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23 Loose Parts Ideas for Early Childhood Math - My Teaching Cupboard

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Looking for ideas on how to use loose parts to teach early childhood math concepts? This blog post has 23 engaging activities and ideas you can use in your classroom.

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At the very top of my to do list this summer was a big stack of past year's math lesson plans. I was determined to transform them from the required unfriendly format into a complete set of whole group to small group detailed plans with the busy teacher in mind! Fun, detailed, teacher friendly, and complete with all lesson materials! I just wrapped up the second unit of these plans and am excited to share! You can catch the post on the first unit here if you missed it.

Each unit that I am creating focuses on standards rather than seasonal activities. I focused on full engagement in both the whole group and the small group activities.

I just wrapped up unit 2 which focuses solely on the concepts needed to understand and apply addition and subtraction within 20.

Each lesson in this unit contains the following information with the activities for both your whole group and small group instruction:

Differentiated Lesson Ideas for Remediate, On Level, and Enrich

There are 20 lessons in this unit. One full month of instruction. Of course if your students need to spend more than one day on a particular concept that is greatly encouraged!

The lesson materials are *mostly* black and white but as you can see in the cards above and below, I added some color when it was to the benefit of better understanding a concept.

Just add manipulatives and you will have a complete rigorous and FUN set of lesson plans to fuel your passion for teaching!

The concepts covered in unit 2

Vocabulary for parts of a number sentence
Making Ten
Part part whole
Missing addend
Missing subtrahend
Number sentence matching a picture
Number sentence matching a math story
Problem solving
Balancing across the equal sign
Join, separate, compare
Commutative property of addition
Number line addition
Number line subtraction

A Pacing Guide to the Units

Unit One Number Sense Unit 2 Addition and Subtraction

You can grab the bundle below. As of now it only contains the first two units. As I add the units, you will download the new units from your purchases folder on teacherspayteachers.
You receive a 20% discount when buying them all at once!

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Guided Math Whole Group to Small Group - Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

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At the very top of my to do list this summer was a big stack of past year's math lesson plans. I was determined to transform them from the required unfriendly format into a complete set of whole group to small group detailed plans with the busy teacher in mind!

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To support thematic learning...a-z!

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Count the number of days your class has been in school AND teach the concept of using 10 frames with this cute FARMHOUSE calendar. This calendar comes with corresponding clip art that matches each month. You can laminate and back the images with Velcro dots if you want to reuse your calendar year after year OR you can have students glue the images on each day.

Included:

*Ten Frames 1-250

*Clip art for August-July

*6 additional months of clip art in case the intended clip art does not suit you

*blackline for 10 frames and for clip art so you can create your own

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FARMHOUSE How Many Days Have We been in School? 10 frames/ calendar/ w clip art

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Count the number of days your class has been in school AND teach the concept of using 10 frames with this cute FARMHOUSE calendar. This calendar comes with corresponding clip art that matches each month. You can laminate and back the images with Velcro dots if you want to reuse your calendar year af...

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Nine categories for math tubs/small and large group activities

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Suggested Resource Books

Hands on Math K-1 by Virginia Johnson, Creative Teaching Press, 1994(ISBN CTP 2600)

Instant Math Centers: Hands on Independent Math Activities GradesK-1 Edited by Ruth Simon, Creative Teaching Press, 2000 (ISBN CTP 2597)

Count on Math: Activities for Small Hands and Lively Minds by Pam Schiller and Lynne Peterson, Gryphon House Publishers, 1999 (ISBN 0876591888)

More Than Counting: Whole Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten by Sally Moomaw, Redleaf Press, 1995 (ISBN: 1884834035)

Much More Than Counting: More Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten by Sally Moomaw, Redleaf Press, 1999 (ISBN 1884834663)

Developing Number Concepts: Counting, Comparing, and Pattern by Kathy Richardson, Pearson Learning, 1998 (ISBN 0769000584)

Math in Motion: Wiggle, Gallop, and Leap with Numbers (PreK-1) byBetsy Franco and Denise Dauler, Creative Teaching Press, 2002 (ISBN CTP 2286)

Math Discoveries with Pattern Blocks by Shirley Hoogeboom, Ideal School Supply Company, 1994(ISBN 1564510883)

Exploring Patterns in Math and Beyond by Betsy Franco, Scholastic, 1999 (ISBN 059064405X)

Math Centers: Take It To Your Seat (Grades K-1) by Jo Ellen Moore, Evan-Moor, 2003(ISBN 1557999317)

Instant Math Story Mats by Mary Beth Spann, Scholastic, 1999(ISBN 0590603396)

Pictograms: Graphing Pictures for a Reusable Classroom Grid (Blackline Masters) by Laura Duncan Choate and JoAnn King Okey, Dale Seymour Publications, 1989 (ISBN 0866514872)

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Suggested Resource Books Hands on Math K-1 by Virginia Johnson, Creative Teaching Press, 1994(ISBN CTP 2600) Instant Math Centers: Hands on Independent Math Activities GradesK-1 Edited by Ruth Simon, Creative Teaching Press, 2000 (ISBN CTP 2597) Count on Math: Activities for Small Hands and Lively Minds by Pam Schiller and

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I love teaching kids about shapes. There's just something simple and fun about it, and it's always been one of my favorites. This shape sorting activity has been a staple in my life for almost a decade now - because it's that good.
WONDERING WHAT I TEACH MY KIDS EACH DAY? Check out "Playing Preschool", my easy at-home preschool program.
What you need to know about teaching shapes.

The thing with teaching kids about shapes is that often we show kids a flat representation of the shape and work on them memorizing how it looks.

Once they can spout off the names of a few shapes, we think it's done. They know their shapes!

But actually, that's just the beginning.

There are TWO keys to teaching shapes.

1. Kids need to recognize shapes in their environment, to recognize that a clock is a circle or a table is made of rectangles. The more we can expose kids to identifying shapes in their environment, the more well-rounded their understanding of shapes becomes.

2. Attributes: memorizing how a shape looks is the base of learning shapes. The next level is attributes - being able to describe why something is a shape or the specific characteristics of a shape.
Understanding that a square has 4 sides, 4 points, and each side is the same is a BIG skill and one that we have to teach our children. They need to know why and what shapes are.

Here's how this shape sorting activity teaches those skills

This simple shape sorting activity is easy to set up but packs a big learning punch.

(this list contains affiliate links. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.)

Painter's tape

Random toys / objects from around the house

Materials:
I grabbed my 3-year-old for this activity. First, we made a circle, square, and triangle on the carpet. Please forgive the terrible circle I made. It worked for us (wink).

I went through the family room toys and the kitchen searching for items that were square, circle or triangular. It didn't take long before I had a mountain of objects to work with.

How did I teach this shape sorting activity?

We first started by tracing the outline of each shape and talking about the attributes.

"This is a triangle. It has three sides and three points."

Then she started sorting.

While she sorted, I stayed close and asked questions - good questions, the kinds that need more than a yes or no answer.

"How did you know that yo-yo was a circle?"

"Why didn't you put that book in the triangle?"

This is about going deep with our knowledge of shapes

We want our children to go beyond the surface, to move past simple memorizing, and to really know and own their learning / knowledge.

By taking shapes off the paper and into the real world, we give our kids the chance to dig deep with shapes and expand their understanding even more.

When will you build a shape sorting activity?

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Shape Sorting Activity: Go Beyond Memorizing - Busy Toddler

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I love teaching kids about shapes. There's just something simple and fun about it, and it's always been one of my favorites. This shape sorting activity has been a staple in my life for almost a decade now - because it's that good. WONDERING WHAT I TEACH MY KIDS EACH DAY?

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Geoboards have been popular ever since they were introduced back in the 1950s, and for good reason. These cool math manipulatives also lend themselves well to creative play. You can DIY some geoboards or buy them instead-we love this set of five double-sided boards, with a square on one side and a circle on the other. Either way, there are plenty of fun activities to try with them!
This article contains Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience. We promise we only recommend products we know you'll like!
1. Start with simple shapes.

Introduce geoboards as a learning tool with these free printable shape cards. Use the cards to teach them shapes, then challenge them to make the shapes by name without seeing the cards first.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones' Creation Station

2. Practice the ABCs ...

Here's a fun and unusual way to practice letters! Get free printable cards at the link below.

Learn more: Mrs. Bremer's Class

3. ... and the 123s!

You can get free printable number cards too. (Like the idea of a larger geoboard? Get it here.)

Learn more: Mrs. Bremer's Class

4. Create pictures with geoboards.

Go beyond basic shapes and challenge your students to create pictures on their geoboards. The site below offers free printable pattern cards, but be sure to encourage kids to come up with their own ideas too.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

5. Analyze geoboard designs.

Have your students create a design of any kind they like using at least 10 rubber bands. Then have them look more closely: What shapes can they find in the design? How many triangles are there? What kind of triangles are they? They'll be surprised at what they find. ( Get your own transparent geoboard here.)

