Acorn Math

Fall brings many changes to our world both in the classroom and in the environment. One of the most exciting changes for the children happens on our playgound. Our large, mature Oak tree begins dropping the acorns that we have watched grow all summer long. The children can't wait to begin collection the nuts and bringing them into the room.

Grade: Preschool / Kindergarten

Target Learning Skill: Counting with 1 to 1 correspondence

Kindergarten Common Core State Standard:

Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Understand addition as putting together & adding to
K.OA.1 - Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

To get the most out of our learning time, we often use the children’s collection to introduce new concepts, assess their knowledge, and expand their skills. This day, we chose to use the Acorn Math Game from the KidSoup.com member site to assess the preschoolers’ abilities to count with 1 to 1 correspondence.

preschool and kindergarten squirrels game and activities

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Collect Acorns Math Game (KidsSoup Resource Libraray)

We played the game using a traditional dice. The children took turns rolling the dice, counting the dots, moving their game pieces the correct number of spaces, and finally following the directions on the board.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Some of the older children chose to collect leaves as they traveled the game board and landed on leaf spaces. They used the leaves to create squirrel nests where they stored their acorns. They decided that you needed to collect 3 leaves before you could begin collecting acorns. This added an extra challenge for these children.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Later in the week, we presented the children with bowls of acorns and scales. The children were able to experiment with the weight of the acorns while continuing to work on counting skills.