Instead of forcing children to write with a traditional pencil, pen or marker, spray a small bit of shaving cream onto each child's work area or desk and allow him to practice his numbers in the cleaning agent. Use only a small amount as it is concentrated and may be difficult to remove completely, or consider using a piece of waxed paper or aluminum foil between the shaving cream and the desk. Deep paper plates with a small layer of play sand or sugar can be used to form letters with a child's index finger. Children practice number construction with pudding on a piece of thick construction paper as a sensory writing option.
Allow children to use their creative imagination to artistically display numbers. Use the number one to draw a ladder sides and rungs, and the number 3 for the wings and number 1 for the body to create a butterfly. Ensure that each child turns her paper 180 degrees before creating the butterfly's left wing (3) as to suggest the correct, and not backwards, formation of the number. As an alternative, the students paint the numbers or glue tissue paper balls into the shape of each number. Another idea is to leaf through old magazines and newspapers to find, for example, the number five. Each student cuts out all of the found fives and glues them in the shape of the number five in a number collage.
Create dot-to-dot activities in the shape of various numbers that can either be ascending in numbers or alphabet letters for student practice. Instruct each child to create his own dot-to-dot activity and trade work with a neighboring classmate, which brings the level of understanding to a new height--creating work for someone else. Instruct children to use tangrams in an attempt to form introductory numbers and trace around the formation to compare with displayed digits on the chalkboard or in a math book to check for accuracy. Unifix cubes, math counters or even pieces of cereal can be substituted for the tangrams in constructing and writing various numbers.
Give each student a personal chalkboard or a dry erase slate, and either chalk or teacher-supplied dry erase markers and a paper towel to erase. Hold up large cards for all students to see containing a specific number of items. When each student mentally counts the objects, he writes the numeral on the slate and holds it up high for you to see. Give each student a point when correct and mark the total scores on the classroom chalkboard. Those students reaching a total of 20 or more may be rewarded with five extra recess minutes for their success.