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

6. Match upper- and lowercase letters.

Label points on the board with upper- and lowercase letters, then challenge kids to stretch a rubber band between each two matches.

Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfect

7. Use geoboards to teach area and perimeter.

Area and perimeter can be challenging to understand, so explain them using geoboards. Learn how at the link.

Learn more: Triumphant Learning

8. Use shapes to make more shapes.

Encourage deeper thinking with this set of free printable geoboard challenge cards. Visit the link to get the cards and some geoboard game ideas too.
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
9. Make DIY geoboards.

Make your own geoboard with corkboard trivets and push pins. (Be sure to supervise little ones closely for safety.)

Learn more: teach.investigate.play/Instagram

10. Map out the constellations.

Use the same corkboards with map pins and rubber bands to discover the constellations of the night sky.

Learn more: Babble Dabble Do

11. Make a geo-ball.

Turn a foam ball into a unique geo-ball to add a new dimension of learning.

Learn more: ICTLearn/Instagram

12. Decorate a geoboard pumpkin.

Decorate for Halloween without any messy pumpkin guts! This works with real pumpkins or the foam ones you can get at the craft store.

13. Turn a wall into a geoboard.

Create an oversized board by driving nails into the wall or get the same effect with pushpins on a bulletin board.

Learn more: Rozenn/Instagram

14. Create pretty snowflakes.

Explore symmetry by creating snowflake shapes on your geoboards.

Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

15. Build a marble maze.

Craft a maze for marbles with this fun STEM challenge.

Learn more: The Immersion Room

16. Turn muffin tins into geoboards.

This is ingenious! It's also a terrific way to play with geoboards when kids don't quite have the fine-motor control for smaller pegs.

Learn more: And Next Comes L/Instagram

17. Learn about fractions with geoboards.

Geoboards are fantastic for fractions. Use a dry-erase marker on plastic boards and wipe off when you're done.

Learn more: Love2Learn2Day

18. Build geoboards with LEGO bricks.

Is there anything LEGO bricks can't do?

Learn more: St. James' Sebastopol/Instagram
How do you use geoboards in your classroom? Come share on our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group. Love math manipulatives? Here are 24 Creative Ways to Use Math Manipulatives to try next.

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18 Clever Ways to Use Geoboards in the Classroom

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Geoboards have been popular ever since they were introduced back in the 1950s, and for good reason. These cool math manipulatives also lend themselves well to creative play. You can DIY some geoboards or buy them instead-we love this set of five double-sided boards, with a square on one side and a circle on the other.

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Learning about 2D shapes is a must for every early childhood classroom. I'm here to share with you my favorite, go-to 2D shapes activities! Some teachers may do a shapes theme or unit (like me), some may do a shape of the week, and some sprinkle in shape activities all year long. These activities will work for all types of classrooms and teaching styles! Grab your lesson plan binder, and let's get started! Want all shape printables now? You can find them in my Shapes Unit on TPT HERE.
This post contains affiliate links.
Shape Manipulatives

When setting up a shape activity, the first thing I do is go into my supply closet and pull out all my shape games, manipulatives, and puzzles. Pattern blocks, shape cookies, and shape magnet blocks are distributed into various classroom centers. Students need to be playing, manipulating and creating with shapes all over the classroom, not just in the math center!

I love this 2D & 3D shape building set! It's a ton of fun and comes with shape cards.

Toothpick Shapes

Toothpick Shapes are a fun and interactive way to learn shapes! Students can make shapes with toothpicks and play dough or marshmallows. When teaching your little learners about shapes, it's important to teach about the sides and vertices too. Use those big vocabulary words! Feel, touch and count the number of sides and vertices a shape has. Don't forget that a circle doesn't have any sides or vertices!

In the Discovery Center: Learning about math and science

In the discovery center, I set up a shapes exploration table. The wall has shape posters with real photographs, the back of the table is lined with shape building cards and manipulatives and translucent shapes. There is a sorting board with shape flashcards on top. It's just a poster board I made with tape. Super simple! The basket is filled with real objects and shape cards students can sort. This exploration table gives students the opportunity to talk about, touch, feel, build, and manipulate shapes with a peer or independently.

Shape Building Blocks Cards! This is a close up of the building block shape cards. Students use the blocks to create the shape on the card. After the shape theme is over, put the shape building cards in with your manipulatives or STEM drawers!

Geoboard shape cards! I put these shape geoboard cards in my geoboard basket. Students can make the shapes with loom bands on the geoboard. To introduce this activity, I put it out for table time as an arrival activity. It's also great to build those little fine motor muscles too!

Shape cover up! Cover up is a fun game to practice matching shape! Students spin the spinner and cover the matching shape. I love these translucent spinners for my math games. This game is in my Shapes pack. It comes in four different levels.

Shapes graph it! This is another fun shapes game that my students love. It's also a great opportunity to talk about more, less and equal to. Try using magnet bingo chips to cover the graph then using a magnet wand at the end to make the game even more exciting.

In the Sensory Table

This shape sensory table is filled with shaped manipulatives and a few cupcake pans for sorting. It has foam shape beads, shape chains and translucent shapes. Perfect for sorting, lacing, and linking together. And you guessed it, it's great for their fine motor, too!

Transition Activity

Shape sort! Transition activities are the perfect time to do a quick assessment or learning check. We have snack after music and movement time. I always plan a transition activity for that time for several reasons. The first is so the whole class isn't lined up at the same time to wash their hands, which is just asking for crazy behaviors to occur. The second is because it's another time I can squeeze in more learning! What I do is call on a student and give them a card to sort. It's a quick and easy way for me to check and see if they know or don't know a shape.

In the Library Center

Sand writing trays with shape flashcards! Students can write and draw shapes in the sand. This tray is from a lacing set but you can use any small tray you have. I know some teachers use foil pie plates or kid plastic divided dinner plates for writing trays.

Shape mini books! After we make a shape mini books together during small group or table time, I put them in the center. They LOVE making them! Staplers scare me a bit with my little learners so I put in this stapleless stapler! It's amazing!

Shapes emergent reader! For a small group activity, students create their own shape emergent reader. After they are complete and we have read them a few times together, they are put in the library center for students to read.

In the Art Center

My students LOVE play dough trays so I try to make one for each theme we do. In this activity, they create play dough shape monsters. Students use the shape cookie cutters to create the body. Then add arms, legs, eyes and hair using cut up pipe cleaners, small popsicle sticks, toothpicks, and googly eyes. The tray is from the Dollar Tree.

Play dough shape mats! Students can create play dough shapes on these shape mats. They can make the shape by rolling play dough snakes or by molding the dough.

Shape Prints! It's great fine motor and makes beautiful pieces of art for your classroom. We cut up paper towel tubes for this circle printing project.

We printed with wooden shape blocks too!

Shape collages! It's important to provide activities for students to create new items using shapes. In fact, it's a learning objective/standard in many states. Students need to be able to manipulate shapes to create new shapes, objects or pictures. Shape collages are the perfect activity to address this learning objective.

Single shape collages! You can also have students create shape collages using just one kind of shape. One year my students were struggling with triangles so we created triangle shape collages. Students were finding triangle shapes, talking about triangles (how they are alike and different), and making pictures with triangles!

Make learning about shapes FUN by providing your students with hands-on learning experiences and play! Want all the 2D Shape printables in this post? Click HERE to grab my Let's Learn About Shapes pack from my TPT store. It's packed with over 200 pages of shape building cards (legos, geoboards, popsicle stick, toothpick, play dough), posters, sorting mats, worksheets, games & MORE.

Learning about shapes is a fun theme and concept to do with little learners and you can check more fun shape activities by clicking on the image below!

Love these shape activities? Pin this image!

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2D Shape Activities for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten - Pocket of Preschool

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Learning about 2D shapes is a must for every early childhood classroom. I'm here to share with you my favorite, go-to 2D shapes activities! Some teachers may do a shapes theme or unit (like me), some may do a shape of the week, and some sprinkle in shape activities all year long.

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This week our preschool theme is TRUCKS! So I whipped up this incredibly simple build a truck activity for my kids! Which is right up LB(4)'s alley. And surprisingly even right up sweet little LL(2)'s alley! (She wants to be just like her brothers.) :)

This activity hits all the right buttons for preschoolers. They get to be creative and use their imagination. They get do it over and over again. And best of all, they get to learn while doing it. A great way to introduce and teach about shapes and colors for preschoolers!

You can find more super fun ideas in my book! Check it out!

Using different colors of craft foam, cut out different shapes & sizes that your kids can use to create different kinds of TRUCKS! Squares, Circles, Rectangles, Semi-Circles--big and small!

In the picture below, you can see what I cut out:

Time to Play!

Review the shapes with your child as you point them out.

Then put a few together to show them how they can use the shapes to make their own cool truck, like this Garbage Truck! :

In the picture at the very top, I put together several variations of trucks to show the endless possibilities!

