Begin the lesson by teaching the students to sing or chant the song "Catching a Fish", as found on the Nursery Rhymes and Songs resource sheet.
Because many students come to school able to count at least a few numbers by rote, this song is an excellent starting point for number work. Note: Rote counting
is the naming of the number words in the correct sequence. Rational counting is assigning one and only one number name to each object in a group. One way to foster rational counting is to use counting books. Because such books gently pave the way for more formal rational counting experiences, you may want to collect several counting books to display throughout the unit in your class library.
Next, recite the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill." Tell the students they will act out the rhyme. Ask, "How many children will I need to call to the front of the room?" Then call on a boy and a girl and have them act out the rhyme. The students can march to simulate going up the hill and turn around twice to depict "tumbling down." Repeat with other pairs of students.
Have the students sit down in a central place, such as a carpet. Then show the students the numeral 2, as found on the Numeral Cards.
Say, "Lift your hands in the air. How many hands are you holding up?" Prompt the students to answer "Two." [They will be using the cardinal form of number as they answer. A cardinal number is a number that answers the question "How
many?"]
Display a large set of counters (such as lima beans), and ask the students to come up and take one counter in each hand. When all the students have returned to their seats, ask them to count aloud the counters they are holding. Model this with two counters that you are holding, saying, "One, two." Then ask," How many counters are you holding?" Encourage the students to answer "Two."
Now drop your two counters into a metal bowl [so they will be heard as they drop]. Count "One, two" as you drop the counters. Then have the students come up one at a time and drop the counters into the container, saying "One, two" as they drop them. You might invite the class to count along as each child drops his or her counters into the bowl.
Now ask the students to look at the numeral 2 that you have displayed. Tell them that this figure means "two" and that they will be learning to write it. Turn your back to the students [so you will be writing in the same orientation as will the students] and trace the figure in the air, using large strokes. Encourage the students to do it with you using very large movements. You may wish to sing the actions you use to make the numeral. Lyrics to use when making the numerals up through 5, along with other suggestions for practice in writing the numerals, can be found on the Suggestions for Numeral Writing Practice resource sheet.
Next, show the students a box cover or pan in which you have placed some rice or play sand. Put the numeral card with "2" written on it next to the container. Now say "Watch me as I draw a '2' in the sand tray." Encourage several other students to try this. [Throughout this unit, each new numeral should be written
in this way and the sand (or rice) tray should be available for additional practice.]
Now distribute copies of the Show How Many activity sheet.
Have those students who can write put their name at the top. When they are ready, ask them to put a finger on the column with a "2" at the top. Then ask them to color in 2 boxes in that column, starting at the bottom row.
Demonstrate this, and circulate as they work, encouraging them to count aloud as they color the boxes. Then collect the charts or tell the students to put the chart where it will be available for the next six lessons.
