Toddler Math: Guessing Jar

Fill your Guessing Jar with m and m's, conversation hearts and other small items and have your child predict, count and even record how many are in there.

Baby food jar or small mason jar

Paint/brush

Paint pen (optional)

1. Paint the cover of the jar.
2. Write or decorate lid with paint pen.
3. If you choose to decorate the glass, use a paint pen and put minimal decoration...you want to be able to see inside.

4. Fill your jar with 1-10 objects.

5. Have your toddler guess how many are inside.

6. If you are interested in introducing graphing print Guessing Jar Graph
7. When your toddler has made a prediction, write the number down and then open jar and count the objects by lining them up on a dish or paper towel.

8. Point and count to help build one to one correspondence.

For older toddlers, you can slowly add more items. 1-20 or the number they are able to count up to.

For classrooms it can be a weekly or monthly activity or even holiday oriented. Put red and green candies for Christmas, Conversation Hearts for Valentines, etc.

For older children you may want to use a larger jar to make it more challenging

Have children make a prediction class or small group graph and then count the actual number at the end of the week or month. Remember no prediction is wrong but you can discuss what would make a "good prediction".

Graph different guessing jar amounts and compare which one had more or less.

Numbers and Number Sense

Counting

Recognize (Read) Numbers

Represent (How many is three?)

Quantity (More, Less, Equal)

Graphing (Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability)

Print two graphs and make one a prediction graph and one an actual graph.

Guessing Jar Items

Edible Items

M and M's (seasonal for holiday months: red, white and pink for Valentines Day)

Peanut M and M's (seasonal colors available)

Gumballs

Red Hots

Gumdrops

Lemon Drops

Skittles

Valentine's Day: Conversation Hearts

St. Patrick's Day: Green M and M's

Easter: Jelly Beans, Jelly Bellies

Christmas: Peppermint Candies

Non-Edible Items

Dried Beans

Marbles

Beads

Buttons

Pasta (colored or plain)

Shells

Smooth Pebbles (Arts and Crafts stores have these)

Pom Poms

Cotton Balls

Math Counters (teddy bears, etc)

The reason counting activities are very important is because it helps to develop the three aspects of numbers.

1. Counting in a sequence out loud: 1,2,3, etc.
2. Understanding how much is 3 and being able to show or give three items.
3. Recognizing and writing numbers.

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