Play Number Leap Frog

In this leap frog game, your child will use her muscles to jump from lily pad to lily pad and use those math skills to count as she hops along. She'll develop her basic number skills and practice counting. This is a great way to help your child build important math skills and stay active while she's doing it!

What You Need:

• Blue plastic tarp or large tablecloth
• 5–10 hula hoops
• Optional: Green butcher paper or poster board
• Construction paper or poster board
• Tape
• Large open space for pond

Set-Up:

1. Spread out the blue tarp (the “pond”) on the ground in an open space indoors or outdoors. This will represent a pond.
2. Place green circles (“lily pads”) of butcher paper on the pond. Place the lily pads close enough so the children can jump safely from one to the next.
3. Cut out numbers and place one on each lily pad. Note: Tape everything down for security.
4. Decorate the rest of the pond with stuffed frogs, ducks, and so on.

What to Do:

1. This activity works best with at least two kids. Gather the kids around the pond.
2. Call attention to the numbers on the lily pads and ask if they can name the numbers.
3. Tell the children that they are going to take turns being frogs. They are going to jump from lily pad to lily pad and count while jumping, starting with number one.
4. Call on a child to start. He can jump to hoop one and count or say, “One!” The other children can say the numbers and count as they jump too.
5. Be sure each child gets a chance to hop across the lily pads.
6. To assess the children’s learning, consider the following: Can the children count and say the numbers as they jump? When shown a number, can the children name what it is?