Game – How Tall Am I?

For 2 to 4 players. Made in USA. About $11-$14.

Don’t let the cover of How Tall Am I? deceive you. It is a really well made game that kids will enjoy playing over and over.  Players roll the die and stack up parts (hats, faces, shirts, shoes…) to create a crazy character. The 30 interchangeable pieces are thick, durable (unbendable) cardboard (much like the pages of a boardbook). When the character is finished, use the custom measuring ruler to find out how tall the character is. The tallest character is the winner!

The How Tall Am I? game provides good, silly fun for preschoolers as they build a different funny character every time they play. The game supports the math areas of Measurement and Data Analysis.

To keep the game fresh: you could have the shortest character, the tallest hat, the shortest shoes… be the winner. Let the kids decide before they play.

For extension activities: have your child use the ruler to measure shoes, hats, shirts… around their house or classroom.

Book – Count On It! One 1

By Dana Meachen Rau (2008), Published by Marshall Cavendish

For ages: 3-6

This simple text and attractive color photos make this a great beginning counting AND reading book. The text has a repeating format that focuses on the number 1.

Once you are done reading this book with your child:

• Creating your own book of 1 by drawing, taking pictures, or cutting pictures from magazines.
• Go on a 1 walk around your home or neighborhood to look for 1 of things (i.e. 1 red hat, 1 white fence, 1 striped cat…).

Winnie the Pooh Talks about Math

“Piglet is so small that he slips into a pocket, where it is very comforting to feel him when you are not quite sure whether twice seven is twelve or twenty-two” ~ A.A. Miln

Young children want to use and understand math, but sometimes they need a little comfort and encouragement – a small piglet in their pocket – to help them.

As a professor of Early Childhood Education I hope to use this blog to provide information about marvelous math toys, books, and apps I’ve found that can help support young math learners while they play.