Number 4 Theme Day

Pre-school Theme Day

Number “4” Day

Once my son knew his letters I decided to tackle numbers in the same way, one at a time to reinforce what each symbol/number was.

Print out the Family Theme Day Planner and decide which activities you’d like to do and in what order.

SONGS:

Many children’s albums feature counting songs. Go through your CD’s and see what you can find.

For something completely different play the song “789” by the Barenaked Ladies from their Snacktime album.

SCRAPBOOK ACTIVITIES:

COLORING PAGES:

You can find many free colouring pages online by using your favourite search engine and typing in “Number Coloring Pages ” or print out my “4/Four Turtles” Colouring Page. While colouring the page be sure to count each turtle, their four legs and the four patches on each shell.

You can also print out my “Number Poem: 1 to 5” reviewing the numbers 1 to 3 and emphasizing the number 4 and what it looks like.

BOOKS:

Raid your child’s bookshelves to find any number books.

Go to the library with your child to find books about numbers and counting.

Go to the library on your own to find counting books to have already on hand for your theme day. Many libraries allow you to go online and search for titles based on subject (search for “numbers” or “counting” under “Children’s Books”). Reserve them if you can to save time.

Try to find some of these fun counting books:

· Henry the Fourth, by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Scott Nash, Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, This is a Mathstart Level 1 book about four dogs competing in a children’s dog show which focuses on the mathematical terms for placement (first, second, third and forth).

· Let’s Count, by Tana Hoban, Greenwillow Books, 1999 – Photographer Tana Hoban has made a great counting book with each number (1 to 20, then by tens to 50 and then 100) represented by a photograph on one page and on the opposite page simply the number (numerical symbol and word) and dots.

· Numbears: A Counting Book, by Kathleen Hague and illustrated by Michael Hague, Henry Holt and Company, 1986 - Using illustrations of old fashioned teddy bears with hidden numbers in every picture each number from 1 to 12 is given a small rhyming poem.

CRAFTS:

NUMBER 4 COLLAGE:

Materials: A copy of my Number 4 Worksheet, old magazines and newspapers, child-safe scissors, washable glue stick, damp facecloth for sticky fingers.

Step 1: Look through old magazines with your child and together look for the number four. Also look for pictures of four things together.

Step 2: Help your child cut out the numbers to glue on the Number 4 worksheet.

Step 3: Show your child how to glue the numbers onto the collage and then let him/her glue the pictures on the paper however he/she likes.

Step 4: When the collage is dry display (fridge, bulletin board, child’s door) or glue into Family Theme Day Scrapbook.

COUNT TO 4 CHART:

Materials: A copy of my Count to 4 Chart, various stickers or stamps.

Step 1: Have your child pick stickers to put in each square. Each square gets 4 stickers as you are reviewing the number 4 today. OR Have your child stamp 4 pictures in each square.

Step 2: Count to 4 each time the sticker/stamp is applied and afterwards as a review.

Step 3: Display or glue the chart in your Family Theme Day Scrapbook.

GIRAFFE WITH 4 LEGS:

Materials: Coloured paper (Orange and whatever colour background your child wants), child safe scissors, glue stick, black washable marker, damp cloth for sticky fingers, (Optional) number stickers.

Step 1: From the orange paper cut out a large oval for the giraffe’s body, four long skinning rectangles for legs, one long rectangle for the neck, one small oval for the head and if you want two tiny rectangles for the horns.

Step 2: Let your child glue the pieces together to make the giraffe. When you get to the legs count them out loud as your child glues: “I, 2, 3, 4 legs!”

Step 3: Have your child draw black spots on the giraffe’s body and add black hooves and eyes and a mouth, too.

Step 4: Display or glue into your Family Theme Day Scrapbook.

Step 5: (Optional) If you have number stickers let your child find the number 4 and stick it onto the picture.

FOOD:

SNACKS:

4 square crackers with four small pieces of cheese.

LUNCH:

Make your child’s favourite sandwich and cut it into 4 squares.

DESSERT:

Make a four layered yogurt parfait: 1) a layer with granola or cereal at the bottom, 2) a layer of yogurt, 3) a layer of fresh berries, and 4) a layer of chocolate sauce.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

NUMBER CHART:

Materials: a copy of my Number Chart and the Cut Out 4 Card, markers or crayons, child-safe scissors, glue-stick, face cloth for sticky fingers.

Step 1: Lead your child to the Number Chart on your fridge, bulletin board or taped to a wall and review the Numbers 1 to 3.

Step 2: Have your child colour the Cut-out 4 Card.

Step 3: Help your child cut the Number 4 Card out.

Step 4: Have your child apply glue to the back of the Cut Out 4 Card and glue it on the Number Chart (or you can have your child use tape).

Step 5: Review what number it is by pointing to the chart.

EGG CARTON COUNT:

Materials: The egg carton craft from my Number One Theme Day, little toys or buttons, OR little snacks like Cheerios or Fish Crackers, OR little treats like jelly beans, chocolate chips, M&M’s, or marshmallows in a re-sealable bag, small cut out pieces of paper with the numbers 1 to 4 on them.

Step 1: Give your child the bag of toys/buttons/snacks/treats and have him/her count out 4 toys/buttons/snacks/treats and then put one in each of the egg compartments (number 1 to 4).

Step 2: Spread out the cut out numbers and after counting out the toys/buttons/snacks/treats have your child find the numbers 1 to 4 and put the correct number in the correct spot (1 to 4).

NUMBER TRACING:

Fill a pie plate with sand, sugar or salt and teach your child how to trace the number 4 in the sand. When you are finished tracing dump the sand in a re-sealable bag to use on another day.

FLASH CARDS:

Review numbers using a set of flash cards (found at book stores, educational stores, even craft stores) or make your own by writing each letter on an individual index card (or by printing out my Number Cut-Out Page and gluing each number on index cards).

FOR FUN:

ONLINE GAMES:

There are many different websites that offer games for preschoolers. You can find them by looking up your child’s favourite television characters. Here is one from the Sesame Street website:

Big Bird’s Numbers is a simple game because it only involves your child pressing any key on the keyboard and then a number appears along with a picture that illustrates how many that is:

http://www.sesamestreet.org/game_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=gamePlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=7574b28a-486d-11dd-bf7b-df62be721a24

NUMBER WALK:

Walk around your neighbourhood counting different things. You can also do this while in a car or bus etc..

Walk around your neighbourhood or in a store looking for the actual number 4.

TOYS:

If you have any number puzzles this theme day is the perfect time to play with it together.

Play with any other educational toys that focus on numbers.

EXTENDED ACTIVITIES:

AUDIO VISUAL:

Search through your child’s DVD/ video collection (or visit your local library before hand or the Video Store) to find your child’s favourite shows with a focus on teaching numbers.

· Baby Einstein: Numbers Nursery – Discovering 1 through 5, Disney, 2007 – Even though it geared to babies and toddlers this is a good review of the first 5 numbers.

· Leap Frog: Math Adventure to the Moon, Lionsgate, 2009 – Tad and Lily the frogs go on a rocket adventure to find the perfect collection of things for their school math assignment.

· Leap Frog: Math Circus, Lionsgate, 2004 – Leap, Lily and Tad the frogs help professor Quigley train numbers to count, add and subtract at the Math Circus.

· Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Numbers Roundup, Disney 2010 – Mickey and his friends about numbers and shapes in this DVD.

· The Numbers Express, Mazzarella Media – All aboard a train to learn the numbers!

· Sesame Street: Learning About Numbers, Sesame Street Workshop, 2004 – Big Bird hosts the Number Show.