- aprons (if available)
- bowl
- colored shaping clay (colors of fruits)
- confetti dot sprinkles
- measuring spoon
- large serving spoon
- paper bowls
- paper plates
- dull plastic knives
- fruit
- recipe
- salad
MA Standards:
Mathematics/Counting and Cardinality/PK.CC.MA.4: Count many kinds of concrete objects and actions up to ten, using one-to-one correspondence, and accurately count as many as seven things in a scattered configuration.
Head Start Outcomes:
Logic and Reasoning/Symbolic Representation: Engages in pretend play and acts out roles.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
Mathematics/Number Sense 2: Connect many kinds/quantities of concrete objects and actions to numbers.
Math Chefs
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Skill Focus: Counting, Vocabulary
Educator Prep: Before the activity, shape the clay into different fruit shapes. (yellow banana, purple plum, red apple, orange, green grapes, etc.) Make recipe cards that show simple fruit names and numbers.
Give each child an apron. Tell them they are going to make fruit salad by following a recipe. Give each child a recipe card that shows the name of a fruit, and the number of pieces needed for the recipe. Have children measure and cut the specified number of fruit pieces to make the fruit salad. Provide each child with a paper plate and a dull plastic knife to “chop” the (clay) fruit.
- Assist children reading the recipe and counting out specific numbers of each fruit they need. Say, How many orange slices does the recipe say we need? Count out five with children as they put them on their plates. Once children are done, have them place the slices in the big bowl and continue with another fruit.
- When all the fruit is in the bowl, have children gently mix it all together and spoon out a helping for each child.
- Then pass around the confetti dot sprinkles and ask children to put <two> tablespoons of “granola” on their fruit salad. Count out the tablespoons with them, if necessary.
Educator Tip: If possible, use real fruits and have the result be the children’s snack. If you are able to use real fruits, you will need to cut almost all the way through many of the fruits for children. Leave a small amount left to be cut through so children can feel like they have “cut” the fruit themselves. If using berries, you can just have children count them out, not cut them. Once all the fruit is in the bowl you may want to pass around the granola and ask children to put two spoons of granola on their fruit salad. Count with them.