Numbers And Counters

I went to observe Ava in her Montessori classroom a week or so ago and discovered that she was working on her Numbers and Counters. This work is done after a child has mastered number recognition of 0-9 with the Sandpaper Numbers. The Number Cards and Counters lesson is a way for a child to practice quantity. Here is a video of that lesson. I wanted to give Ava something fun to do as an extension so I purchased this puzzle from Melissa & Doug. (Plug: Melissa & Doug have incredible toys/works that are made of wood instead of plastic.)

We laid the puzzle pieces out in no particular order. I would ask "Can you find the number _____?"

Ava would get so excited when she found the puzzle piece I asked her to find.

Every time we would add a new piece Ava exclaimed "It's getting bigger and longer."

When we finished putting the whole puzzle together we went back and counted each piece 1-20. Ava thoroughly enjoyed this lesson. Before we put the pieces back in the box Ava said, "Choo-Choo, All aboard!" Gave me a good giggle!