#MathMonday - Using Popsicle Sticks to Teach Math through Play

Skills encouraged with this activity: Counting and Shapes!

Children (ages 3-5) can physically count Popsicle sticks, which reinforces their understanding of this mathematical concept. It makes an abstract concept concrete by letting them experience counting through sight and touch. Let kids place one stick on the table or floor for each number they say out loud with you. They should at least know how to count from 1-10 before entering kindergarten. 

You also can play a game to see how many shapes you both can make with Popsicle sticks. For example, Liv and I made this square, triangle and rectangle:

​Not only are you teaching your little ones shapes, but also geometry. As children make the shapes with the Popsicle sticks, you can show them that a square has four sides, while a triangle has just three. Little hands also can compare and contrast a square and a rectangle. What's the same about them? What's different?

I've shared a few ideas, but there are many more for you and your child to discover together.

Parents & Teachers, please share your own ideas with us!

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