All about "nothing"

Zero was our number of the week. I printed out the number poster from ABC Jesus Loves Me and was planning on leaving it blank in order to teach that zero meant "nothing".

Of course, after the fun of the apple stamps in the letter A, Caleb insisted on stamping the number zero, too. I just couldn't say no. I figured there were other ways to teach that concept. :)

For some counting fun and fine motor play, I pulled out our Hi-Ho Cherry-O game. (And it goes with our apple theme, too! I'm so clever!) Caleb didn't quite understand the concept of the game and was more interested in picking the "apples" out of the trees and putting them in the buckets, so I just let him play.

We did do some counting, though. I would have him pick one apple and say, "One". Then I had him put it in the bucket and would ask him how many he had now. He would show me his empty hands and say, "Zero!".

I also had him use our number shaped cookie cutters with our apple pie scented playdough to cut out the number zero, but of course I forgot to take pictures! :)