Mitten Fun
Introducing winter and cold, estimation and counting skills
Month 1 · Activity 23 · Nature/Science
Instructions
- Show the child a real mitten and chat about why someone would wear a mitten
- Share there is a time of year called Winter when it is cold and you need to cover and protect your body and hands
- Place an ice cube in a child’s bare hand and let them describe the feeling. Remove the ice cube.
- Place the mitten on the child’s hand and place the ice cube on the hand again and let them describe the feeling. The child should be aware that the mitten protects the hand from the cold ice cube.
- Recall from the story “The Mitten” that many animals went into the mitten. Let the child guess how many mini erasers/jellybeans/marbles could fit inside the mitten. Write down the number that was guessed on a piece of paper
- Fill the mitten with mini erasers/candy/jellybeans/marbles/ or coins and then count how many it took to fill the mitten
- Examine how accurate the child’s guess was to the number of actual mini erasers/jellybeans/marbles/or coins it took to fill the mitten
Simplify
Count the mini erasers/candy/or jellybeans aloud together when filling the mitten and omit the estimation question.
Extend
Estimation is an important skill. Share other ways to use estimation - how many cups of water will fill a jar (let the child give an estimate and then actually count out the cups) OR pick up a handful of mini erasers/coins/or candy and let the child give you an estimate as to how many are in your hand and then count out the actual number together
Put an ice cube in a child's hand (or yours) and use a timer to see how long it can be held before it melts.
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
What is the difference between a mitten and a glove?
Can you name an activity that would be better to do wearing a mitten and why?
Materials
- paper and pencil
- mitten
- ice cube
- small items such as mini erasers/candy/jellybeans/marbles/or coins to fill the mitten
Activity Resources
Math & Science Skills
Problem Solving Skills
