Dino Eggs and Counters - Early Math Counting Activity - Dinosaur Numbers - One to One Correspondence

Addition & Subtraction

• 10 Two-piece dinosaur eggs • 55 Dinosaur counters

• Choose two eggs between numbers 1–5. Have the child place the correct amount of dinosaurs in each egg (e.g., 2 and 1). Then, count the total number of dinosaurs between both eggs (3). Say the number sentence aloud: “2 plus 1 equals 3.” Move on to combinations of eggs in numbers 1–10.

• Choose two eggs between numbers 1–5. Have the child place the correct amount of dinosaurs in each egg (e.g., 3 and 2). Then, count the total number of dinosaurs between both eggs (5). Remove the dinosaurs from the smaller-numbered egg (2). Count how many are left in the other egg (3). Say the number sentence aloud: “5 minus 2 equals 3.” Move on to combinations of eggs in numbers 1–10.

Activities:

• Point to an egg (e.g., number 7). Find an egg that is 3 more or 3 less than that number. Try with other egg numbers and counting up or down by a specific number.

Colors & Sorting

• Place the correct number of dinosaurs into each egg. Then, have children roll two dice (not included), find the eggs that match the numbers rolled (e.g., 5 and 6), empty the dinosaurs from those eggs, and count the total (11). Continue rolling, matching, and counting different combinations of numbers.

• Place two dinosaurs in an egg: one that matches the egg’s color and one that does not. Ask children, “Which dino matches the egg? Which dino does not match?” Then, ask a child to name both colors and to find the matching egg for the other dinosaur.

• Play a version of “Go Fish.” Divide the dinosaurs randomly among children. Have children take turns asking each other for colors to make a match. For example, “Do you have a blue dinosaur?” Continue play until each child has had several opportunities to make matches.

• Place the correct number of dinosaurs into each egg. Once again, have children roll two dice (not included), find the eggs that match the numbers rolled (e.g., 4 and
3), and empty the dinosaurs from those eggs. (Roll again if the same number is on both dice.) This time, have children count the total (7), remove the smaller number rolled (3), and count how many are left (4). Continue rolling, matching, counting, and subtracting different combinations of numbers.

• Have children sort dinosaurs by color. Count how many are in each pile. Which pile is the largest? The smallest?

• Hide a dinosaur in an egg. Ask a child to guess which color dinosaur is in the egg. Then, remove the dinosaur and ask the child to name the color. If the child’s original guess was correct, he or she can keep the dinosaur. Continue, asking other children to guess and name dinosaur colors.

Number Identification

• Ask children to line up the eggs in numerical order, 1–10.

• Line up the eggs in numerical order again, this time with one number missing. Ask, “What’s the missing number?”

• Have children arrange the eggs in descending order, from 10 to 1.

Counting & Cardinality

• Have children place the correct number of dinosaurs into each numbered egg.

• Place the correct number of dinosaurs into two numbered eggs. Ask, “Which egg has the most dinosaurs? Which egg has the least dinosaurs?” Then, take the dinosaurs out and count them to verify the answer.

• Show two eggs. Ask, “Which number is more? Which number is less?”

• Have children place the correct number of dinosaurs in each egg. Then, have each child in the group choose one egg and count the total number of dinosaurs inside. Next, ask each child to count up from that number to 10 for eggs 1–9. If necessary, prompt children by lining up the eggs in sequential order.

• Choose one egg between numbers 2–10. Count the total number of dinosaurs inside. Then, count backwards from that number to 1. If necessary, prompt children by lining up the eggs in sequential order.