Explore(individual or small group activity)

Provide students with a tray of stamps, magnifying glasses and tweezers. Students use tweezers (develop fine motor skills) to select individual stamps to look at. Students learn how to use magnifying glasses to see more detail on stamps. Students discuss what they find on stamps.

Extension ideas- Make a list of what students can find on the stamp. This could lead to discussions on parts of a stamp and the introduction of stamp terminology. From a mathematics point of view things like size, shape, date and price are all details to look at.

Sort(individual or small group activity)

Provide students with a limited number of stamps and ask them to sort stamps into groups.

The younger the student the smaller the group to sort. Maximum 10 stamps for young sorters.

Students discuss the stamp groups they have created.

Extension ideas-Students paste group onto a page in book. Students label their group. Students talk about their group with others.

Count(individual small group or whole class activity)

Students are given a snap lock bag of stamps and have to count their stamps. The number of stamps can be varied according to the ability level of students. Students record by writing the number or number word, drawing the stamps and labelling by writing the number or number word. You could incorporate technology and ask students to make number and number word cards, print these off and then add the correct number of stamps. These could be laminated for reuse in other activities.

Extension ideas -Students compare and contrast results using terminology like more, less, most, least etc. This can be extended further by using tally marks to record how many stamps each child has. It can be extended even further into the use of simple graphs.

Patterns(individual activity)

Students are provided a range of mixed stamps and have to select stamps to create a pattern. Students record the pattern by gluing it in their book. Students circle the repeat in their pattern.

Extension ideas. Students discuss their pattern and identify the repeat in the pattern. Students create a variety of pattern types. AB, AAB, ABC, etc

Money(individual, small group or whole group activity)

Students are given a snap lock bag of stamps and have to record the cost of each stamp. The have to identify what coins or notes are needed to purchase each stamp.

Extension ideas This can be turned into a game of bingo as the teacher calls out cost of stamps and students mark off each if they have it. First to mark off all stamp prices in front of them wins.

Another alternative is students create a sequencing game, each stamp is glued on a seperate piece of card and laminated. The students are given randam cards and have to order them according to price.

Another alternative is students create a game of snap, for this you will need two different stamps for each price. Students glue to card and laminate. This makes a game of snap reliant on the child reading the price of each stamp and not using picture cues. (use cent and dollar stamps) This could also be played as a memory game.

Sequencing-Size(individual, small group)

Students are given a snap lock bag of stamps and have to put them in sequence from smallest to largest in size.