Lesson Plan Title : What is missing From My Stocking?

Age Range: Kindergarten through grade 2 (Early Elementary)

Overview and Purpose: This is a fun activity that can be used in a center or in small groups. Students have to figure out what object is missing from one of two identical stockings.

Objective: The student will be able to name the object that is in one stocking but not the other.

Resources:

2 Christmas stockings

Various items that can fit in the stockings: stickers, matchbox cars, pencils, etc.

2 cookie trays

Activities:

Fill two stockings with identical items, except for one item that you took out of one of the stockings. Have two students dump a stocking on a cookie tray and look to see if they can figure out what is missing. The first student that knows which item it is should pick the matching item up off the cookie sheet.

Wrap Up:

After the students have had a chance to play this game, they can create their own game. Give them two paper stockings and have them draw the same items on each stocking. Remind them to leave one of the items off one of the stockings. They can then trade stockings with a classmate to see if they can find the missing item.