Boxi Math

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Game card for parents · 0C-3 · Ages 3–6 · 5 min

Line Up by Size

Putting things in order from smallest to biggest is the first step towards a number line.

S-1 Numbers are amountsS-5 Patterns can be put into words

You need

  • 5 things of different sizes, such as shoes from family members or soft toys
  • a strip of masking tape on the floor (optional)

How to play

  1. Put the 5 things in a jumble.
  2. Your child lines them up from smallest to biggest along the tape.
  3. Walk along the line together and check each step gets bigger.
  4. Hide one, then ask where a new one should go.

Guess first

Here's a new one. Where do you think it fits? Put it there, then we'll check its neighbours.

Three things to ask

  1. Who is in the middle?
  2. Who is just bigger than this one?
  3. Could we line them up from biggest to smallest too?

Easier

Start with 3 things that are clearly different in size.

Harder

Use 6 or 7 things that are close in size, or line up family members by height.

Watch for

Your child may get the ends right and the middle muddled. Comparing just two neighbours at a time usually sorts it out.

boxi-math.github.io · CC BY 4.0 · Boxi Yu