LB(4) and LL(2) had even greater imaginations and put together trucks that were TALL, or extremely LONG, or sometimes even with the wheels on TOP!

With just a little bit of craft foam, you can let your imaginations run wild and free!

Check out our other Building-with-Shapes activities using craft foam to create Butterflies & Dinosaurs!

Looking for more activities for your little BOY?

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This week our preschool theme is TRUCKS! So I whipped up this incredibly simple build a truck activity for my kids! Which is right up LB(4)'s alley. And surprisingly even right up sweet little LL(2)'s alley! (She wants to be just like her brothers.) :) This activity hits all the right buttons for preschoolers.

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Let's add and contribute to this.

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Learning shapes and colors is such an exciting time for children as their world expands and they explore everything around them! This simple tutorial will show you how you can make a craft stick shapes and color learning activity for toddlers and preschool children.

It's sturdy to throw in a bag and pull out multiple times too! You can even point out the letters written on the craft sticks as you move into letter recognition. This fine motor skills activity makes a great quiet activity center.

Craft Stick Shapes Activity Materials:

Wood Craft Sticks - multi-colored ones (or color your own)
6 Small Sheets of Craft Foam-red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple
Black Sharpie Permanent Marker
Scissors
Optional: small Velcro strips or dots

Tutorial Directions:

1. Start off by cutting geometric shapes out of the foam. Make them around 2-3 inches in size. These are the colored shapes I chose: yellow triangle, red square, blue triangle, orange pentagon, green hexagon, purple octagon.

2. Now you will use the same colored craft sticks to match the same color shape. Count out the same number of sticks as the number of sides the shape has that it matches.

Examples: 3 yellow sticks for the yellow triangle
: 4 red sticks for the red square
: 3 blue sticks for the blue rectangle (cut 1 in half)
: 5 orange sticks for the orange pentagon
: 6 green sticks for the green hexagon
: 8 purple sticks for the purple octagon

3. On each stick write the shape name it goes with and the corresponding number at the end of the stick for how many sides the shape has. (Example: the yellow sticks will all say triangle written across them and a number 3 at the end.) Repeat this example on all the sticks but use each coordinating shape name and number of sides.

Now you have a fun learning game for kids. They have to lay the sticks in the shape that is written on them and find the coordinating foam shape to lay in the middle of it. Optionally you can add a small dot or strip of Velcro to each connecting corner so they can "stick" together!

It's a great way to have kids work on fine motor skills, learn shapes AND colors at the same time!

Looking for fun Sensory Ideas for kids?! Check out our Sensory Facebook Page!

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How to Make Craft Stick Shapes & Color Activity - Fine Motor Skills Tutorial

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Learning shapes and colors is such an exciting time for children as their world expands and they explore everything around them! This simple tutorial will show you how you can make a craft stick shapes and color learning activity for toddlers and preschool children.

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Make your own recipe for shape pizza with this fun, hands-on activity for practicing shapes and counting!

This resource is available as a free download for members only. To download this resource, sign up for a Premium Membership or log in.

You may also like...

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Become a Premium Member for unlimited access! LEARN MORE Close Top Banner Make your own recipe for shape pizza with this fun, hands-on activity for practicing shapes and counting! This resource is available as a free download for members only. To download this resource, sign up for a Premium Membership or log in.

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Become a Premium Member for unlimited access! LEARN MORE Close Top Banner

Make your own recipe for shape pizza with this fun, hands-on activity for practicing shapes and counting!

This resource is available as a free download for members only. To download this resource, sign up for a Premium Membership or log in.

You may also like...

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Become a Premium Member for unlimited access! LEARN MORE Close Top Banner Make your own recipe for shape pizza with this fun, hands-on activity for practicing shapes and counting! This resource is available as a free download for members only. To download this resource, sign up for a Premium Membership or log in.

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A selection of fun, hands-on math activities for learning about 2D and 3D shapes.
When we think of early mathematical learning, we typically think firstly of numbers. But there is a whole other world of mathematics to enjoy and explore and that is the world of shapes! This post includes fifteen ideas for learning about 2D and 3D shapes (and their properties) in fun and 'hands on' ways!

15 Fun, Hands-On Activities for Learning About 2D and 3D shapes
Ideas for Learning About 2-Dimensional Shapes
Between the ages of two and four years, children typically begin to learn the names of simple 2D shapes incidentally; generally learning about circles, squares and triangles to begin with. We see them in picture books, on TV shows and in every day life (does anyone else's toddler insist on their sandwiches being cut into a certain shape?) In their first years of school children will build on this knowledge, learning about rectangles, ovals, hexagons, pentagons and octagons, just to name a few.
1. Head Off On a Shape Hunt
A great way to kick start learning about shapes (whether it be at school or home) is with a 'shape hunt' - exploring and identifying shapes in our environment and everyday life. You can go on a shape hunt around your house, backyard, classroom or neighbourhood. Older children can take a checklist or paper to record their findings on, while younger children will enjoy discussing what you see as you go. Photographing the shapes you find is another great idea, with the photos being perfect for compiling into your very own shape book.
2. Popstick Play
Popsticks and matchsticks are such versatile learning materials. They make a great resource for creating 2D shapes.
3. Self Correcting Popstick Puzzle
Take the above activity one step further and make a self correcting puzzle by using the one colour for each shape, writing the name of the shape on each popstick and including the number of sides/corners. This makes a great busy bag.
4. Pipe Cleaner Creations
Pipe cleaners provide a great workout for finger muscles. They can be bent and twisted to create a variety of 2D shapes. As a variation, make the shapes larger by using one pipe cleaner for each side of the shape.

Playdough is also a useful tool for exploring shapes. Adding a set of geometric cookie cutters ( like this one) to playdough play is a super easy way to add shapes to your day.
5. Playdough Fun 6. Shape Collages
Kindergarten and school aged children will have lots of fun creating pictures with shapes. I created these two as example,s using a variety of shapes cut from textured papers and buttons.

Pattern blocks are one of my favourite classroom materials. Not only are children learning about 2D shapes when they play with them, but also other mathematical concepts such as symmetry, tessellation, pattern, sorting, counting and so much more. This activity could either be left unstructured for the children to make their own pictures, patterns and shapes, or you can use pattern block activity cards as a guide.
7. Pretty Pattern Blocks
Here's a cute little song to help preschoolers learn 2D shapes. It works best with a group of children, with everyone holding a shape (sing to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It).

If you're holding a square stand up!
If you're holding a square stand up!
If you're holding a square, if you're holding a square
If you're holding a square stand up.

Repeat with other shapes

8. Sing About Shapes
When I'm introducing the topic of shapes to my class, I always start with a 'feely bag'. The idea being that the children feel the shapes in the bag without looking, trying to identify each shape using only their sense of touch. We discuss - How does it feel? Does it have pointy corners? Does it feel round? Once the children are familiar with names of the shapes, it's fun to guess the shape they're holding before revealing it!
Fun Ideas for Learning About 3-Dimensional Shapes 9. Fantastic Feely Bags
Generally speaking in the first year of school you could expect your child to learn the shapes pictured above; rectangular prism, pyramid, cylinder, cone, cube and sphere. 3D wooden blocks are a great resource for talking about the features of 3D shapes (and the 2D shapes they are made up of).
10. Wonderful Wooden Blocks
As children learn 3D shapes, it's fun to explore how they move and interact with each other. Set up a simple ramp and test each shape to see if it rolls down the hill or slides? Next, test each shape to see if it can be stacked easily on top of another shape. Explore your child's understanding of why a shape does (or does not) roll, slide or stack.

Add matchsticks to playdough and invite children to create 2D and 3D shapes.
11. Test It: Stack, Roll or Slide?
Moulding 3D Shapes from playdough or kinetic sand is a fun, hands-on challenge.
12. 3D Playdough Shapes

School aged children can begin to explore the concept of 'nets'. A net is a 3D shape flattened out. These plastic polydrons are a fantastic tool to teach this concept. Making your own die cube is a great place to start! (Once again we see 3D shapes in our everyday life). Here's a link to a free die template printable from Teachers Pay Teachers.
13. 3D Shape Models
Finally here's a simple 3D shape rhyme to help children connect the name of the shape to real life objects.

3D Shapes are fat not flat
A cone is like a party hat
A sphere is a bouncy ball
A prism is a building tall
A cylinder is like a can of pop
A cube is like the dice you drop
3D shapes are here and there
3D shapes are everywhere!

14. Nifty Nets
You may also like;

15. 3D Shape Rhyme
Lauren Hunt is an Early Childhood Teacher who currently works part time teaching children in their first year of school. She is also mum to a two year old daughter. Lauren is passionate about play-based, hands-on learning and is certainly kept busy by her energetic toddler!
What are your favourite activity ideas for learning about 2D and 3D shapes?

