Mango Tree Math for Preschoolers

Living in a tropical climate is filled with many blessings. One of the biggest blessings is in the form of the GIANT mango tree in our own backyard! We are just now ending the 2nd harvest of our mangoes that have grown all summer, and are already counting down the days until next year when we can pluck some more! 

In honor of our beloved tree, I thought of this fun way to practice math and counting with my little ones. 

Supplies Needed:

• Construction Paper: tan, brown, green (I was still all out of green paper, so I used green scrapbook paper.)
• Craft Foam: yellow, purple (or any other colors)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black Permanent Marker

Prep Work:

1. Cut out a tree trunk from the brown paper, and a big cloud shape from the green paper. Glue these onto the tan paper and you've got your tree!

2. Cut 6 circles out of the yellow craft foam. HINT: An easy way to do so is to imprint the bottom of a glue stick into the foam, then just cut them out!

3. Cut out 6 squares from the yellow craft foam as well. Write the numbers 1, 2, and 3 on them two times so you have two of each number.

4. Cut out 5 square from the purple foam and write the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 on them.

5. Draw 3 squares under the tree, two on the left and one on the right that match the size of the number squares. Then put in a + and an = sign so you can create math problems.

How to Play!

• Sit down with your child and go through a problem together, putting down 2 yellow squares, putting those numbers of mangoes on the tree, then counting them all up to get the answer! 
• Then you put the yellow numbers down, one at a time, and have your child put those mangoes on the tree and find the answer themselves.
• You can also switch and have your child put down the yellow numbers and you do the math.

LL(3 years old) had a lot of fun doing this. I helped her a lot, but she eventually got the hang of it, and loved this fun way of counting.

When LB(Kindergarten) got home from school, he wanted to try it too. It was perfect for his level, and great practice for him. 

Because math is fun, but mango math ROCKS!

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Pineapple Craft for Kids!

Who doesn't love a nice, juicy pineapple.

This craft celebrates all that tropical goodness without the mess! Click below to read more!

General Conference Train!

"General conference is a semiannual gathering of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). During general conference weekend, Church members and others who are interested gather worldwide in a series of two-hour sessions to receive inspiration and instruction from Church leaders."

from: lds.org

Want to watch General Conference?

(October 3rd and 4th)

Click HERE. 

General Conference has become such a special, sacred time for me.

I am amazed, every year, at how perfectly the Lord answers my prayers and inspires me through the words of His modern-day prophets.

We started this tradition several years ago, and have continued it each Conference. My kids love it, and it is a very simple way to help them hear what is being talked about.

General Conference Train!

First, I cut out rectangles from some different scrapbook papers. Then I cut out a bunch of small circles out of black paper for the wheels. I printed several pictures of each of 9 topics often discussed in General Conference and glued the wheels and pictures onto the rectangles. And those are the trains!

 When the kids hear one mentioned, they get a train car that has that picture on it and put it up on our wall using sticky-tack. 

The purpose of this is NOT to get the kids to sit completely still during Conference. I don't think that's even possible with little ones---but it has worked very well in getting them to hear what is being said. They don't listen to every word, but often while they are playing quietly (and NOT so quietly) they will hear a word that sounds familiar and they get so excited to put a train on the wall! 

I figure that's a step in the right direction. :)

They are constantly adding to the train during each session of Conference, and it gets very long. My kids LOVE trains--so a constantly expanding train is perfect for them. You could also do leaves on a tree, fish in the sea, stars in the sky, petals on a flower, or whatever your children are interested in. :)

The 9 topics are:

1. Jesus Christ

2. Joseph Smith

3. Temples

4. Baptism

5. Prayer

6. Prophets - Thomas S. Monson

7. Family 

8. Scriptures - Bible, Book of Mormon

9. Missionary Work

I've also created several blank trains for when the kids hear another topic they recognize and want to add to the train.

If you'd like a copy of these pictures, I'm happy to forward them at no cost. Just email me:

littlefamilyfun@gmail.com

I have them both in black & white and in color, so I'll send both. Included are 5-6 pictures of each of the 9 topics (note: for the topic: Family, I just used a picture of our family. I'll take that one out so you can add a picture of your own family.)  AND all 15 pictures of the Prophet & Apostles as a bonus. :)

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