Count and Pick Carrot Patch

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One of my favourite autumn activities I created for learning to count was our Pumpkin Patch maths game. Inspired by that and for this week’s Virtual Book Club for Kids theme of Bunnies and the featured book of The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter I’ve created a new version ideal for counting, number recognition and play for spring and summer as we count and pick the carrots in Mr McGregor’s Garden.

Find more Maths Game for Toddlers and Preschoolers to support learning to count and number recognition.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

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One of the first book collections that we brought our children when they were born was a set of Beatrix Potter books. I used to sit on the sofa with them as babies and read aloud from the books to them and as they grew older point out the pictures. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the first in her collection of books for children and is a must-have book for children. It’s beautifully illustrated and the story so wonderful to read together.

We have this collection as well as the miniature books that you can see in the image above. I love the miniatures but it’s so nice to sit down with the classic book full of the stories at bedtime and feel like you are following on from night to night.

Objectives of the game

• Work on counting 1 to 10
• Number Recognition 1 to 10
• Fine motor skills

Materials needed for your Count and Pick Carrot Patch Maths Game

Cardboard Box

Sticky Tape

Craft Knife, Self Healing Mat and Ruler

Orange Cardstock

Green Pipe-Cleaners

Black Marker Pen

Scissors

Pencil

Preparation – Make your Carrot Patch

Before you can play the maths game with your toddler and preschooler you need to make your carrot patch and carrots.

1. Take a cardboard box and cut a section out to be your patch.
2. Around 2″ from each edge draw a line and score to fold.
3. Fold and cut off the corners so that you have a ‘raised bed’ for your carrots to grow in.
4. Lay your cardboard out flat and cut 10 random slots for your carrots all the way through the box.
5. Fold the side up and sticky tape the corners your ‘raised bed’ is now ready for the carrot to go into.
6. Take your orange card and cut a 2″ strip this will make sure that none of your carrots are too long for the carrot patch and end up wonky!
7. On the strip of orange card draw some carrot shapes you will need 10 in total.
8. Cut out the carrots.
9. Add a little detail with some lines.
10. Take a green pipe-cleaner and cut into 3 sections (you will need 4 pipe-cleaners).
11. Twist the pipe-cleaners into a spring.
12. Then stick to the top of the carrot to form the leaves growing out the top.
13. If you are working on number recognition then write the numbers 1 to 10 on the carrots.

Plant the carrots in the ‘raised bed’ and you are now ready to play.

Playing Count and Pick Carrot Patch Math Game

Working on counting out 1 to 1

Ask your child to count out a set number of carrots that they can pick from the carrot patch. E.g. Pick 5 carrots from the carrot patch.

Working on recognition of numbers

Pick the carrots from the carrot patch and work on reading the numbers on the carrots.

Addition

You can start to work on addition – grab a die and then throw it pull up that number of carrots and then roll again. Write a number sentence and then pull the second roll number of carrots up. How many carrots do you have in total!

Number Bond Work

If your child is working on Number Bonds then you can use the carrot patch to work on number bonds. Roll a 10 sided die and pick that number of carrots – ask them to predict how many carrots are left in the carrot patch – check the answer

Virtual Book Club for Kids

The Virtual Book Club for Kids is a weekly series aimed at toddlers and preschoolers to encourage reading, creating, playing and learning with fun activities. Each week is themed with seasonal and popular topics as well as a featured book that we recommend.

If you would like to join in with us there are 2 easy ways – you can sign up for our Newsletter to get weekly updates with the latest activity plus any extra resources just fill in your details below and you will get an email which includes the themes and book lists.

Or you can come on over and join our Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook Group where myself and the co-ordinators of the group are there talking about books and activities.

More Bunny and Peter Rabbit Inspired Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Check out these other activities based on this week’s theme and our featured book.

Lettuce Wraps inspired by Peter Rabbit

Growing Carrots from the Tops

 

Pin this DIY Maths Game Inspired by Peter Rabbit to Make and Play Later

Share this Hands-on Math Activity with Others on Facebook

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