101 Number Activities

39
COUNTING CUPS
Math
Materials
Various
Activity
There are many different kinds of counting cups you can make for the children to practice counting and
number recognition. Here are a few fun ideas.
Muffin Tins: Find a 6-cup muffin tin and put a paper baking cup in each cup. Number the bottom of the
cups from 1 to 6. Set out 21 buttons. Let the children count the appropriate number of buttons into each
muffin cup.
Egg Cartons: Cut an egg carton in half. Number the egg cups in one-half of the carton from 1 to 6.
Number six plastic eggs from 1 to 6 with dots. Have the children choose an egg, count the dots, and place
the egg in the matching egg cup. (To make the game more challenging, use the entire egg carton.)
Cardboard Tubes: Glue six toilet tissue tubes, in an upright position, to a piece of cardboard. Allow the
glue to dry. Number the tubes from 1 to 6. Set out the tubes and 21 craft sticks. Let the children take turns
placing the corresponding number of craft sticks into each tube.
Lunch Boxes: Collect five plain lunch boxes. Attach one self-stick circle to the lid of the first lunch box,
two circles to the lid of second lunch box, and so on. Number five cloth (or sturdy paper) napkins from 
1 to 5. Have the children count the circles on each lunch box and place the matching napkin inside.
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© McGraw-Hill Children’s Publishing
1-57029-488-7 101 Number Activities
37
Math
40
EGG CARTON COUNTER
Materials
Egg carton
Clothespins
Activity
Punch a hole in the bottom of each egg cup in an egg carton. Close the lid and turn the carton upside
down so that the egg cups are facing up. Set out twelve slot-type clothespins. Let the children take turns
putting one clothespin in each egg cup, counting as they go. Remove some of the clothespins and ask the
children to count how many are left. Repeat, putting some clothespins in or taking some out each time.