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15 Fun, Hands On Activities for Learning About 2D and 3D Shapes

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A selection of fun, hands-on math activities for learning about 2D and 3D shapes. When we think of early mathematical learning, we typically think firstly of numbers. But there is a whole other world of mathematics to enjoy and explore and that is the world of shapes!

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Sticker Shapes: for the win.

If loving dot stickers is wrong, then I don't want to be right. People, the obsession/the struggle: it's real. I'm officially stock piling dot stickers and for good reason. They are amazing. Case and point: meet Sticker Shapes.

Sticker Shapes is our newest dot stickers obsession. It's fast, it's easy, it's where the hot coffee is at.

I love a good dot stickers moment.

I'll be honest: we started playing with dot stickers a year ago and we have not taken our foot off the throttle. These guys are so versatile. Name activity, sorting activity, heck - I even started added them to our Restaurant kit.

My best tip with dot stickers: Make sure to peel off the middle white sticky part. Makes it so much easier for little toddler fingers to pull the stickers off.

The simple supplies to set up Sticker Shapes
Materials:
(this list contains affiliate links)

It didn't take much to set up this activity - and that's the way a good toddler activity should be. Easy to set up and fun to play!

A few thoughts on shapes

Shapes are a fun one to teach kids but remember - shapes are complex and abstract. Think of the difference between color and shape. Color is so concrete. That crayon is red, the paint is blue.

Shapes are harder. First off, sometimes they're 2-dimensional and sometimes 3-dimensional. Aside from shape toys, you mostly have to identify shapes in their environment - which is tougher!

Be patient as you introduce shapes and make sure to only work on a few at a time. I stick with the "big ones": triangle, circle and square (and I won't introduce much else until Pre-K). For this activity, I added in a diamond (rhombus) just for fun.

Make sure to pause for attributes!

I drew the shapes on construction paper and hung them on the walls. I set this activity up for my 2.5 year old and for my 4 year old.

First, we talked about the shapes and their attributes. This isn't a long lesson. This isn't a lesson to mastery. Consider these as passing comments. They may stick, they may not.

"This is a square. It has four sides and four points."

Get those stickers ready

I peeled the whites off the stickers for my kids and they were off and running.

Just look at the difference between their shapes, their work, and how they completed the activity. I did not ask them to use one color for each shape. The 4 year old made that decision. The 2.5 year old made the decision to copy him.

I love looking at their developmental levels. My 2.5 year old lasted about 10 minutes before losing focus. My 4 year old wanted to see the project through. Both were so proud of their efforts.

Sticker shapes was a huge hit. A great way to practice fine motor skills and an awesome easy math activity. It works for both toddlers, preschoolers, and Moms who have an obsession with dot sticks.

Will you try sticker shapes at your house?

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Sticker Shapes Toddler Activity - Busy Toddler

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If loving dot stickers is wrong, then I don't want to be right. People, the obsession/the struggle: it's real. I'm officially stock piling dot stickers and for good reason. They are amazing. Case and point: meet Sticker Shapes. Sticker Shapes is our newest dot stickers obsession.

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These shape graphs are a playful way to teach the names and characteristics of the most common 2D shapes while working on graphing at the same time.

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These shape graphs are a playful way to teach the names and characteristics of the most common 2D shapes while working on graphing at the same time.

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By · This content may contain affiliate links.

When possible we like to add a bit of art to our learning activities. Here we created shape monsters to learn different shapes, and we had fun using collage materials to decorate them. The kids had so much fun making them, and they are all so unique!

Materials for Shape Monsters

(affiliate links)

There are two versions of the shape monster printables to choose from. One set has a space for kids to write their names. These work great for bulletin board displays or class books. There is also a set that only has shapes for kids to cut out. I left both options out for my kids and the neighbors to choose from.

We left this invitation out for a couple of days, and I had to print more...and more...and more monsters because the kids were having so much fun. As they freely created, they added new features and extra details to each new monster they made. This is just a sample of some of their creations...there are tons more!

As cute as they are we aren't done with these monsters yet, now that they are made than can be used as a tool for many math and literacy learning activities. You can learn more about these ideas in our Shape Monsters Printable Set.

Inside the 29-page Shape Monster Process Art set you'll get:

Complete list of material suggestions

Full directions for using both sets of shape art templates

10 extension activities, including math and literacy, to help you teach additional skills and concepts using your kids' creations

Shape Set with Title and Borders

Plain Shape Set for Cutting Out Monster Shapes

Sorting Cards for Math Whole Group and Small Group Activities

Class Book Cover Template

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Shape Monsters Collage Art and Learning Activities

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By · This content may contain affiliate links. When possible we like to add a bit of art to our learning activities. Here we created shape monsters to learn different shapes, and we had fun using collage materials to decorate them. The kids had so much fun making them, and they are all so unique!

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By · This content may contain affiliate links.

When possible we like to add a bit of art to our learning activities. Here we created shape monsters to learn different shapes, and we had fun using collage materials to decorate them. The kids had so much fun making them, and they are all so unique!

Materials for Shape Monsters

(affiliate links)

There are two versions of the shape monster printables to choose from. One set has a space for kids to write their names. These work great for bulletin board displays or class books. There is also a set that only has shapes for kids to cut out. I left both options out for my kids and the neighbors to choose from.

We left this invitation out for a couple of days, and I had to print more...and more...and more monsters because the kids were having so much fun. As they freely created, they added new features and extra details to each new monster they made. This is just a sample of some of their creations...there are tons more!

As cute as they are we aren't done with these monsters yet, now that they are made than can be used as a tool for many math and literacy learning activities. You can learn more about these ideas in our Shape Monsters Printable Set.

Inside the 29-page Shape Monster Process Art set you'll get:

Complete list of material suggestions

Full directions for using both sets of shape art templates

10 extension activities, including math and literacy, to help you teach additional skills and concepts using your kids' creations

Shape Set with Title and Borders

Plain Shape Set for Cutting Out Monster Shapes

Sorting Cards for Math Whole Group and Small Group Activities

Class Book Cover Template

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Shape Monsters Collage Art and Learning Activities

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By · This content may contain affiliate links. When possible we like to add a bit of art to our learning activities. Here we created shape monsters to learn different shapes, and we had fun using collage materials to decorate them. The kids had so much fun making them, and they are all so unique!

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Sensory! Other ideas could include: oatmeal, birdseed, corn, dirt, easter grass, etc.

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This post contains affiliate links, if you click through them I will earn a commission. You can learn more here.

This easy preschool shapes activity hunt is the perfect way to teach toddlers shapes.We often do colors and shapes activities for preschoolers because they work on basic preschool shape recognition, preschool color recognition, sorting skills and visual perception. This early math themed sensory activity is sure to teach your child some wonderful math facts in a hands on way. I was searching for ways to help my toddler learn shapes. Through repetition and many of the other shapes activities we did, she learned them pretty quickly at the age of 2. Kids learn through their five senses and when we can target these senses kids are more easily able to internalize the learning experience.

The Easy Preschool Shapes and Colors Activity Hunt

Those easy toddler puzzles that were once difficult for your child have now become too easy. You wonder what you should do with them now that your child rarely plays with them anymore. I love that this activity is a great way to repurpose puzzles you already have at home! Also, your preschooler will get to learn math in a more hands on way. Did you know learning shapes is an early math skill? Kids learn through their five senses and when we can target these senses kids are more easily able to internalize the learning experience.

I'm in the process of teaching my toddler her shapes and while learning them on paper might be more simple for me I just don't feel that a toddler can grasp shapes easily by looking at it on paper.

I wanted something that would teach it to her in a hands on way. I want her to feel the shape, feel the curves and feel the pointed edges. Kids learn very well through sensory experiences so I set out on a way to fuse her mind's understanding through her hands and sense of touch.

I thought it would be super fun to create a Shapes Hunt!

When I posted this preschool shapes activity on my Facebook page and Instagram I had so many Mama's loving that this was so simple and many set out to try it! (Check the community section at the end of this post to see how other Mom's and educators used puzzles and rice to create a sensory experience!)
Affiliate links may be used in this post. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
I purchased this Melissa and Doug shapes puzzle and I love it! It was well worth it and I can see it providing many hours of fun. I then threw it in a tub of rice. I didn't need to do anything fancy to the rice like color it because the shapes are so colorful and the fact that she could use color indication to find the shapes made it appropriate for my two year old toddler.

I love that the puzzle board itself creates a key for my toddler so she knows which shape is still hidden.

I didn't just stop at my 2 year old toddler though. I blindfolded my 6 and 9 year old kids too and asked them to feel the shape and tell me what it is. This is wonderful for sensory processing. After many giggles I can say that this was a job well done.

Preschool Shapes Activity Hunt in Action

You can watch the video below to see how my daughter did the activity at 4 years old on her new YouTube Channel.

