How Can We Act Out Numbers?

Materials:

• Number 1-10 cards

• Animal/Things cards (i.e. photo of an elephant, frog, tree)

• Props (optional): toy animals, blocks, scarves, hoops OR printed out headbands with pictures identifying what character they are. 

• Open space for movement

• Music (optional, for transitions)

Instructions:

• In small groups, explain that today they will go on a “Math Adventure”.

• Show a number card (1–5 or 1–10 depending on age).

• Show a number card: ask children to act out that number using their bodies:

  • “Show 3 jumps!”

  • “Be 5 frogs hopping!” (Encourage variations: tall jumps, tiny hops, big circles, small circles.)

• You can take the activity further and incorporate math problems (2 monkeys + 2 more monkeys) (4 snakes and 1 snake leave)

• Present a scenario: “Two elephants are eating leaves. One more comes — how many now?”

  • Children act it out by pretending to be elephants, counting together.

• OR use “brown bear rhyme” (be creative with the numbers, animals, and movements)

  • Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see 2 monkeys jumping on a tree / I see 3 frogs leaping on lily pads / I see 4 snakes slithering across the grass

• Encourage comparing sizes:

• “Which tree is taller? Which is shorter?”

• Children use their bodies to demonstrate.

(Highlight creativity, problem-solving, and counting skills.)

Powerful InterACTions - PK3:

• What number did you act out?

• Which movement was easiest or hardest?

• How did you show ‘more’ or ‘less’?

• What number can you act out next?

• Can you show the same number using your fingers or a friend?

Powerful InterACTions - PK4:

• Can you make this number in a different way?

• How can you move to show a bigger number?

• How can you show more or less using physical movements?

• Which number was hardest or easiest to act out? Why?

• How did you figure out how to show that number?

• Can you teach a friend how to act out a number?