Grade Level: Pre-Kindergarten

Unit: Wheels and Wings Adventure
Lesson 3 of 12
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 20 students

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Lesson Overview

In this interactive lesson, preschool students will engage in counting, sorting, and grouping toy cars and planes. The activities will foster early number recognition and one-to-one correspondence while encouraging fine motor skills and cooperative play. This lesson aligns with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and New Jersey’s Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations (NJS PLTE).

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Count a set of toy cars and planes up to 10.
• Sort vehicles by type (car vs. plane).
• Group objects based on quantity and attributes.
• Recognize and write numbers 1–10 with guidance.
• Demonstrate cooperative learning through group activities.

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Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) - Mathematics, Pre-K:

• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4: Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.5: Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle.
• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2: Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute.

New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations (NJS PLTE):

• Mathematics - Counting: Demonstrates one-to-one correspondence when counting objects and recognizes numerals 1 through 10.
• Classification and Sorting: Groups and sort objects according to simple attributes such as type, size, or color.

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Materials Needed

• Toy cars (around 30, various colors and sizes)
• Toy planes (around 30, various colors and sizes)
• Large bins or trays for sorting
• Number cards (1-10)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Counting mats (optional)
• Worksheet (see attached below)
• Crayons or colored pencils

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Lesson Procedure

1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet students and briefly recap previous lesson ("Wheels and Wings Adventure" lessons 1 & 2).
• Show a toy car and toy plane: "Today, we're going to count and sort these wonderful wheeled and flying vehicles!"
• Explain the goal: "We will count how many cars and planes we have and learn to group them."

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2. Counting and Sorting Activity (15 minutes)

• Distribute toy cars and planes evenly to small groups of 4–5 students.
• Guide students to sort their toys into two groups: cars and planes.
• Invite students to count how many cars they have and write or point to the corresponding number card. Repeat for planes.
• Teacher models one-to-one correspondence by counting the toys aloud carefully.
• Encourage students to practice “Who has more cars? Who has fewer planes?” to introduce comparison language.

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3. Grouping Challenge (10 minutes)

• Create mixed groups with cars and planes.
• Prompt: “Can you make groups of 3 cars and 2 planes? How many groups can you make?”
• Help students count total vehicles in each group, reinforcing addition in an informal way.
• Use the whiteboard to illustrate grouping visually with drawings or number sentences (e.g., 3 + 2 = 5).

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4. Independent or Partner Worksheet Activity (10 minutes)

• Hand out the "Count and Color" worksheet based on New Jersey standards (see below) focused on cars and planes.
• Students count vehicles in each section and color the number of cars or planes requested.
• Teacher circulates to provide support, reinforce number recognition, and encourage correct counting.

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5. Closing and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Gather students in a circle.
• Ask questions:
  • “How many cars did you count today?”
  • “Which type of vehicle did you have more of?”
• Praise efforts with stickers or high fives.
• Preview next lesson: “Next time, we’ll learn how cars and planes move!”

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Assessment

• Observe students’ ability to correctly count toys during group activities.
• Check students’ worksheet responses for number identification and correct counting.
• Informal assessment through student participation in group discussions and sorting tasks.

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Worksheet: Count and Color – Wheels and Wings

Instructions for students:
Count the cars and planes in each box. Then, color the number of cars or planes below that matches the count.

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Box	Vehicles to Count	Number to Color
1	🚗🚗🚗 (3 cars)	Color 3 cars squares
2	✈️✈️ (2 planes)	Color 2 planes squares
3	🚗✈️🚗✈️🚗 (3 cars, 2 planes)	Color number of cars (3 squares) and planes (2 squares)
4	🚗🚗✈️ (2 cars, 1 plane)	Color number of cars (2 squares) and planes (1 square)

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Number Squares to Color

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |

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Additional Notes for Teachers:

• Encourage students to verbalize numbers as they count aloud.
• For advanced learners, challenge them to create their own groups with specific counts of cars and planes.
• Use the toy vehicles during free play stations later to reinforce concepts learned.

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Reflective Tips for Educators

• Consider using counting songs about vehicles to enhance memory retention.
• Use real-life examples of cars and planes to deepen familiarity.
• Document students' progress visually with photos or art projects linked to this counting theme to celebrate learning milestones.

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This lesson creates a hands-on, joyful learning experience that resonates with young learners’ natural curiosity about vehicles while developing fundamental math competencies aligned with Common Core and New Jersey standards.