Watch the video to see how simple it is to create:

I'm sure you agree with me that this preschool shapes activity hunt has to be one of the easiest colors and shapes activities for preschoolers !Every time she found a shape she had to call out the name of the shape before placing it on the puzzle board.
We experimented with feet in the rice, arms and elbows in the rice too.

Try it today! Take one of your puzzles and place it in some rice and have your child pick out the pieces. I guarantee you that this will be fun for kids of ALL ages!

Other Colors and Shapes Activities for Preschoolers:

Have a look at other Rice Sensory Bins that we have created.
Heart themed sensory bin. Bug/Spring Themed Sensory Bin
From the Fun With Mama Instagram Community

Join our community on Instagram and whenever you post a picture of an activity that you found at Fun With Mama make sure to tag @funwithmama in your description and use the hashtag #funwithmama. I will feature your picture and link back to your Instagram account on the relevant post. This is such a great way to be a part of a supportive network of Moms and educators!

Show these wonderful Mama's some love by following along with them!

Kristinafrischhertz placed her transportation puzzle pieces in dirt (beans). Looks like fun!

Kidedventures places all green shapes items inside a green rice sensory bin!

Ourtotschooladventure took her alphabet puzzle pieces and put them in some rice. She said her daughter LOVED this!

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Shapes Hunt - Add puzzle pieces to Rice!

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This post contains affiliate links, if you click through them I will earn a commission. You can learn more here. This easy preschool shapes activity hunt is the perfect way to teach toddlers shapes.We often do colors and shapes activities for preschoolers because they work on basic preschool shape recognition, preschool color recognition, sorting skills and visual perception.

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Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. This readies them for geometry in the years ahead, but it's also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. We've rounded up our favorite activities for learning shapes, both 2-D and 3-D. They all work well in the classroom or at home.

1. Start with an anchor chart

Colorful anchor charts like these are terrific reference tools for kids learning shapes. Have kids help you come up with examples for each one.

Learn more: A Spoonful of Learning/ Kindergarten Kindergarten

2. Sort items by shape

Collect items from around the classroom or house, then sort them by their shapes. This is a fun way for kids to realize that the world around them is full of circles, squares, triangles, and more.

Learn more: Busy Toddler/Shape-Sorting

3. Snack on some shapes

Everyone loves a learning activity you can eat! Some food items are already the perfect shape; for others, you'll have to get a little creative.

Learn more: Chieu Anh Urban

4. Print with shape blocks

Grab your shape blocks and some washable paint, then stamp shapes to form a design or picture.

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

5. Go on a shape hunt

These "magnifying glasses" make an adventure of learning shapes! Tip: Laminate them for long-term use.

Learn more: Nurture Store UK

6. Hop along a shape maze

Use sidewalk chalk to lay out a shape maze on the playground or driveway. Choose a shape and hop from one to the next, or call out a different shape for every jump!

Learn more: Creative Family Fun

7. Assemble a truck from shapes

Cut out a variety of shapes (excellent scissors skills practice!), then assemble a series of trucks and other vehicles.

Learn more: Little Family Fun

8. Stretch out shapes on geoboards

Teachers and kids love geoboards, and they're a great tool for learning shapes. Give students example cards to follow, or ask them to figure out the method on their own.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones' Creation Station

9. Drive on shaped roads

Use these free printable road mats to work on shapes. Bonus: Make your own road shapes from sentence strips!

Learn more: PK Preschool Mom

10. Find shapes in nature

Take your shape hunt outside and look for circles, rectangles, and more in nature. For another fun activity, gather items and use them to make shapes too.

Learn more: Nurture Store UK

11. Put together craft stick shapes

Add Velcro dots to the ends of wood craft sticks for quick and easy math toys. Write the names of each shape on the sticks for a self-correcting center activity.

Learn more: Surviving a Teacher's Salary

12. Blow 3-D shape bubbles

This is a STEM activity that's sure to fascinate everyone. Make 3-D shapes from straws and pipe cleaners, then dip them in a bubble solution to create tensile bubbles. So cool!

Learn more: Babble Dabble Do

13. Prep a shape pizza

Cover a paper plate "pizza" with lots of shape toppings, then count the number of each. Simple, but lots of fun and very effective.

Learn more: Mrs. Thompson's Treasures

14. Construct shapes from toothpicks and Play-Doh

This is an excellent STEM challenge: how many shapes can you make using toothpicks and Play-Doh? Marshmallows work well for this activity too.

Learn more: Childhood 101

15. Outline shapes with stickers

Kids adore stickers, so they'll enjoy filling in the outlines of the shapes they're learning. They won't realize it, but this gives them fine motor skills practice too!

Learn more: Busy Toddler/Sticker Shapes

16. Lace shapes

Lacing cards have long been a classic, but we really like this version that uses drinking straws. Just cut them into pieces and glue them along the edges of the cards.

Learn more: Planning Playtime

17. Make shapes with LEGO bricks

LEGO math is always a winner! This activity also makes a good STEM challenge. Can your students figure out how to make a circle from straight-sided blocks?

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

18. Categorize shapes by their attributes

Work on geometry terms like "sides" and "vertices" when you sort shapes using these attributes. Start by placing shapes into paper bags and asking students questions like, "The shape in this bag has 4 sides. What could it be?"

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching

19. Count and graph shapes

These free printable worksheets challenge kids to identify shapes, then count and graph them. Lots of math skills, all in one!

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

20. Create a shape monster

Add arms, legs, and faces to create cheery (or scary) shape monsters! These make for a fun classroom display.

Learn more: Fantastic Fun and Learning

21. Sift through rice for shapes

Sure, kids can identify their shapes by sight, but what about by touch? Bury blocks in a bowl of rice or sand, then have kids dig them out and guess the shape without seeing them first.

Learn more: Fun With Mama

22. Craft an ice cream cone

Ice cream cones are made up of several shapes. Encourage kids to see how many different ways they can make a sphere of "ice cream."

Learn more: Extremely Good Parenting

23. Ask "What does the shape say?"

If you don't mind the risk of getting that song stuck in your kids' heads, this is such a neat way to combine writing and math.

Learn more: Around the Kampfire

24. Piece together shape puzzles

Use wood craft sticks to make simple puzzles for kids who are learning their shapes. These are inexpensive enough that you can make full sets for each of your students.

Learn more: Toddler at Play

25. Feed a shape monster

Turn paper bags into shape-eating monsters, then let kids fill their hungry bellies!
From teaching shapes to long division and everything in between, these are the 25 Must-Have Elementary Classroom Math Supplies You Can Count On. Plus, 22 Active Math Games and Activities For Kids Who Love to Move.

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25 Creative Activities and Ideas For Learning Shapes

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Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. This readies them for geometry in the years ahead, but it's also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. We've rounded up our favorite activities for learning shapes, both 2-D and 3-D.

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Early numeracy skills: how to develop them

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Children develop maths and numeracy skills from birth. Build early numeracy skills by counting, sorting, looking at shapes, singing number songs and more.

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About preschooler play and cognitive development

Play is important for your child's cognitive development - that is, your child's ability to think, understand, communicate, remember, imagine and work out what might happen next.

Preschoolers want to learn how things work, and they learn best through play. Preschoolers at play are solving problems, creating, experimenting, thinking and learning all the time.

Spending time playing with your child is especially good for your child's cognitive development. That's because playing together builds your relationship and sends a simple but powerful message - you are important to me. This message is key to helping your child learn about who they are and where they fit in the world. It also gives your child confidence to keep exploring and learning about the world.

A warm and loving relationship with your child lays the foundation for all areas of your child's learning and development.

What to expect: preschooler cognitive development and play

With time, experience and practice, preschoolers will probably:

start to organise games and make friends

start to understand concepts like 'bigger' and 'taller'

ask a lot of questions, especially 'why'

start to develop a sense of humour and delight in jokes and riddles

develop some concept of time

start negotiating with you if there's something they want

start predicting what will happen next - for example, in a story

still not understand what's real and what's pretend.

At 4 years, preschoolers still have fairly short concentration spans, so you can expect that your child might get restless or bored if an activity goes on for too long.

Your 4-year-old child is also likely to start asking tricky questions about subjects like sexuality, death and distressing news stories. For example, your child might ask, 'Where do babies come from?'

By 5 years, your child will probably sit through a full game or finish a whole puzzle - and that brings the new challenge of playing fair and learning to lose gracefully!

Starting preschool gives your child a lot to think about. There are new rules and routines that are different from those at home. This can be tiring and confusing at first. Your child might need time and plenty of love and support to adjust.

Many preschools have programs to help children prepare for the transition into preschool. You can also talk with your child's teacher if you have concerns or want ideas to help your child handle the change.

Play ideas for encouraging preschooler cognitive development

Here are play ideas to support your child's cognitive development:

It's a good idea to let your child take the lead with play, because preschoolers learn best when they're interested in an activity. This way, you can use your child's interests to help your child learn something new. Your child will generally let you know if they need help, so try not to jump in with solutions too early.

And during any kind of play, you can ask your child to describe what's happening. This is a great way to show interest and encourage your child to practise language skills. For example, if you and your child are pretending to be vets, you could say, 'What's wrong with this animal? How are we going to make it feel better?'

If your child seems to be having difficulty learning at preschool or is still very upset about going to preschool after several weeks, it's a good idea to talk about your concerns with your GP, your child and family health nurse or your child's teacher.

Screen time, digital technology use and preschooler cognitive development

It's good to know that using screen time and digital technology can support your child's learning.

For example, your child could develop problem-solving skills by working out what online characters should wear in rainy weather. Or your child might build letter and number knowledge and vocabulary by watching a good-quality TV show like Sesame Street.

Here are things you can do to help your child learn through digital play:

And remember - healthy screen time and digital technology use is all about balance. It's good for your child's development to do plenty of different activities, including pretend and creative play, physical play, social play and reading, as well as digital play.

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Preschoolers' brains are hard at work when they're playing. Play ideas for cognitive development include reading, board and memory games, and outside play.

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Children are using early math skills throughout their daily routines and activities. This is good news as these skills are important for being ready for school. But early math doesn't mean taking out the calculator during playtime. Even before they start school, most children develop an understanding of addition and subtraction through everyday interactions. For example, Thomas has two cars; Joseph wants one. After Thomas shares one, he sees that he has one car left (Bowman, Donovan, & Burns, 2001, p. 201). Other math skills are introduced through daily routines you share with your child-counting steps as you go up or down, for example. Informal activities like this one give children a jumpstart on the formal math instruction that starts in school.

What math knowledge will your child need later on in elementary school? Early mathematical concepts and skills that first-grade mathematics curriculum builds on include: (Bowman et al., 2001, p. 76).

Understanding size, shape, and patterns

Ability to count verbally (first forward, then backward)

Recognizing numerals

Identifying more and less of a quantity

Understanding one-to-one correspondence (i.e., matching sets, or knowing which group has four and which has five)

Key Math Skills for School

More advanced mathematical skills are based on an early math "foundation"-just like a house is built on a strong foundation. In the toddler years, you can help your child begin to develop early math skills by introducing ideas like: (From Diezmann & Yelland, 2000, and Fromboluti & Rinck, 1999.)

Number Sense

This is the ability to count accurately-first forward. Then, later in school, children will learn to count backwards. A more complex skill related to number sense is the ability to see relationships between numbers-like adding and subtracting. Ben (age 2) saw the cupcakes on the plate. He counted with his dad: "One, two, three, four, five, six..."

Representation

Making mathematical ideas "real" by using words, pictures, symbols, and objects (like blocks). Casey (aged 3) was setting out a pretend picnic. He carefully laid out four plastic plates and four plastic cups: "So our whole family can come to the picnic!" There were four members in his family; he was able to apply this information to the number of plates and cups he chose.

Spatial sense

Later in school, children will call this "geometry." But for toddlers it is introducing the ideas of shape, size, space, position, direction and movement. Aziz (28 months) was giggling at the bottom of the slide. "What's so funny?" his Auntie wondered. "I comed up," said Aziz, "Then I comed down!"

Measurement

Technically, this is finding the length, height, and weight of an object using units like inches, feet or pounds. Measurement of time (in minutes, for example) also falls under this skill area. Gabriella (36 months) asked her Abuela again and again: "Make cookies? Me do it!" Her Abuela showed her how to fill the measuring cup with sugar. "We need two cups, Gabi. Fill it up once and put it in the bowl, then fill it up again."

Estimation

This is the ability to make a good guess about the amount or size of something. This is very difficult for young children to do. You can help them by showing them the meaning of words like more, less, bigger, smaller, more than, less than. Nolan (30 months) looked at the two bagels: one was a regular bagel, one was a mini-bagel. His dad asked: "Which one would you like?" Nolan pointed to the regular bagel. His dad said, "You must be hungry! That bagel is bigger. That bagel is smaller. Okay, I'll give you the bigger one. Breakfast is coming up!"

Patterns

Patterns are things-numbers, shapes, images-that repeat in a logical way. Patterns help children learn to make predictions, to understand what comes next, to make logical connections, and to use reasoning skills. Ava (27 months) pointed to the moon: "Moon. Sun go night-night." Her grandfather picked her up, "Yes, little Ava. In the morning, the sun comes out and the moon goes away. At night, the sun goes to sleep and the moon comes out to play. But it's time for Ava to go to sleep now, just like the sun."

Problem-solving

The ability to think through a problem, to recognize there is more than one path to the answer. It means using past knowledge and logical thinking skills to find an answer. Carl (15 months old) looked at the shape-sorter-a plastic drum with 3 holes in the top. The holes were in the shape of a triangle, a circle and a square. Carl looked at the chunky shapes on the floor. He picked up a triangle. He put it in his month, then banged it on the floor. He touched the edges with his fingers. Then he tried to stuff it in each of the holes of the new toy. Surprise! It fell inside the triangle hole! Carl reached for another block, a circular one this time...

Math: One Part of the Whole

Math skills are just one part of a larger web of skills that children are developing in the early years-including language skills, physical skills, and social skills. Each of these skill areas is dependent on and influences the others.
Trina (18 months old) was stacking blocks. She had put two square blocks on top of one another, then a triangle block on top of that. She discovered that no more blocks would balance on top of the triangle-shaped block. She looked up at her dad and showed him the block she couldn't get to stay on top, essentially telling him with her gesture, "Dad, I need help figuring this out." Her father showed her that if she took the triangle block off and used a square one instead, she could stack more on top. She then added two more blocks to her tower before proudly showing her creation to her dad: "Dada, Ook! Ook!"
You can see in this ordinary interaction how all areas of Trina's development are working together. Her physical ability allows her to manipulate the blocks and use her thinking skills to execute her plan to make a tower. She uses her language and social skills as she asks her father for help. Her effective communication allows Dad to respond and provide the helps she needs (further enhancing her social skills as she sees herself as important and a good communicator). This then further builds her thinking skills as she learns how to solve the problem of making the tower taller.

What You Can Do

The tips below highlight ways that you can help your child learn early math skills by building on their natural curiosity and having fun together. (Note: Most of these tips are designed for older children-ages 2-3. Younger children can be exposed to stories and songs using repetition, rhymes and numbers.)

Shape up.

Play with shape-sorters. Talk with your child about each shape-count the sides, describe the colors. Make your own shapes by cutting large shapes out of colored construction paper. Ask your child to "hop on the circle" or "jump on the red shape."

Count and sort.

Gather together a basket of small toys, shells, pebbles or buttons. Count them with your child. Sort them based on size, color, or what they do (i.e., all the cars in one pile, all the animals in another).

Place the call.

With your 3-year-old, begin teaching her the address and phone number of your home. Talk with your child about how each house has a number, and how their house or apartment is one of a series, each with its own number.

What size is it?

Notice the sizes of objects in the world around you: That pink pocketbook is the biggest. The blue pocketbook is the smallest. Ask your child to think about his own size relative to other objects ("Do you fit under the table? Under the chair?").

You're cookin' now!

Even young children can help fill, stir, and pour. Through these activities, children learn, quite naturally, to count, measure, add, and estimate.

Walk it off.

Taking a walk gives children many opportunities to compare (which stone is bigger?), assess (how many acorns did we find?), note similarities and differences (does the duck have fur like the bunny does?) and categorize (see if you can find some red leaves). You can also talk about size (by taking big and little steps), estimate distance (is the park close to our house or far away?), and practice counting (let's count how many steps until we get to the corner).

Picture time.

Use an hourglass, stopwatch, or timer to time short (1-3 minute) activities. This helps children develop a sense of time and to understand that some things take longer than others.

Shape up.

Point out the different shapes and colors you see during the day. On a walk, you may see a triangle-shaped sign that's yellow. Inside a store you may see a rectangle-shaped sign that's red.

Read and sing your numbers.

Sing songs that rhyme, repeat, or have numbers in them. Songs reinforce patterns (which is a math skill as well). They also are fun ways to practice language and foster social skills like cooperation.

Start today.

Use a calendar to talk about the date, the day of the week, and the weather. Calendars reinforce counting, sequences, and patterns. Build logical thinking skills by talking about cold weather and asking your child: What do we wear when it's cold? This encourages your child to make the link between cold weather and warm clothing.

Pass it around.

Ask for your child's help in distributing items like snacks or in laying napkins out on the dinner table. Help him give one cracker to each child. This helps children understand one-to-one correspondence. When you are distributing items, emphasize the number concept: "One for you, one for me, one for Daddy." Or, "We are putting on our shoes: One, two."

Big on blocks.

Give your child the chance to play with wooden blocks, plastic interlocking blocks, empty boxes, milk cartons, etc. Stacking and manipulating these toys help children learn about shapes and the relationships between shapes (e.g., two triangles make a square). Nesting boxes and cups for younger children help them understand the relationship between different sized objects.

Tunnel time.

Open a large cardboard box at each end to turn it into a tunnel. This helps children understand where their body is in space and in relation to other objects.

The long and the short of it.

Cut a few (3-5) pieces of ribbon, yarn or paper in different lengths. Talk about ideas like long and short. With your child, put in order of longest to shortest.

Learn through touch.

Cut shapes-circle, square, triangle-out of sturdy cardboard. Let your child touch the shape with her eyes open and then closed.

Pattern play.

Have fun with patterns by letting children arrange dry macaroni, chunky beads, different types of dry cereal, or pieces of paper in different patterns or designs. Supervise your child carefully during this activity to prevent choking, and put away all items when you are done.

Laundry learning.

Make household jobs fun. As you sort the laundry, ask your child to make a pile of shirts and a pile of socks. Ask him which pile is the bigger (estimation). Together, count how many shirts. See if he can make pairs of socks: Can you take two socks out and put them in their own pile? (Don't worry if they don't match! This activity is more about counting than matching.)

Playground math.

As your child plays, make comparisons based on height (high/low), position (over/under), or size (big/little).

Dress for math success.

Ask your child to pick out a shirt for the day. Ask: What color is your shirt? Yes, yellow. Can you find something in your room that is also yellow? As your child nears three and beyond, notice patterns in his clothing-like stripes, colors, shapes, or pictures: I see a pattern on your shirt. There are stripes that go red, blue, red, blue. Or, Your shirt is covered with ponies-a big pony next to a little pony, all over your shirt!

Graphing games.

As your child nears three and beyond, make a chart where your child can put a sticker each time it rains or each time it is sunny. At the end of a week, you can estimate together which column has more or less stickers, and count how many to be sure.

References

Bowman, B.T., Donovan, M.S., & Burns, M.S., (Eds.). (2001). Eager to learn: Educating our preschoolers. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

Diezmann, C., & Yelland, N. J. (2000). Developing mathematical literacy in the early childhood years. In Yelland, N.J. (Ed.), Promoting meaningful learning: Innovations in educating early childhood professionals. (pp.47-58). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Fromboluti, C. S., & Rinck, N. (1999 June). Early childhood: Where learning begins. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education. Retrieved on May 11, 2018 from https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EarlyMath/title.html

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Help Your Child Develop Early Math Skills

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Most children develop an understanding of math through everyday interactions and informal activities. Help your child develop math skills.

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Is calendar time really meaningful for Preschool children? can you make it meaningful for young children? Calendar time is one of those things that started with older children and was pushed down to Pre-K. Any time an older kid concept is brought down to Pre-K, I like to be extra thoughtful in how I go about it.

Concepts of Time are Abstract for Preschoolers

Time concepts are very abstract for preschool children. They can't see time, so it's very difficult for them to understand. How often have you heard a preschooler use the word "yesterday" to refer to any point in the past? To a young child, yesterday can mean last week, last month, or even last year. To them, yesterday simply means the past. A preschool child might even tell you their birthday is tomorrow when it's actually two months away. I think we should appreciate the fact that they have come to understand yesterday means the past and tomorrow the future. Then we throw in words like Tuesday and Friday, and those don't mean past or future. This week Tuesday might mean a field trip and next week Tuesday might mean a puppet show. How does a 4-year-old child, whose understanding that yesterday means "past", grasp words like Wednesday and March and Saturday and October? You can teach your Pre-K class to recite the days of the week and months of the year, but they don't really understand what it means.

A real calendar helps preschoolers make connections

I also believe that with Pre-K children, we should keep things as real as possible to help them make connections. That's why I use a real calendar. I use a desk calendar and I always choose one that's plain and simple because I draw pictures inside the boxes. Children may notice it's the same or similar to calendars their parents use at home or in their offices.

The emergency trucks and big trucks show days when those vehicles came to visit our school.

Each day, I point out the block on the calendar that represents today, and I draw a diagonal line through it. The reason I do that is because that's what a lot of adults do on their calendars, and children may notice those similarities between our class calendar and their parents' calendars. Mainly, it marks the passage of time and shows that these are the days that are over.

This calendar shows the day we visited Kindergarten, Mother's Day, pizza party, teddy bear day, and water day.

When we have calendar time in my class, I try to make it more like a casual conversation about our days together than a rote memorization routine. I casually say "Today is Tuesday" (or whatever day it is), but we don't recite the days of the week. I don't think they'll grow up lacking this knowledge just because we didn't do it in Pre-K. I don't think they'll fail Kindergarten, either. It hasn't happened so far. I also don't say "Yesterday was ___. Tomorrow will be ___." Preschoolers don't understand those concepts, as I mentioned above.

This calendar shows Easter, strawberry patch trip, and the growth of our seeds to plants.

The most important part of our "meaningful calendar" is that I draw simple symbols on our calendar that represent events that are important to our classroom community. If we are going on a field trip to the strawberry patch, I might draw a strawberry. If our butterflies hatched from their cocoon, I would draw a butterfly. I draw a balloon with a child's name to represent birthdays. I draw a house for "home" days. The book drawn on Wednesdays shows the class when the librarian comes to read to them. I draw symbols for holidays. We do talk about what happened yesterday, or what's coming up tomorrow by looking at and talking about the picture symbols in the blocks. We might count how many days until a field trip or a birthday or how many days it took for our plants to grow.

Sometimes I add stickers to represent something, but simple drawings are the best. You don't have to be an artist. In fact, if it looks like a child's drawing, that's even better. Why? Because your students will see that making a calendar is something they can do, too!

When preschoolers see calendars connected to their lives, they will re-create them in their play

I save any old unused calendar pages and ask for donated calendar pages and the children use these to create their own calendar. They draw symbols on the squares and write letters and sometimes stick stickers on like I do. I print and make copies of small calendar pages and add these to my writing center for children to use.

Our calendar can also show science concepts like the growth and change of butterflies or plants. When our caterpillars arrive, I draw a caterpillar on that day's block. When they form a cocoon, I draw a cocoon. When they hatch, I draw a butterfly.

I once considered using a dry erase calendar, but decided to stick with the desk calendar because we have permanent record of our year together. I save all of our old months after I tear them off the desk calendar and we do refer back to them to remember all the things we've done through the year. I also add free or dollar store wall calendars and planners to our writing and house centers.

Is a Linear Calendar better?

I've noticed that linear calendars have become popular in preschool in recent years. On a linear calendar, teachers have the days stretched out across one wall with all 30 or so days in a line. Some teachers prefer this. I personally still prefer a desk calendar that I can draw symbols on for a couple of reasons.

1. A "regular" calendar looks like a real life calendar. The closer we make connections to real life, the more meaningful it is to children.

2. A "regular" calendar will demonstrate left to right, top to bottom progression, which is important for pre-readers. Would you expect them to understand that concept yet? No, but you're demonstrating it every week, without even saying a word.

More Information on Calendar Time

I wrote this in response to questions I've received about how I do calendar time in my classroom. I'm fully aware that not everyone will agree with me, and that's fine. I believe this is meaningful and developmentally appropriate for 4-year-olds. I also highly recommend this NAECY article by Lilian Katz: Calendar Time for Young Children (PDF).

If you do feel you need to teach children to recite days of the week and months of the year, I recommend teaching it through song. Dr. Jean and Jack Hartmann have some nice songs that teach weeks and months. My students leave my class familiar with the names of the days and months, but might not be able to recite them in order.

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Making Calendar Time Meaningful in Pre-K

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Is calendar time really meaningful for Preschool children? can you make it meaningful for young children? Calendar time is one of those things that started with older children and was pushed down to Pre-K. Any time an older kid concept is brought down to Pre-K, I like to be extra thoughtful in how I go about it.

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Calendar is a staple of many preschool circle time routines and often justified as "math instruction" even though many of the skills targeted during calendar surpass Virginia's standards for four-year-olds. Try the quiz below to see just how far.

Hint: Research shows that temporal concepts like units of time (days, weeks) and their sequence as represented by the calendar are not meaningful to children below first grade (Etheridge & King, 2005).

While counting and patterning are important skills for preschoolers to learn, doing so using the calendar "does not emphasize foundational mathematics" (National Research Council, 2009, p. 241). Consider these alternatives to providing more developmentally appropriate and authentic instruction on the skills typically targeted during calendar.

Temporal concepts

Reinforce concepts like later, before, and after during daily activities.

Create a class events book or monthly timeline on the classroom wall and add pictures as the year progresses.

Associate each day of the week with a different activity that takes place, such as Musical Monday, Toss-the-beanbag Tuesday, and so on.

Create paper chains that count down to exciting events like field trips, birthdays, or class parties.

Number sense

Note: Use numbers as adjectives (e.g. 4 blocks, 2 friends, 5 goldfish) rather than nouns (e.g. rote counting number names), also known as "naked numbers" (Brownell, Chen, & Ginet, 2014). Developing number sense requires children have a meaningful sense of a number's quantity. To do so, they need experience using number names to describe "how many" objects are in a set before using numbers to represent that set.

