & Parenting Magazine Top Toy Award. Emergent readers can match letters with words and dots with numbers. Directions include 6 games parents can play ...more with their children. Pieces are self-correcting. For ages 3 and up. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Identify ½ as one of two equal parts of a region or object (show details)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $64.99		Toy	LER2256 Tabletop Measurement Center Make a pocket for every student to use for hall passes, book checkouts, lunch tickets, assignments, homework collection, and much more. Includes 32 blank name cards, 32 blank 3" x ...more 5" cards and two double-sided title cards. Measures 28"W x 27"H. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $21.95		Toy	Measuring Monkeys Measuring Game

  

• Count from 1 to 10 by two (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  Two by Two Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to count by twos with this sailboat counting page.

  Sample Books and Toys

  $29.99		Toy	Ten Counter An innovative counting abacus with ten arches that hold 1 to 10 beads, each corresponding to written numerals and quantity of objects. A great introduction to counting. Used in homes ...more and schools throughout the world. Measures 6" x 15" x 10". (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $19.99		Toy	Counting Cubes Pre- K & up. Count, sort, and identify colors with ease using this set of 100 hardwood cubes in 6 colors. 1" square cubes.

  

• Count backward from 10 (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢

  Blast Off Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to count backward from 10 with the rocket ship counting page.

  Sample Activities

  FREE

  3, 2, 1, Blast Off! Parent Created Activity In an wide open space, indoors or outdoors, help your child to count backwards from 10 to 1, then yell "Blast off!" Run in circles a few times, with ...more your arms open wide, like a rocketship. (less)

  

• Duplicate and continue linear patterns (large yellow, round bead; large red, round bead; large yellow, round bead, etc.) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Match The Pattern Expert Created Activity Support your child's ability to duplicate and continue linear patterns with these colored cut outs.
  99 ¢		A Starry Flag Expert Created Activity Support your child's development of patterning skills with this activity that has him stars on a flag.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		Sudoku for Kids Parent Created Activity If you are a Sudoku fan, you will enjoy working on this project with your child. Make a mini Sudoku board -- 4 square boxes comprised of four smaller ...more squares. Gather four each of four different kinds of coins (or cut out 4 different shaped pieces and make sure you have 4 of each shape). Now, show your child the 'object' of the game: Have each type of coin (or other playing piece) appear only once in each box, each row, and each column. Watch their little minds go to work! (And see your newspaper for a sample Sudoku game.) (less)
  FREE		Fruit Loop Pattern Necklaces Parent Created Activity Using fruit loops and dental floss, create a pattern for your child to follow. For instance, blue loop, red loop, blue loop, red loop, and then have child tell ...more you next piece in the pattern and add to necklace. You can increase the difficulty by adding more colors to the pattern. Your child can then wear and eat her "fruity" necklace. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $16.99		Toy	Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Stringing Beads Open up your own jewelry-making factory with this Wooden Stringing Beads set. This conveniently packaged, brightly painted set contains more than 200 wooden letters and beads. There are also eight ...more colored cords to make necklaces and bracelets that you can keep or give as gifts. Stored in a durable, handy wood tray. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $29.04		Toy	Bead Sequencing Set Stack the durable, brightly colored wooden beads on five hardwood dowels in sequence to match the design on one of the pattern cards. This Bead Sequencing Set builds complex reasoning ...more skills as well as sorting and coordination. Includes over 45 brilliantly colored beads, five dowels, and 10 patterns that increase in difficulty. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• In a given set of objects, indicate which item does not belong (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Which One Belongs? Expert Created Activity Support your child's sorting and classifying skills with this activity that has her determining whether which of two items belongs in a given set.
  FREE		Which Belongs Expert Created Activity Support your child's sorting and classifying skills with this activity that has her determining whether one item belongs in a given set or not.

  Sample Activities

  FREE

  Which One is Different? Parent Created Activity Gather several similar small toys or objects that can be made into groups of two or three items which are alike (for example, three leaves). Then, add an additional ...more item that is not related to the group in any way (for example, add a rubber duck to the group of leaves). Ask your child to identify which items are the same and which one is different, or does not belong. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  $14.99		Toy	Chunky Puzzle (Pets) This hand-painted, playfully styled puzzle is sure to catch and keep the attention of curious tots. The thick, chunky wooden puzzle pieces fit neatly into their spots on the colorful ...more board and also stand up for additional pretend play. Full-color pictures are hiding beneath each piece. Measures 12"H x 11"W x 1"D. (less) Review provided by Amazon
  $9.99		Toy	Chunky Puzzle (Safari) Little ones can go on an amazing safari adventure with this playful chunky puzzle that's teeming with wildlife. The puzzle's thick wooden pieces all fit neatly into their spots on ...more the colorful board, and they even stand up on their own for additional pretend play. Puzzle features full-color images beneath each piece. Measures 12"H x 11"W x 0.8"D. (less) Review provided by Amazon

  

• Sort and classify objects or pictures (e.g., find all that are small like this one, find all that you wear, all that are this color, etc.) (show details)

  Sample Core Knowledge Activities

  99 ¢		Get Ready Expert Created Activity Support your child's sorting and classifying skills while fostering a sense of personal responsibility that has your child putting away cut-outs of toys, tools, and food.
  99 ¢		Let's Pickup Expert Created Activity Support your child's sorting and classifying skills while fostering a sense of personal responsibility that has your child putting away cut-outs of clothes and toys.

  Sample Activities

  FREE		M&M Math Parent Created Activity Dump a bag of M&Ms on the table and ask your child to sort them into different piles, by color. Then ask her to create vertical lines to show, ...more without counting, which color has the most M&M's. You can add to the game by asking other questions such as: Which line has more M&Ms, blue or red? Which line has the least? After she has predicted the answers using her m&s "graphs," ask her to count each to be sure the answers are correct. You can also add and subtract using M&M's as manipulatives. For younger children, sorting and color recognition would be appropriate. (less)
  FREE		Hunting for Dinosaurs Parent Created Activity This game can be played indoors or outdoors, but we usually save it for a rainy day. Give a child a large basket and have her gather all of ...more her plastic toy dinosaurs. Once she is convinced that she has them all, count them according to size (e.g., 11 large, 8 medium and 7 small). Then send the child into another room, close the door and have her stay there until called (older kids can count for themselves to 50 or 100 - enough time to hide the toys). While the child is behind closed doors, hide all the dinosaurs around the house in plain view. Once they are all hidden, give the child the basket and send her off on her dinosaur hunt. When she thinks she has found them all, she has to count them again to be sure. It generally takes anywhere from 20-45 minutes to find and recount them all. You could certainly use stuffed animals or some other favorite set of toys. (less)

  Sample Books and Toys

  FREE		Toy	Kiddy Connects 2 years&up. Construct colorful creations with this snap-construction set. These soft, playful blocks will promote fine motor development and creativity.
  $19.99		Toy	Bingory Part Bingo, part Memory, Bingory is an entertaining and challenging memory game for kids and parents alike. Be the first to complete your bingo card by finding matching pairs and ...more you win ! (less) Review provided by Amazon