Children copy a created pattern of an assortment of colorful manipulatives in an egg carton.
Children copy a created pattern of an assortment of colorful manipulatives in an egg carton.
What you'll need
- egg cartons
- colored small manipulatives
- tweezers/tongs
Step by step
Step 1
Gather several egg cartons and an assortment of colorful manipulatives such as buttons, math counters, or beads. Create a pattern in the top row of the egg carton. For example, your pattern may alternate a blue bead, red button, blue bead, and red button across the egg carton.
Step 2
Invite children to use the materials to copy your pattern in the bottom row. Create more challenging patterns for older children. They may also enjoy creating a pattern for you or their friends to copy. Provide tweezers or small tongs to add and/or remove items in order to strengthen pincer grasp muscles.
More ideas
Transition: Fill your sensory table or a shallow tub with colorful poms. Invite children to play freely at the table in between activities. They might create patterns with the poms, scoop them with cups, or simply run their hands through them.
Playful questions
What kinds of patterns did you make in the egg carton? Show us!
Have you ever noticed a pattern on someone's clothes? Tell us about it!
Learning outcomes
Math
Patterns, Sorting/Classifying, Reasoning
Recognizes patterns telling what comes next; duplicates simple patterns; identifies pattern groups; seriates a group of like objects (small, medium, large; light, dark).
Duplicates/extends simple patterns; creates new patterns; seriates a group of like objects in more than one way (lighter to darker; smallest to largest, etc.).
Shows increasing ability to match/sort/classify by color, size, shape; classifies by one attribute and makes comparisons across learning domains.
Matches/sorts/classifies by color, size, shape, texture; describes sorting rules; classifies by more than one attribute into two or more groups across learning domains.
Physical Development and Health
Fine Motor Development
Refines wrist and finger movements for more control (pours without spilling from small container, successful with some fasteners on clothing, folds paper, manipulates playdough and clay)
Uses small, precise hand movements to complete tasks (fastens clothing, folds paper with accuracy and symmetry; begins attempting to tie shoes, uses a dominant hand)
Demonstrates growing hand-eye coordination (strings beads, completes multi-piece puzzles, uses lacing cards, tears paper, uses a keyboard); uses eating utensils with ease
Demonstrates more precise hand-eye coordination (uses connecting blocks, small pop beads, Lego bricks, forms playdough into more recognizable shapes, builds more intricate block structures, weaves)
Uses tools requiring small muscle dexterity (crayons, markers, scissors to cut straight lines, etc.)
Uses tools that require strength and dexterity of small muscles with moderate control (holds scissors correctly to cut shapes and curved lines; controls use of writing, drawing, art tools, and art/craft media; uses spray bottles, paper punch)