Fortune

Today was about Alexander's fortunes - two different types but both with hidden educational value! The first fortune is the paper fortune teller which are easy to make and are great fun. What is the best thing about these little things is all opportunities to learn, while having fun! First there is the folding which is good for fine motor skills and following instructions. Then on the outside we wrote colour names, on the next level was numbers 1 - 8 and on the underside flaps are little sayings or actions. So he got to use his imagination and writing and spelling. Once the fortune teller is complete, playing with it is just as valuable. He is doing different movements with his hands, he is spelling and counting and communicating - all without knowing it!! (An aside, I am already a little sick of it, think we need a new audience!)

A quick how to make it:
Have a square piece of paper and fold it diagonally both ways to find the middle. I put a dot there.
Fold the points into the middle (there should be four points to fold in) and you are left with a smaller square.
Turn your work over and put a dot in the middle. Fold the four points into the middle as you did above to give you an even smaller square.
Next you need to make some creases. I fold it in half both ways on the straight, not diagonal with all the points in the middle of the fold. This just helps with the movement of the fortune teller.
Then if you gently push the points up you can slide your fingers into the open flaps on the outside.
We choose colours for the outside, numbers for the inside and have done activities and also yes no versions.

This is the other fortune, real money. Alexander wants to buy some things so he suggested he could do some chores to earn some money. Together we devised a list of basic tasks that he could do to earn some money. Each task successfully completed earns him 10 cents so he income is only limited by his activity. Tasks include getting dressed all ready, packing his bag, making his bed, cleaning his room, but also setting the table, packing the dishwasher and feeding the dog.
We have a little tick chart where the activities are listed on the side and along the top are the days and each activity gets a tick. He then needs to add up the daily ticks and transfer them to a monetary amount, and add up the weekly total. Then I pay him what he has earned and he delights in counting how much he has earned. He is enjoying it and when he wants something he remembers how to work for it. Not only am I getting jobs done, but the incidental maths is great.