text: In this lesson, children will use objects, pictures and numbers to play out scenarios that involve addition and subtraction.
  Dots of Fun
  In this lesson, children will explore the concept of addition by counting the dots on a domino.
  Hungry Alligator
  In this lesson, children will determine if a number is greater than, less than or equal to another.
  LEGO Math
  In this lesson, children will practice counting and adding whole numbers using LEGO blocks.
  Mouse Count
  In this lesson, children will count sets of mice and add sets of mice together up to 10 and subtract from the set of mice, from 10 down to zero.
  Quack and Count
  In this lesson, children will use manipulatives to form different groups that make up the number seven.
  Sandwich Shop Game
  In this lesson, children look at a menu and count out sandwich pieces to build sandwiches and then calculate the prices of their sandwiches.
  Take a Trip with Rooster
  In this lesson, children will predict, sort, add and subtract the various animals that Rooster meets on his trip.
  Tod und Leben (Life and Death)
  In this lesson, children will play a card game and try to accumulate as many cards as possible by identifying the higher-ranking cards.
  Uno
  In this lesson, children will practice sorting not-number cards from number cards and develop their number sense by identifying similar numbers, one below a number and one above a number.
  Yahtzee
  In this lesson, children will add the numbers of two dice and cross out the sum.
  posts
  Nest Building is STEM Building
  “I found an empty nest! Can we keep it?” Owen’s joyful discovery captures everyone’s attention. Three-year-old Avery comes running. “Are there eggs?” she asks her older and wiser five-year-old friend. “Can I see?” she begs. “Please let me see?” “There are no eggs, just an old nest. Can we please keep it?” pleads Owen. After […]
  Return of the Sand Gardens
  “I found GOLD!” squeals Laura. Four little friends are quick to join her in the latest gold rush in the sandbox. In the wee hours of the morning, often when the sun is barely above the horizon and the coffee is still being brewed, gold will magically appear in our sandbox. Spray-painted rocks that […]
  Squirrely STEAM Learning
  “If the squirrel comes down from this direction, we can trap him under here!” yells Elliot. The playground equipment sits empty as Elliott, Harper and their fellow “squirrel trappers” congregate at the base of a towering oak tree in our neighborhood park. The children have long been captivated by this venerable old oak, which has […]
  Rock and Roll
  One bright fall morning, I notice that the noise level at Under the Gingko Tree is exceptionally low. A quick glance around reassures me that all of my early learners are safe and accounted for. Then I notice a quiet but intense play buzz happening in our rain garden, so I wander over to […]
  The Magical Field of Magnets
  ” Hey guys! Look over here! My magnet sticks to the bike!” On this warm November morning, our magnetic wands have brought STEM learning to our outdoor classroom. By leaving the other magnetic materials behind, I am hoping to encourage the children to harness their curiosity and creativity for other forms of magnetic exploration. […]
  A Small Whiff of STEM
  “I smell cinnamon rolls!” exclaims Henry as he races through the gate towards our outdoor classroom. Everyone stops what they are doing to inhale deeply. “I do too! I want a cinnamon roll!” pleads Noah. My group is quite disappointed to learn that I am not baking cinnamon rolls this morning. The delicious cinnamon-roll […]
  T is for Teachable Moments
  “Hey everybody! Look at all of the tomatoes that are ripe today!” shouts Jacob to the gang. “Can we eat them for lunch? Can we?” asks Lucus. “Can we eat them now?” pleads Elizabeth. It’s early September and preschoolers around the country are learning about apples, but we have tomatoes at our fingertips. The same […]
  Exploring Colors on the Light Table
  As the days grow shorter and the slanting rays of sun that create our rainbows are replaced by clouds, we shift our energy to other forms of investigative play with light and color. “Saaliha, come play with me at the light table!” Nora calls out. Saaliha joins her friend and the STEM investigations into […]
  STEM Soup!
  “Who wants soup? I am making soup for lunch today!” Eleanor shouts to anyone willing to join her as she “cooks up” her concoction. Eleanor is our concoction wizard. She can often be found adding loose parts to a large pot of water, mixing away while she muses about the ingredients she needs to […]
  What’s in YOUR Pocket? Collections in Early Childhood
  Do you have collectors in your midst? Those young children who can turn a five-minute walk into a 15-minute treasure hunt? The children who fill their pockets with treasures and then load up your pockets with the overflow? I love these kids. They can wreak havoc with our daily schedules, but they help us […]
  Register for Early Math Counts
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  Early Science Matters
  From stars in the night sky to the life cycle of a butterfly, science is all around us.
  We’ve expanded our STEM offerings for early childhood educators with earlysciencematters.org.
  Visit today to learn how to set up science-rich environments for toddlers and preschoolers, download free lesson plans and more!
  Raves for Early Math Counts
  RAVES for Early Math Counts
  These are by far the best online education courses I’ve ever taken. They were informative and easy to follow—with tips on setting up a math-enriched environment and interviews with math experts, as well as animations and videos that brought many of the teaching concepts to life.
  —An Early Math Counts program participant
  The Early Math Counts professional development series is a wonderful option for those of us who don’t have the time, flexibility or financial resources to attend continuing education classes outside of the home. I was able to complete the entire online series in the evenings after my own children went to bed.