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Hands, Pencil, Numbers

Three short lessons for five minutes at the kitchen table: let the child work with real things first, then a drawing, then numbers; give one prompt at a time; and notice what they did instead of scoring it.

For grown-ups, from what NoticeTots teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1Hands first
  2. Lesson 2One prompt at a time
  3. Lesson 3Notice, not score
At the table · a grown-up and a child, 4 to 7

Five minutes with spoons

You'll need: ten spoons (or buttons), a pencil, paper and a small card.

  1. Put out seven spoons. Ask the child to make two groups, any way they like.
  2. Ask them to draw their groups on paper.
  3. Ask if they can write it with numbers. Try another way to split seven.
  4. Write one thing you noticed on the card, with the date. No score.

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →