Counting Rocks

Collect 12 rocks. All must be different.

Go through the following sorts:

1. Make a pile then count them.
2. Line them up from biggest to smallest then recount.
3. Line them up from smallest to biggest then count them again.
4. Make two piles with the same number of rocks. Count the number in each pile. Then recount the total for the two piles.
5. Make three piles with the same number of rocks. Then count them.
6. Make 4 piles. Then count them.
7. Make 5 piles. How many in each pile?
8. Consider introducing even and odd numbers. Which piles from #7 have an even number of rocks? Which have an odd number of rocks?

If you want to work the counting routine a bit differently, print the counting process page in the Printable section on the HOME page.  

Then, do some sorting by rock properties or characteristics. Examples: color, shape, rough/smooth 

Count the number of rocks in each group.

Combine sets of rocks to have more variety. You might take all the rocks and make piles of 10, 20, 30, etc. and compare the size of the piles. Write down the numbers each time you do an activity so the kids see the numbers written.