Check it Out (with a bonus): Somewhere In the Ocean

Assalamu alaikum,

This is a recommended book with a bonus: Aside from being a good story, "Somewhere in the Ocean" by Jennifer Ward presents a great opportunity to incorporate a fun math activity. Children learn interesting facts about each animal (and their habitat) as they are also being introduced to counting from 1-10. Even if your child has already mastered counting from 1-10, the story itself is a fun read insha'Allah. The book has beautiful illustrations of sea animals and the rhyming verses are fun to read aloud insha'Allah. 

And, I put together a quick counting activity to be used with the book after a read aloud insha'Allah (see below insha'Allah).

This is a simple counting activity to go with the book alhamdulillah.

As you're reading the book (or after you've read the book insha'Allah), invite the child(ren) to match the animals that were mentioned in the story with the number that shows how many of that particular animal was in the story. In the picture above, there was one manatee in the story, two orca whales and three clown fish. Students will continue matching the animals to the numbers until they reach the number ten insha'Allah. There is control of error in this activity because the number of animal pictures can only match a certain number. For example: If the child finishes the activity and there are clown fish left, they know that they have made a mistake somewhere and can go back and retry insha'Allah.

Insha'Allah, later in the week (if I remember), I'll come back and put pictures of the activity (after I've had my set laminated insha'Allah). Added alhamdulillah!

You can download the 'Somewhere in the Ocean Math Activity' here insha'Allah. The file has Arabic and English numbers included insha'Allah. And you can buy the book, 'Somewhere in the Ocean' here or the next time you're at the library...Check it out insha'Allah!

Enjoy insha'Allah!