Friend Number Match

Take photos of different sized groupings of friends (plan this out ahead of time). When you get them developed mount the photos on index cards and also create a set of cards with numbers to represent each group. Spread these cards upside down on the table. Children take turns flipping two cards and either matching a group to the number represented in the picture, or matching two groups that have the same number of people.

Assess

recognizes numerals

counts

Pattern Pets

Cut out pictures of dogs and cats. Lay the pictures in the middle of group. Explain a pattern that the group is going to make (such as cat, dog, cat, dog, etc.) The first child picks up a cat picture and holds it, the second a dog picture, etc. all the way around the circle. Then go around around again, having the children put their cards back in the middle as they say what they had. This way everyone will get to hear the pattern.

Assess

recognizes and produces simple patterns

Guess Who

Play this game a little like I Spy mixed with Twenty Questions. Sit with your small group of children and tell them you are thinking of someone in the group (this works even better if you have a photo of the child). Then have them take questions asking questions about the person such as 'Do they have yellow hair?' or 'Is it a boy?' You can have rules that they have to ask only yes-or-no questions of you want. The younger groups will need help asking questions. This type of activity really gets children to think.

Assess

predicts

observes

Tic-Tac-Toe

Teach this game to the children in small groups and encourage them to play it. You can show them how to draw the grid themselves, or draw it on a piece of paper and place it in a plastic sheet protector for them to use wipe off markers with. Another way would be to use colored masking tape to make a grid on a table or floor and provide X and O cutouts (or use other items).

Assess

works and plays well with others

takes turns