Let’s bead!
This is a fun way to get children thinking about numbers while working their fine motor skills. After adding a numbered heart to the top of a pipe cleaner, get your children to add the correct number of beads to match the hearts.
📚 Books to explore: The Dinosaurs Valentine’s Day by Jessica Brady; Love From crayons by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers; The Invisible String by Patrice Karst.
🌻 A bouquet of possibilities! You can expand for older children to work on math equations by having them add or subtract by using the complete pipe clears to make equations.
🏆 Get competitive: See who can add the number of correct beads the fastest!
Materials
For this activity you will need:
Red paper or card stock
Black marker
4-5 red/pink Pipe cleaners
Tape
Beads
Scissors
Learning Outcomes
Domain
Cognition
Skills
Counting
Indicators:
Counting in meaningful ways in play and daily living
Instructions
Step 1:
Cut out 4-5 small hearts and write numbers 1 through 5 on them.
Step 2:
Tape the hearts to the top of the pipe cleaners.
Step 3:
Have a child join you and ask them to match the number by adding the number of beads.
⬆️ For older preschoolers: Try adding different numbers or higher numbers for a challenge. You can also have them race to see who can add the correct number of beads.
⬇️ For younger toddlers: Start with simple numbers and you may have to hold.
Playful Questions
How many beads should we put on this pipe cleaner?
What colors are the pipe cleaners?
What number do we get if we add these two numbers together?
How many pipe cleaners can you add to? Why?
