Author: Dr. Mavis Kelley 

  TEACHER'S NOTE:  Here's a quick material to make for a math
  manipulative.

  Procedure:

  1) Purchase a few bags of lima beans, one can of spray paint,
  and sandwich bags.

  TEACHER'S NOTE: I use red, dark blue, or bright pink.

  2) Spray only one side of the beans
  (do this outside on newspaper.)

  3) When they are done, you have a set of two-colored counters
  for creating number sentences and probability.

           A quick idea for number sentences:

  TEACHER'S NOTE:  I used this with the book Two Ways to Count
  to Ten or similar books.

  1) Give each child x number of beans (such as 6)

  2) Have them shake the beans (you can use a can to shake
  them in)

  3) Spill the beans

  4) Say and record the number sentence.

        Example:  If they shake four red and two white,
        the number sentence is 4 + 2 = 6.
        You can set up rule that red is first in the number
        sentence if you want.

  5) Reasoning question:

        How many number sentences are possible?
        
        How do you know?