Matching numbers

• Ask the children to sit in a circle.

• Build a tower and model how to count the bricks one by one to find the total number of bricks used.

• Consider asking questions like:
  -How many bricks were used to build the tower?
  -How did I find the total number of bricks?

• Tell the children that they are going to play counting games.

• Use removable tape, a play mat, or something similar to mark a circle large enough for multiple children to stand inside.

• Tell the children that when you hold up a brick with a number on it, the same number of people must jump into the center of the circle.

• Model the activity by holding up the number one brick and jumping into the center of the circle yourself.

• Ask the children, “how many people are inside the circle?”

• Hold up the brick representing the number of children participating in the activity so that they all must jump into the circle.

• Count the children one by one to “check” the total.

• Repeat with as many numbers as desired.

• Tell the children that they are going to practice using the special number bricks.

• Model this activity by showing the number one brick and finding the corresponding number of bricks in the same color (i.e., one red brick).

• Ask the children to take turns finding the next number brick in the sequence of 1-10. Then encourage them to find the corresponding number of bricks in the same color (i.e., two orange bricks, three yellow bricks, etc.).

• Ask them to place the flat red 2X4 bricks on top of the number bricks and then stack the corresponding color bricks on top as shown in the inspiration photo.

• Encourage the children to check their work by counting the bricks out loud as they build.

• Facilitate a discussion about numbers.

• Consider asking questions like:
  - Which number did you add to the model/sequence?
  - How many colored bricks did you have to find to match your number?
  - What do we use numbers for?
  - Why are numbers important?

• Use the stacks of bricks to play a game.

• Put all of the number bricks in a pile, then ask the children to take turns matching the number bricks to the stacks of bricks.

• Give each child a copy of the printable graph and ask them to color in the appropriate number of bricks for each number in the graph. For younger children,
  model the activity and complete it as a group.

Observing the following skills can help you monitor whether the children are
developing the necessary competencies in math.

• Counting using number names, and beginning to recognize the number of objects in a set
• Recording simple data in a chart or graph