A fun math activity to share with toddlers up to Kindergarteners is creating patterns. Using the right tools you can easily adjust the lesson for a multi-age crowd. The other day I sat down with my Kindergarten student and my 2 and a half year old for some pattern fun.
First, I started out reviewing colors with my toddler. Since the patterns were going to be based on colors this was an essential step. After studying up on some skills, I brought out these little bright colored building blocks that look like gingerbread men. I honestly no idea what they are called since I purchased them for a few dollars at a second hand store. I use them for math all the time.
After reviewing the colors one more time with my little one, I made a simple pattern of red, yellow, red, yellow, etc. Then I held up a red figure and a yellow figure and asked her which one would go next. This was too easy for Pink Lady, so I challenged her to create her own pattern using three colors.
Next, I made several rows of three figures. For my toddler, I made all the figures in the row the same color. So in one row I had three red figures and the next row I had three yellow, then three red and three yellow, etc. As I created the next two rows I omitted a figure. It was up to her to place the correct figure to finish the pattern. Due to her tremendous love of Team Umizoomi on Nickelodeon, this was a snap. Pattern Power!
For my K student, I created rows of different colors. So one row was purple, blue, purple. The next blue purple, blue, and so on in that fashion. I then omitted a few figures for the last few rows so she could fill in the correct figure to complete the pattern.
You can challenge your children with patterns using crayons, Legos, blocks, money, utensils, counting bears, or anything you can make a repeating pattern with.