Count Your Chickens

Take out enough paper bags so that each child has one, and write a number from one to 10 on each. For example: On one bag, write the number "1"; on the next bad write the number "2"; and so on. If you have more than 10 children playing, you can use more than 10 bags and repeat numbers, or have the children work in teams. If you have fewer, you can give each child several bags.

Cut out and color the chicken tokens. Hide the chickens throughout the space you are playing in, making sure there are enough chickens for each child to collect. Make sure the children don't see where you hide the chickens! For example: If you use 10 bags, each labeled with a different number from one to 10, you will need 55 chickens.

Give each child a paper bag. Explain that the number on each child's bag indicates how many chickens that child needs to find.

Go around the room and have the children identify the numbers on each bag.

Get hunting! Have the children look around the room for their assigned number of chickens. As they search, remind children that the goal is to find only the number of chickens written on their bag.

Once finished, gather together and count the chickens in each bag.

If a child collected more or less than his assigned number, take the opportunity to discuss addition and subtraction.

Play again! Give each child a bag with a different number.