Have pupils place five chips in a paper cup. Use chips that have a different color on each side. Pupils shake their cups then spill the chips onto the floor. Have pupils draw and color the chips on pieces of paper. For example, they may draw three red chips and two blue chips. Have them continue spilling the chips and drawing the results until they think they have demonstrated every possible way of creating the number five.
Create a shape scavenger hunt for pupils. Give each pupil a chart with a circle, square, triangle and rectangle across the top. Challenge pupils to find three objects in the classroom in each shape. Pupils draw the objects on their charts. Bring pupils together to share their findings with the class. Add more shapes to the charts such as ovals and diamonds as they are introduced.
Introduce measurement by having pupils work with non-standard units. Ask pupils to measure the length of objects such as books, tables and each other. Pupils can use items such as paper clips or crayons to measure each object. Emphasize the need to use one measurement tool at a time and to place the units close together to promote accuracy. Encourage pupils to use vocabulary like "smaller" and "larger" as they measure the objects.
Have pupils work in partners and provide them with long strips of paper. Cash register tape works well. Have one pupil draw a pattern on the paper such as red circle, blue circle, red circle, blue circle. His partner must determine the patterning rule and draw the next three pictures in the set. Partners switch roles and play again. Alternatively, provide pupils with pattern blocks and have them arrange them on a table to create and extend patterns.