Milli's Pattern Snacks

Practice mighty math skills by arranging the snacks in a pattern. Talk about the patterns with your child.

All new math-minded missions starting 2/4 @ 9:30am

Ingredients

• 8 small crackers, (Tam Tams or whole wheat crackers)
• 4 slices mini pepperoni
• 4 (3/4 in.) mozzarella rounds
• 2 strawberries, hulled and halved lengthwise
• 1 slice, 1/2-in. thick, fresh mango
• 1/2 red delicious apple, with peel

Supplies

• Small cookie cutter or paring knife

Directions

1. Step 1

   Arrange the crackers in a row on a serving plate or cutting board. Place a pepperoni circle on the first two crackers. Place a mozzarella circle on the next two crackers. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

2. Step 2

   Cut the mango and apple into 1-inch circles using a small cookie cutter or paring knife.

3. Step 3

   Arrange the fruit parallel on the same serving platter or board as the crackers. Start with a strawberry half, mango circle, and apple circle. Repeat pattern to use all of the fruit pieces.

4. Play & Learn Together

   Teach early math skills with food! Start a pattern and encourage your child to finish it. Try strawberry, mango, strawberry, mango, strawberry, and then ask her to fill in the pattern with the correct snack item. (When starting your child on patterns, it's always best to make a pattern, repeat it once, and then have her complete the third pattern). When she's done, have her "read" the pattern out loud to you to check her work and reinforce learning. Once your child has mastered a basic pattern (using two alternating food items or colors), increase the complexity by doing strawberry, mango, apple, strawberry, mango, apple or apple, apple, cheese, apple, apple, cheese. You can also vary the patterns by stacking snack items (one slice of cheese, two slices, then three slices, and repeat). Have your child mix and match snack items to create her own patterns, too.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 321
• Total Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 27mg
• Sodium: 500mg
• Total Carbs: 37g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 15g
• Protein: 12g