Hedgehogs are Hiding

I have loved bringing you extra ways to make numbers more fun, engaging and playful over the last few weeks! Here are 3 minimal-prep games to play in your classroom when you have a few spare minutes. They support

number
counting
listening

Hedgehogs are Hiding - A Counting and Listening Game

Tell your students

the hedgehogs are hiding - they are a little shy
they are just itching to learn everything in class this year so are listening in, trying to HEAR everything
let's help them by showing them how well we count

Now do some class counting - whatever suits your class - forward, backward, skip, on/off the decade etc). After some counting, tell your class:

let's play a trick on the hedgehogs and see how well they hear, and they can join in too

Ask them to listen to your counting and find the mistake. Say:

when you hear me make a mistake, but your hands in the air and twinkle your fingers like hedgehogs spikes

Say some number sequences with an error (adjust to your class level) - e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10. Students listen and signal when they hear an error in the sequence/order. If you're counting within the range 0-10 remind yoru students that they can monitor your counting by looking at the numbers you have on display in the classroom.

Hedgehog is Hiding

To extend on the first game, integrate some symbols now (numbers) - use some flashcards and a printable hedgehog.

scatter some number cards or order them into a number line
hide a hedgehog behind one number
tell students some clues about the number - e.g. hedgehog is hiding behind the number that is one more than 5
let some students signal when they think they have guessed the number - and they can check their guess by flipping the number to find hedgehog hiding
this child can now hide the hedgehog and give clues

Hedgehogs are Counting

Students will deepen their understanding of numbers by listening to the sounds of counting. They will also compose hexagons.

A hexagon can be composed from pattern blocks of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 shapes. Show these to your students. We have a free coloring page to help you!

Tell your students:

the hedgehogs are still hiding in the classroom and they have been listening and learning to count with you
the hedgehogs are shaped like hexagons
the hedgehogs are going to make some sounds, listen and count
close your eyes

Now, clap some numbers between 1 and 6 and have the students call out the number to you. For example, if you clap twice, it will signify that the hedgehog made from 2 blocks has counted and the children say ‘two’.

Variations:

in small groups use dice and the free coloring club page
play a listening game and say a word pattern - e.g. yellow, red-red, or blue-green-blue-green

Classroom Coloring Pages

Your students may also like to imagine their classroom full of friendly little hedgehogs who are so excited to hear them learn this year! They will be listening in, following along and learning too! You can refer back to them as you play your listening games, as you encourage attentive focus from your whole class (shhhh the hedgies are waiting for you!) and as you learn your letter sounds.

I have a coloring page over in the club to help them visualize it: