Learn how to write numbers while identifying their value. See the relationship between what a number looks like and how many objects it represents.
• The TRACING side has large numbers with smooth grooves so you can trace and feel each line and curve, building muscle memory for repeating the motions when writing on paper.
• The COUNTING side allows you to fill the dimples with wood balls (or beads, snacks, stones, shells, etc) matching the number of items to the written number.
• And the REVERSIBLE option has both sides. It is one board. Just flip over for either side.
Here are some ideas for learning through play...
::: ODD and EVEN: Notice how even numbers always have a pair at the bottom while odd numbers have a single item by itself.
::: DISCOVER: See how 2 is one more than 1. 3 is one more than 2. Or 4 has two sets of 2s. How many sets of 2 are in 6? or 8? Can you see how 7 is 3+4 by looking at each vertical line in the area? Did you notice each number on the bottom is five more than the one above it? 1+5=6. 2+5=7. 3+5=8. Etc. What about adding the bottom with the top from either side—1+10=11, 2+9=11, 3+8=11, 4+7=11, and 5+6=11? Isn’t is fun finding all the different combinations?!
::: ADD: Give your child a select amount of balls and discover which numbers they can be divided into, an activity of addition. Six balls can be 1, 2, and 3 added together. But it can also be 2 and 4 or 1 and 5. What if your child has 10 balls and places 7 of them on the board—where do the rest of the balls go?
::: TRACE: Demonstrate for your child where to begin tracing and which lines to follow. Use your fingers or the tracing stick. Practice with your dominant hand and for fun, try tracing with your non-dominant hand. With eyes closed, have your child randomly find a number to trace on the board and identify what it is based on the feeling.
::: FILL: Place small items into the grooves to fill up each number, another way to focus in on their shapes and keep little hands busy. An activity of concentration, follow through, and creativity. Use dry foods such as beans, corn, grain, flaxseeds, herbs, and rice. Use nature such as flower petals, leaves, sticks, stones, sand, and shells. Use snacks such as cereal, raisins, pretzels, crackers. Use art materials such as bells, beads, pompoms, pipe cleaners, and jewels.
::: RUB: Place a sheet of paper over the board (either side) and use a crayon to rub the paper, creating an impression of the board onto the paper. Then trace inside the lines on the paper or color in the dots.
::: PLAYDOUGH: Press play dough into the board to create impressions of the numbers and dimples. Numbers will come out backwards, but then use scissors to cut around them and have numbers to move around for playing.
Most important of all, have fun!
- - - - - - -
DIMENSIONS: 7.5 x 10.5 inches. Wood balls are 1/2 inch.
INCLUDES: Board, tracing stick, and 60 wood balls.
MATERIALS: Maple Wood. Finished with lacquer.
Balls are a choking hazard for children under 3 years old. Suggested replacements would be snack foods such as dry cereal, raisins, blueberries, etc.
--------------------------------------------------
An original “From Jennifer” design--both the concept for tracing the numbers as well as the idea for the placement of the balls with the numbers for counting. We encourage other makers to find inspiration as they browse but please do not copy our work. We want to see everyone being successful by coming up with their own unique ideas and building businesses to support their families as well.