Fast, Front, Sort, Same
A sorting activity
Instructions
- Place a handful of coins on the table including pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars and silver dollars if available
- Select one coin - dime and ask child to find the same coin
- Continue asking child to find a matching same coin for each of the coins. Chat about why a coin is the same - color, size, feel, etc.
- Next, have the child sort the coins by type - put all the dimes together, pennies, etc.
- Put a handful of crayons on the table and have child sort by color
Simplify
Instead of using five or six coins, select only two types of coins. For example, select three pennies and three dimes and hold up one penny and ask child to find a coin that is the same. Next, hold up a dime and let child find a coin that is the same. Let child sort the coins into two piles. Now you can add a third coin, perhaps three nickels, and have child again find a coin that matches a nickel and sort the mixed up coins into three piles. Continue to add more types of coins until all six coins are part of the mix.
Extend
Introduce the value of each coin - penny = 1 cent; nickel = 5 cents; dime = 10 cents; quarter = 25 cents; half dollar = 50 cents; silver dollar = 100 cents. Ask child to place a handful of coins in order in a line from smallest value to largest value. Sort all the coins by making 6 piles of coins that are the same and have child name the coins and its value.
Materials
- assorted coins
- assorted crayons
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Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Oval
- Color - Brown
- Number - Nine, 9
- Alphabet Letters - Q, T, L
- Senses - Sight
- Character Trait - Friendliness
- Target Words - Fast, Front, Sort, Same
Monthly Proverb
Spanish - Tell me who you’re with and I’ll tell you who you are
Did You Know?
"The brain develops rapidly during the first five years and quality preschool programs can have a profound impact during this time.” CA First 5
Books to Read
"Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On"
by Lois Ehlert (Activity 7)
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
by Bill Martin (Activity 8) (audio book available) (NOTE: Please look for the 25th anniversary edition where the text is back to the original wording)
"Old Henry"
by Joan Blos (Activity 12)
Music Playlist
"The Alphabet Song"
Album: Big Don’s Big Beat (Activity 5)
"Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel"
Album: The Very Best (Activity 20)
"The Turtle Song"
by Suzi Shelton Album Simply Suzi (Activity 11)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
There Was A Little Turtle
(Activity 11 Month 11)
There was a little turtle who lived in a box.
He swam in the water, he climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito, he snapped at a flea, he snapped at a minnow and he snapped at me.
He caught that mosquito, he caught that flea, he caught that minnow, but he didn’t catch me.
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
(Activity 19 Month 11)
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I’ll count these hands instead of sheep.
Help me to remember these friends I made.
And all the wonderful times we played.