My children learn best through hands on activities. I know that is not unique as most learn best naturally and through active play. The trick is finding fun ways to teach a child basic lessons. While, I am not a fan of turning education into entertainment, I do not find worksheets and textbooks to be the most effective or necessary all the time. Using games to teach also teaches a child to be creative in their approach to things. In that spirit, I came up with fun ways to teach skip counting.
Skip to my Two’s: In this activity your child will skip from number to number counting by two’s. You can use sidewalk chalk to write the numbers down or write them on construction paper and lay them out on your floor. If you use paper have the child skip beside the numbers or the paper will tear or the child could fall. Of course, you can laminate the numbers and apply a rug guard to the bottom of the laminated numbers to keep them in place. You can use these numbers for a giant number line or to teach other math concepts in a big way.
Skipping Stones: The concept is to have your child throw a stone onto the correct number in skip counting order. There are a few ways to play this game. You can purchase a blue shower curtain or liner to serve as your river. Then write numbers in permanent marker on the shower curtain or use laminated numbers and place on the shower curtain. Challenge your child to throw a “stone” on the numbers corresponding with counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, etc. You can use construction paper or easel paper to make your river also.
Have some fun learning and you will not only reinforce lessons you will create fun memories. I know I want my kids to remember homeschooling fondly.
Homeschooling and the Work at Home Mom, Part One