Give each student a handful of Unifix cubes and instruct them to count each cube using a one-to-one correlation: each cube representing one number. For example, when counting three Unifix cubes, the child moves one cube from the pile while calling out the number "1," the second block is "2" and the third represents "3."
Sort the blocks by color, making piles of red, blue, black, white, yellow and other colors of blocks. Some students may have more of a varied color selection than others so each child's sorting procedure may not be the same.
Pattern the blocks by snapping them together in various colors. As an example, the child may start with a red block, attach a yellow and then a blue to it. Repeat the pattern by connecting another red, yellow and blue block to the existing string of Unifix cubes.
Graph information with the Unifix cubes using separate colors and attaching them into a "stick" form. For example, the class may use the daily weather information for the month and connect the number of white blocks corresponding with the number of snowy days, blue blocks for rainy days and yellow blocks for the number of sunny days.
Connect blocks to use as a non-standard unit of measurement. Measure various classroom objects such as desk width, chalkboard eraser length, pencil length and the height of a classmate with stacked Unifix cubes. Record the findings and compare measurements in Unifix cubes with others.
Add Unifix cubes by separating the blocks into two piles corresponding with the two numbers to be combined in the addition equation. Push the groups together and count them to find the answer. When subtracting, count the larger number in a pile of Unifix cubes and take the second number in the subtraction problem away from the larger pile to find the answer in the remaining blocks from the larger pile.
Place three red Unifix cubes and three black cubes into an opaque bag to explore probability. Choose one block from the bag at random and discuss the probability of choosing that color block. For instance, when a red block is selected, the probability of choosing the color red is represented by the number of red blocks in the bag divided by the total number of blocks in the bag; the answer being 3/6, 1/2 or 50 percent.