PonderNest
327 cards
activity Cause and effect Level 1

Ramp Races

Make the car go further. Change one thing at a time.

  1. 1Lean a tray against a stack of books to make a ramp.
  2. 2Roll a toy car down it and mark where it stops.
  3. 3Change one thing — steeper, higher, smoother — and race again.
8 minutes You need: books, toys, tray

Why it helps: Cause and effect: changing one thing at a time to find out what really matters.

How to play it with them, with a free account
activity Think ahead Level 1

First, Then, Last

Three things happen. Which one comes first?

  1. 1Put the shoes, hat and bag in a muddle on the floor.
  2. 2Ask what we do first when we go out.
  3. 3Line them up in the order we would really do them.
5 minutes You need: shoes, hat, bag

Why it helps: Order of events: saying what comes first and why, like getting ready to go out.

How to play it with them, with a free account
activity Play it here Numbers and counting Level 1

Number Race

Race to twenty. Roll, then count on from where you are.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

On this page

  1. 1Tap the die. It gives you that many steps, not that many squares.
  2. 2Tap the next square once per step, saying each number out loud.
  3. 3Then it is the other player’s turn. First to 20 wins.

At home, without a screen

  1. 1Draw a straight line of squares numbered 1 to 20. A coin each.
  2. 2Take turns: roll a die, or pick one of three numbered paper slips.
  3. 3Count ON from your square, out loud: on 5, roll 2, say "six, seven".
  4. 4Every step gets said out loud, not just tapped. First to 20 wins.
10 minutes You need: paper, pencil, coins

Why it helps: Numbers and counting: counting on from where you are, which is what adding is.

How to play it with them, with a free account

New puzzles, and what actually worked

An occasional email when there are new cards, and the odd note about what landed with a real child and what did not. No account needed.