This game reinforces the child's

What you'll need: One bag dried mixed beans Graph paper with one-inch squares Pencil or crayon

ability to sort, categorize, see patterns, add, subtract and count. Kindergarten is a time for children to explore using each of their five senses. Part of this process is developing a problem-solving mentality and learning to take risks.

Here's how to do it:

Take a bag of mixed dried beans. Place a piece of graph paper with one-inch squares on a table or flat

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surface and give your child a small container of beans. Ask your child to sort the beans by one of the following traits: Color (this would be expected by the beginning of kindergarten), shape or size.

Have your child place the groups of beans onto graph paper — one bean per square, and ask her which group of beans has the most. As your child progresses, ask her to add two groups together and write down the number total of the two groups. Or you can have your child put the colored beans into a repeating pattern.

Nicola Salvatico was the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year in 2005.

Updated July 2007