Montessori Inspired Rhyming Work and Chutes and Ladders

I have an extensive collection of miniatures, and I love them as much (if not more) than the kids :)

I generally start with 4 groups or less, place one object from each rhyming group on the carpet/mat, and Spiderman's job is to find the matching ones.

So I placed bed, chair. oar, hook and swing on the carpet, and Spiderman followed up with the rest...

Montessori inspired Object Box

... of the items from the tray.

Rhyming with miniatures

Bed, head, red, sled, bread
Chair, bear, pear
Oar, door, four
Hook, book
Swing, king, ring, wing  
 
Here is our work from another day. We started out reasonably, but then Spiderman kept on adding more, and the mats got a bit crowded. 

   

As you can see, the bed (with its mattress and pillow, and monsters lurking underneath) and the pirate hook is a hit with Spiderman. They have to make a mandatory appearance every time we play with our Rhyming box!

What I have noticed is that Spiderman is not quite as adept at this yet. Let's say that bee is already placed on the mat or carpet, and he picks up a tree. His first instinct is to say as many words as he can think of that rhymes with tree, like me, he, she, gee... If he also said bee during this rhyming spurt, then it is a snap fpr him to put in the tree with the bee (group), but if he did not, and looks at the groups on the board, then it takes him much longer to match it, if that makes any sense :)

I always have to remind him to match it with what is on the mat/carpet. Yes, "he" rhymes with tree, but it is not on the mat. Is there anything on the mat or the carpet that rhymes with "tree"? And yes, "shy" rhymes with "pie", but we don't have "shy" on the mat.

So I needed to come up with something where in just thinking of a  rhyming word is good enough. 
So I decided to amp up the classic chutes and ladders by adding a rhyming element to it.
This way, all he needs to do is think of a rhyming word, and that's it :)

<Click on the image to view the pdf file>

Chutes and Ladders with Rhyming Fun

<Click here to download the game>

Added benefits:
Spiderman also needs to work on higher number recognition. Along with all this, I have seen more conflicts between Batman and Spiderman, and I thought they needed to take turns, be patient with each other, etc etc.

Linked up to:
It's Playtime, Mom's Library,
Tot School Gathering Place, Link and Learn, Stress Free Sunday

Now I know my 1 2 3 s...

Write Your Numbers!

My super-heroes are not big fans of writing.

So I am always looking out for ways to make it more fun, and do "super-writing" worthy of Spiderman and Batman.

How many ways can you write your numbers?

This post is about numbers. But of course, it applies to just plain old writing, for numbers, letters, shapes, and all the fun ways to do it. I think we tend to focus more on writing our letters, than numbers. In defense of the letters, I understand there is more of them.
After all, there is no uppercase and lowercase numbers, but nonetheless, this post is dedicated to numbers.

Drill your numbers!

There are some awesome ideas out there to tempt even the most reluctant "writers". They generously gave me permission to link back to their posts. Give it a spin...

• Tried and tested - write it out :) You write the numbers, they trace over it. Rockabye Butterfly shows us how to trace over with Q-tips. While you are there, don't forget to check out the fun way to learn about number words!
  

  

  Rockabye Butterfy - Number Words

  
  
• Trace - sandpaper numbers, or other tactile numbers. 

Trace it, then write it...

• Play at Home Mom shows us how to make fantastic squishy bags! Make sure you play with them a while before passing it on to the kiddos :)
  
  
• Read a book with sensory numbers, like this book with large grooved numbers, and trace them!

  

  Books with large grooved numbers to trace

• Go with the staples. Fun worksheets, wipe-off cards! I have the Kumon workbooks, and the Flash Cards. I like using the Dry Erase Crayons with the flash cards! Just wipe it off with a damp paper towel when you are done!

  

  Worksheets

  

  Wipe-off Flash Cards

  
  

• Make them with bingo markers, or Do-A-Dot markers! You can find tons of free printables online. The one shown here is from a book made to go with the dot markers.

Numbers with Bingo Markers

• Or for a fun twist, use the same sheets with flat pebbles backed with magnetic strip and a baking tray. Or let the kids wing it!
  

  

  Magnetic numbers!

• Write it on paper, chalkboard, sidewalks. Write with pencils, crayons, markers, paints, chalks, finger paints, window crayons, puff paints! Here is a very fun twist on writing on the chalkboard from Kingdom First Homeschool.

  

  Kingdom First Homeschool - Writing on chalkboard!

• Write in on the shower stall after a steamy bath! Write it in the shaving cream. Write it in the sand tray, or in sugar, cornmeal. Here is a fun twist on the sand tray from Teach Preschool.

  

  Teach Preschool - Feather and Sand

• Shape it out - with pipe cleaners, tooth picks, craft pieces, play-doh, pebbles, shells... Cut out the various curves and lines from felt, and ask your number-expert to put it together!!

• How about with nails and hammer? Play at Home Mom shows us how.
  
  

  

  Play at Home Mom - Nails and Hammers

•  How about making them with play dough? Use these awesome Number Play dough Mats from Homeschool creations.

  

  Homeschool Creations - Playdough Mats

  
  
• How do you write a 3? Go around the tree (from "Everyday Snapshots") of course!

  

  Everyday Snapshots - Write a 3!
  

  Some numbers are trickier than others. Here is a wonderful post on how to teach kids to write number 5 from "Teach Mama".
  
  

  

  Teach Mama - Write 5!

  
  
• For those who already know their numbers, reinforce with these fun ideas. Build some fine motor skills along the way...


• Ask them to make you a number on the peg board. For those not comfortable making it on their own, take a picture of your effort (or older siblings), print it out as a pattern, and then ask them to make their own.
  
  

  

  Peg Board Number Fun

• Let them "Drill" their numbers with this board, pun intended!

  

  Screw and drill board number practice

• How about rubber bands and geo-boards?

Rubber band and Geo board number fun

• Or droplets of water on a suction mat? Or beads on the fuse mat?

How do you practice your numbers (& letters, shapes...)? Let us know!

Linked up to:
Montessori Monday, Monday Kid Corner, Tuesday Tots, and After School Link Up