The Counting Train Puzzle

We are starting to do more math experiences with Jay. One thing that bothers ME (not him) is that there is a certain number that gets skipped when he counts from 10 to 20. The lucky number 14. We are tackling that number with this project. If you have any desire to tackle any kind of counting (by 2's, 5's, 10's, etc.) this could be a fun project for you.

Supplies: cardboard (reuse a cereal box), markers, ruler, scissors, scrapbooking-type scissors.

This project is related to the ABC puzzle we made before, but this time I was focused on order. That puzzle focused on matching. Since order is the goal we made a train. Putting the train puzzle together means that all the train cars line up in the CORRECT order.

To make your Train Puzzle:
1-cut your cardboard into 2.5" strips.


2-measure .25" from each side and draw a line for the top and bottom of each train car.  I also pencilled in a line that I used to marker in the "link" from one train car to the next-see end photo.


3-mark how long you want each train car to be before you cut (this is to make sure that you end up with the right number of train cars for however you are practicing your counting.)


4-Using scrapbooking scissors (the kind with the fancy edges) cut each car out. Alternate the scissor patterns so that you use a DIFFERENT edged scissor on the front and back of each train car.


5- I wanted Jay to feel like this was HIS puzzle. So after I got the puzzle this far I let him take over. He colored each train car puzzle piece with a different color marker.

Then we wrote a number on each train car.

And here it is! Now we have a fun (and cheap) way to practice number order.

Have a Happy Counting Little Project!

Make your own ABC PUZZLE

We have had so much playing with these I thought I would share the idea, in case any other little ones might like it too.
Jay is really into puzzles and letters so these have been great (and cheap!) toys :)

Supplies: thin cardboard (cereal boxes work great), permanent markers, "scrapbook-type" scissors.


1- cut strips of cardboard (ours were 2" tall)
2- Cut those up into pieces (ours were 2"x2.5")
3-Using a variety of scrapbook scissors (you know, the kinds with the fancy edges) cut down the middle of each piece.

4- Write the uppercase of the letter on one side and the matching lowercase letter on the other side.
{Little Project Tip:} I wrote all of the vowels with the same color of marker so we could talk about them and the sounds they make.

5-Ideas for how to Play with your ABC PUZZLE:
* Play a matching game: upper and lowercase to form the puzzles for each letter

* Memory game: turn them over and try to find the right matches-(the back of the cereal box may give them away. You can cover that or use blank cardboard.)

* Find things around things around the house that start with that letter


* Use the letters to spell words and/or sentences.


Have fun with this Little ABC puzzle Project!