- large nuts and bolts
- muffin tin
- plastic container
- tool
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Language/L.PK.MA.5.a Demonstrate understanding of concepts by sorting common objects into categories (e.g., sort objects by color, shape, or texture). 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.Mathematics/Counting and Cardinality/PK.CC.MA.5Use comparative language, such as more/less, equal to, to compare and describe collections of objects.
Head Start Outcomes:
Approaches to Learning/Persistence and Attentiveness The ability to begin and finish activities with persistence and attention.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
Mathematics/Number Sense 1 Listen to and say the names of numbers in meaningful contexts.Mathematics/Patterns and Relations Sort, categorize, or classify objects by more than one attribute.
Nuts and Bolts Count
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Educator Prep: Before setting out materials, scrutinize them to be sure there are no sharp edges or protruding parts that could scratch or cut children. Assemble each nut and bolt so children can unscrew them before sorting and counting.
Tell children they are going to sort and count two types of builder’s tools—nuts and bolts. Hold up an object as you demonstrate for children how to take them apart. Say, You have to twist, or unscrew, the nut from the bolt. Explain that once they have them apart you want them to put the nuts in one muffin tin and the bolts in another. Say, When you are finished, we will count how many nuts and how many bolts you have in your tins. Encourage children to reassemble the nuts and bolts for the next child to use.
Adaptation: For very young children, you may want give them a pile of toy nuts and bolts to assemble and disassemble on their own.