The felt board Aurora and I made for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (by Eric Carle, 1969) is one of our
oldest and most successful felt projects.
We have used it to learn counting, colors, days of the week,
metamorphosis, and, now, addition.
Learning basic addition has gone the course of so many other
concepts I introduce to my itty bitty; Aurora understands the idea so quickly
that I wonder why I did not begin it sooner. I began it a week ago with crackers. I asked Aurora how many crackers she
would like, but I would give her a couple less and ask her how many more were
required to reach her desired amount.
Next thing I know she is suggesting number combinations (“Two and two is
four, Mom”) and calling me over to confirm her recount each time she subtracted/ate
another cracker.
The play with The
Very Hungry Caterpillar felts was significant because this was her first
time bringing up addition of her own accord. Clever girl.
Shifting through the pile of felt pieces, she carefully counted out the
required fruits for each page and called attention to the remaining number
needed make the total. After they
were all accounted for, she placed each piece neatly in a row that wrapped
round the board.
Occasionally, Adeline would try to take a piece (to try to
eat it, of course), but this simply gave a reason for Aurora to bring up
subtraction…
and a reason for Aurora to giggle…
and then motivation for Aurora to pretend to eat all the
felt food..
which gave cause for Adeline to giggle!
