The ages of 2-5 are when children first use numbers and math to relate to the world around them. Preschool is a great time to introduce counting activities and the wonderful world of shapes, which will come in handy when the children begin to add and subtract--and later, when they start to work with geometric shapes. Assign your students some fun and engaging homework activities that they can do with their families.
Shapes
By preschool, many children have learned to identify shapes and recognize their differences. Have the children draw pictures of shapes they see outside of class. Examples: square tables and picture frames, triangles on street signs, peoples' round/oval heads. Ask parents to challenge their child to locate shapes and help her label the shapes to take to class.
Counting
Counting is a big part of the preschool curriculum. To combine geometric recognition and counting, hand out sheets with different numbers of shapes. Have parents help the child count how many circles, squares and triangles you have drawn.
Encourage children to count objects at home. For example, have them count how many pairs of shoes or stuffed animals they have. Ask them to report their totals the next day.
Proportion
At the preschool age, children are beginning to recognize items in terms of proportion to one another. Draw (or duplicate with photo editing software) pictures of animals and household objects such as a telephone or bed. Put the objects next to one another on the paper. If you are focusing on the concept of "bigger than," have the students circle the animal or object that is bigger. Don't mix and match "bigger than" and "smaller than" on the same sheet; it may confuse the children.
Order
Find or draw some illustrations of things preschoolers do every day--eating dinner, doing homework, brushing their teeth or putting on their pajamas. Put a blank space for numbers under each illustration. In the directions, tell a parent to help the child put the activities in the correct order.
Games
Encourage parents to play games with their children that involve counting (such as games with dice or spinners that instruct players how many spaces to move). Encourage them to include their children in activities that involve measuring, such as cooking, sewing and crafts. Such activities are not homework but suggestions for parents to help their children build skills outside the classroom.
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