Math Activities: One to One Correspondence

The concept of one-to-one correspondence requires two skills: (1) matching pairs and (2) comparing sets. Combination puts two similar items together as a pair while comparison determines which set has more or less. In these projects, the key is to focus on the language, emphasizing mathematical terms.

Books to read

The following books teach one-to-one correspondence using stories. I love the impact a story has on comprehension, and these books do a great job of packaging math ideas in a way that young children can understand.

Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale by Lily Toy Hong

Knots in a Rope for Counting by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Stuart J. Murphy’s Seaweed Soup

A pair of Stuart J. Murphy socks

Lost Mitts by Stuart J. Murphy

Monster Musical Chairs by Stuart J. Murphy

Just Enough Carrots by Stuart J. Murphy

Some Things Go Together by Charlotte Zolotow

Projects to learn Matching

Project 1

Take the opportunity to point out situations where there is a matching set. Word emphasis: match, even, pair, each.

• There are three cups and three straws. it is even.
• Three children and three cookies. It’s a match!
• A pair of socks for your feet. One foot for each sock and one sock for each foot.

Project 2

Provide the following items and allow the children to sort them into pairs. Word Emphasis: match, match.

1 ice cube tray

2 screws

2 washers

2 electrical circuit binders

2 matching butterfly clips

2 matching hairpins

2 cents

2 matching buttons

Project #3

Host a teddy bear tea party. Set a place for each bear. You could say, “A seat for each bear, and a bear for each seat.” Word emphasis: each.

Project #4

Serve up a lunch box with matching shapes to make your own snacks. I used cookie cutters to cut the bread, cheese, and meat into equal shapes. I provided at least two different ways for you to find the combination to build your sandwiches. Word emphasis: party.

Project #5

Play the memory game. Word Emphasis: match, match.

Projects to learn by comparing

Project 1

Take the opportunity to point out situations where there is not enough or there is too much to go around. Word emphasis: more, less, less, even.

• Whoops, I grabbed an extra straw. There are three cups and four straws. There are more straws than glasses.
• We have six chairs at our table, but only four people in the family sit at the table. That leaves two empty chairs because there are more chairs than people.
• Today we have a company, so we have eight people and only six chairs. We have fewer chairs than people, so we will need two more chairs.
• Three children and four cookies. There are more cookies. If I eat one, it will be even.

Project 2

Invite the children to collect toys to put inside two hula hoops. Then count to see which hula hoop has the most toys and which has the fewest. Ask: “Which toy set has the most? Which toy set has the least?” Word emphasis: set, more, less, even.

Project #3

For two cups of water and compare the volume. Which cup has more? Which has less? Word emphasis: more, less, even.

Project #4

Make sugar cookies and put chocolate chips in the frosting. Compare two cookies to see which one has more chocolate chips. For an added lesson, determine how many chocolate chips need to be added to make them even. Word emphasis: more, less, even.