Counting Games with Magic

My Sammy is fussy with counting games.  He is a very busy wee one, this boy of mine.  The idea of sitting still to focus on numbers and counting games is not really his thing.  So I brought out some magic – and poof! – he couldn’t wait to count!

This counting game is super simple.

Materials:

stickers, paper, crayons,

baking soda, cornstarch, and vinegar

To begin, simply put a certain number of stickers on the paper and write possible numbers underneath.  For example, I put 8 stickers on the sheet and wrote the numbers 2-9.   You could just write 1 or 2 numbers if your wee one is new to counting games.

Underneath the correct number put a small pile of baking soda.  Under all the other numbers put cornstarch.  So since I put 8 stickers, I put baking soda under the number 8 and cornstarch under all the others.  I split each paper into 2 counting games.

Next, I gave Sammy a Magic Wand and a bowl of vinegar

He counted the stickers very carefully with his wand (practicing one to one correspondence by touching his wand to each sticker as he counted).  When he discovered the number of stickers, he filled his wand with vinegar and looked for the matching written number.  Sammy is still working on this area, so I said the number rhyme as he searched.  Eight was “Make an S and close the gate, that’s the way we make an 8”.

Once he found the number, he made up some magic words (which was very cute, as it was an addition to the counting game of his very own) and dropped the vinegar onto the pile of baking soda under the 8. 

Fizzle, Bubble, Magic! 

This magic counting game was loads of fun for my preschooler.  He played each game again after he finished.  I had to add a little more “magic powder” for the 3rd round.

He practiced his counting, one to one correspondence, number matching, and fine motor skills with this activity.  This counting game was a great way for us to add a little play and imagination to learning numbers.

What is your favourite baking soda and vinegar game?