Train Time

Ask the children to help you describe a train.

Consider asking questions like:

• What does a train look like?
  

• What does a train sound like?
• What does a train do?

Introduce the children to the Math Train set:

• Show a track piece and ask the children to identify it.
• Model putting two track pieces together.
• Model putting two train cars together and placing them on the tracks.

• Tell the children that they are going to help build tracks and a train.
• Give each child a track piece and ask them to take turns connecting their pieces.
• Encourage the children to count the pieces as they are connected.
• Place one of the train cars on the track and place the number one brick on it.
• Encourage the children to help you connect another train car and to tell you what number should be placed on it (i.e., two, three, etc.).
• Continue adding as many cars as you would like, encouraging the children to identify the next number in the sequence.

Facilitate a discussion about the train and tracks you have just built.

Consider asking questions like:

• How many track pieces did we use?
  

• Is our train track long or short?
  

• How many train cars did we use to make the train?
  

• Tell the children that they need a train engine to go with the tracks and train cars.
• Ask them to work in pairs to build a train engine. Show them the inspiration photo and encourage them to be as creative as they would like!

Observing the following skills can help you monitor whether the children are developing the necessary competencies in math.

• Counting using number names, and beginning to recognize the number of objects in a set
• Sequencing numbers or events