Children absorb so much information during their early years. Many times, you can easily teach and reinforce more than one concept at the same time.
Three year-olds can easily grasp the concept of singular and plural when it is approached in the correct manner. You don't have to buy fancy manipulatives either!
Example using household items:
Gather several of the exact same object. Try to ensure there is no difference in the objects. For instance, 11 red buttons that are exactly the same, 14 pencils that are exactly the same, 15 orange skittles, etc.
- Place 1 of the items on the workspace in front of the child and announce "singular".
- Have the child repeat.
- Remove the item from the workspace and place several of the objects in front of the child and say "plural" and have the child repeat.
- Repeat this 2-3 times.
- Now, place 1 item on the workspace, then place a group of objects spaced away from the 1 object. Point to the 1 item and state "singular' and have the child repeat. Then, point at the
group of the objects and state "plural" and have the child repeat. - Repeat this 2-3 times.
To extend the lesson:
You can make a "singular/plural" lesson with items such as cheerios, buttons, etc. around your house and create a label that says "singular" and "plural" and show your child how to label the singular and plural group.
If you have a beginning reader, you might be interested in the following singular and plural activity cards that reinforce early reading skills while learning the concept of singular and plural words.
There is no need to wait until a child reads at a more advanced level to teach this skill when they can learn it at this period in time where their mind absorbs information at such a fast rate.
To teach this lesson, show your child how to place the singular and plural heading cards on their workspace.
Then, pull the cards out and shuffle them up and place them on the workspace.
The first set uses picture cards so the child can visually understand the concept of singular and plural.
The next three sets, expands on this concept by using words that have the C-V-C pattern for beginning readers.
This activity is a wonderful extension for your beginning reader!!!
