Box Dice Jumps

What you need

• a square box, like a cube-shaped tissue box
• a crayon for the dots
• some floor space or a patch of grass

How to do it

1. Draw dots on each side of the box together, one dot on the first side up to six on the last.
2. Take turns rolling the box and counting the dots on top.
3. Do that many jumps, counting each one out loud, then pass the box on.
4. Change the move every few rounds: hops, stamps, star jumps or spins.

Why it matters

Rolling, counting and jumping gives every number a feel in their legs, and waiting for the box to come back is part of the game.

What they're learning

Counting dots

Looking at each dot once, then saying how many there are.

Jumping and hopping

Lots of short bursts of big movement, one after another.

Taking turns

Roll, jump, pass: a simple game they can follow round and round.

What to look for

Notice them knowing small numbers of dots at a glance, without counting each one.

A tip

Clear the floor of toys first, and stop after one more round, before the jumping gets wild.

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