#counting activities

This month we have an early literacy double feature for you! Check out Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood and Bruce Wood and Seagull and Sea Dragon by Sydni Gregg.

Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood and Bruce Wood

This cute picture book teaches children to count down from ten fish to one fish. The children learn visually how many fish are present on the page but also learn print awareness with each number both illustrated and spelled out. Print awareness is an important precursor to reading, which helps children prepare for school.

This book also introduces possible new vocabulary using illustrations to reinforce what the words mean.

Early literacy components featured in this book include print awareness, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and background knowledge.

Seagull & Sea Dragon by Sydni Gregg

Seagull & Sea Dragon compares and contrasts seagulls and sea dragons, and their environments. A lot of potential new vocabulary, especially animal names, feature in this well illustrated picture book.

Seagull & Sea Dragon lends itself to conversations between the child and reader about the animals in the book. Talking helps children develop social skills and vocabulary, which in turn readies them for school.

By listening to this book the child will develop background knowledge about the animals that live in and around the sea, and may inspire curiosity in the world around them.

Early literacy components featured in this book include talking, reading, vocabulary building and background knowledge.

Extend the books with a counting activity!

Set out any animal props you may have and ask the child the colors of each item, how many items there are, and so on.

This reinforces counting and color recognition. The fish props I happened to have also include the printed names of each color, which reinforces print awareness and reading skills.