Create a class sign in area where children choose their picture to indicate they are present or answer a "question of the day." Count the groups reinforcing one-to-one correspondence and comparison vocabulary like more and less.

Provide children with a number card depicting a number (1-10) in dots or numeral form and ask them to go on a scavenger hunt to retrieve that many objects.

Incorporate music and movement into circle time by a rolling a dice and choosing a movement to do that many times (e.g. 4 claps, 6 jumps).

Patterning

Read books that introduce language patterns (e.g. I Went Walking and Brown Bear, Brown Bear) and growing patterns (e.g. The Napping House).

Provide experiences for children to recognize and copy patterns before completing or extending them. Read patterns with children to help them hear and feel the regularity. Provide play-based opportunities for them to copy patterns by creating patterns models like pictures of block or Lego towers to be reproduced.

Create different types of patterns during circle time using musical instruments or body movements. Children can also form "people patterns" using colors of clothing, actions (e.g. sit/stand/sit), etc.

More Information

References

Brownell, J. O., Chen, J., Ginet, L. (2014). Big ideas of early mathematics: What teachers of young children need to know. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Etheridge, E.A., & J.R. King. (2005). Calendar math in preschool and primary classrooms: Questioning the curriculum. Early Childhood Education Journal 32(5): 291-296.

National Research Council. (2009). Mathematics learning in early childhood: Paths toward excellence and equity. Committee on Early Childhood Mathematics, Christopher T. Cross, Taniesha A. Woods, and Heidi Schweingruber, Editors. Center for Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Rethinking "Calendar Time" for Preschoolers

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While counting and patterning are important skills for preschoolers to learn, doing so "using the calendar does not emphasize foundational mathematics" (National Research Council, 2009, p. 241). Consider these alternatives to providing more developmentally appropriate and authentic instruction on t

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Each morning at preschool after the students have completed their morning work, we spend a few minutes together at Circle Time. At the beginning of the year with our younger students, it lasts about 5 minutes- just enough time to sing a hello song and practice each others' names. By the time our students are in Pre-K, they are ready to incorporate a short calendar time and a mini-lesson as well.

The important thing to remember when planning any activity is the children. How long can they be attentive? If it's only a short time, keep it short. If they are asking questions such as, "How many days until my birthday?" or sharing stories about what they did "yesterday" (any time in the past!) it might be time to introduce the calendar.

It's also important to remember to take it slow at the beginning of the year! Introduce 1 thing at a time, based on what the children show interest in or have experience with. For our class, we start by answering the question of, "Who's here today?" Each child has a photo magnet with a picture and name on it. When they arrive, they place their magnet on the board. It's a great way for them to practice name recognition and also to learn their classmates' names.

Shortly after that, we add picture cards for our daily plans. Our students always ask, "Is tomorrow a school day?" so we add a picture that shows whether they will be at home or at school. We also mark special days like birthdays and our music class.

When the children start to express an interest in the days of the week, we add this component to our circle time. I teach them a little song to learn the days, and the calendar helper attaches a star clothes pin to today. In Pre-K, I'll incorporate letter sounds and say, "Today's day starts with a /w/ sound... which day could it be?" They love to shout out, "Wednesday!"

Students in Pre-K may also be ready to talk about numbers. Our Pre-K kiddos love to count how many days are in the month and add a new number to the calendar pocket chart.

We have one more pocket chart with our daily class schedule, so that we can mark the passing of time throughout the day. Especially at the beginning of the year, the children wonder, "What are we doing next?" and "Is it time to go home?" This chart is a great way to help them visualize the steps of the day.

Have fun playing and learning with your children today!

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Each morning at preschool after the students have completed their morning work, we spend a few minutes together at Circle Time . At the beginning of the year with our younger students, it lasts about 5 minutes- just enough time to sing a hello song and practice each others' names.

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These games use a deck of colorful cards with written numerals and dots, 0-10. The dots are arranged in different configurations: straight lines, rectangular arrays, triangular arrays, dice patterns, ten frames, circles, and scattered configurations. The variety of dot arrangements helps children develop different mental images of specific quantities. Dot Cards help children practice important early math skills, such as counting and number operations. In developing these materials, we found it was most helpful when teachers introduced a game or a minibook in the classroom and then sent the materials, directions, and the minibooks home for children to play and read with their families. Children are proud to share-and teach-what they learned in school. Then, children can come back to the classroom and share what they learned at home.

Materials Needed

Printable Dot Cards, Directions

What's the math in these games?

Dot cards help children practice important early math skills: including subitizing, counting with one-to-one correspondence, and recognizing written numerals. We often ask children to count a line of objects, but circular and scattered arrangements are harder to count one by one!

Download Directions for all Dot Card Games

Dot Card Games

Printable Materials Classroom Resources

To print at home: There are 7 types of cards in the dot card deck. Each type of dot card can be printed separately on colored paper. We have suggested these colors in the directions, but you can use any paper available to you. For example, you can use blue paper to print the blue circle dot cards.

Game Kits Coming Fall 2021!

Check back for a new way to play our games and access game materials at your fingertips.

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These games use a deck of colorful cards with written numerals and dots, 0-10. The dots are arranged in different configurations: straight lines, rectangular arrays, triangular arrays, dice patterns, ten frames, circles, and scattered configurations. The variety of dot arrangements helps children develop different mental images of specific quantities.

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Stuart J. Murphy's MathStart: Level 1 books

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It may sound lofty: "Algebra math for a first grader? How could this be!" I promise this isn't the complicated "solve for X" that you faced in high school, even though this missing parts activity does use the same concept....

(Wasn't that such a great cliff hanger? Like first I'm saying this isn't easy...but then I liken it to your high school math. Omg. What is about to happen?)
RELATED: Looking for more play-based learning activities? I have tons!
What is "Missing Parts" math?

In a nut shell: as children are developing their math skills, even in the early years of learning - kids are working on their algebraic knowledge.

This can look like:

Adding and subtracting, decomposing numbers, solving word problems, and finding the missing variable in an addition or subtraction sentence.

Because of all that math fun from High School, we think of algebra as (y ⁴x ² + 2xy - y)/(x - 1) = 12 - but it doesn't have to start that complicated.

That's where missing parts math comes in.

A great math activity for kids

The actual First Grade Common Core State Standard is: CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.D.8
Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers

Part of fluency with addition and subtraction is understanding how these two operations work together and go together.

Playing a game like "missing parts" can really help improve that link for kids on their math journey as well as set them up for future success with solving for missing variables.

How to set up this Missing Parts activity
Supplies:
Busy Toddler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

On the white paper, I wrote addition sentences with an addend removed from the number sentence, such as "9 + __ = 12."

That missing addend (3) is the number I wrote on a Post-it note.

I took all the missing parts on the sticky notes and hid them all around the downstairs of our house.

Why did I hide the sticky notes?

Because math needs movement.

When we think about math lessons, we link it to pencil and paper. We think sitting at a desk and doing seat work.
This isn't how math needs to be! Math doesn't need to just be worksheets.
So for this activity, we added movement into our math. This is a whole body activity with whole body learning. It is so important for kids that we let them use their body to learn.
RELATED: Do you need more big kid activities? Check out my list for 5-7 year olds.
We can't just keep them sitting. They need their whole body.

Here's why this is better than a worksheet:

1. A worksheet is one dimensional. It's about putting pencil to paper and finding the right answer.

2. Kids finish the problem set and turn in the worksheet. That's it.

This is SO MUCH MORE THAN a one time activity.

My son (7) must have complete and re-completed this activity 5 times over the course of 3 days.
You can't get that kind of learning from a worksheet.
A movement, hands-on activity is so much better than a worksheet.

Algebra learning with movement and fun...

You need to try this missing parts activity.

It's an amazing way to help kids practice a BIG skill in a super amazing way.

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Missing Parts: An Algebra Math Activity for Kids - Busy Toddler

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It may sound lofty: "Algebra math for a first grader? How could this be!" I promise this isn't the complicated "solve for X" that you faced in high school, even though this missing parts activity does use the same concept.... (Wasn't that such a great cliff hanger?

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Encourage thinking and increase student engagement. Scoffold this by change the numbers or using hands on props!

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39 Exciting and Engaging Counting Activities For Preschoolers

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May 3, 2020 - Teaching preschoolers how to count is a critical step in their development! These are 39 FUN and simple preschool counting activities.

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https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/duplo?epik=dj0yJnU9UTM5VjRwb0RBTHhpNHlMNFF6dHhuRXRMTm5EU0FhMHomcD0wJm49cWFhZzZIWEpOY25ZSlJWOVZkeWNGQSZ0PUFBQUFBR0g5TFhZ

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For 50 years, we have been introducing DUPLO® sets to little builders with big imaginations. The building blocks and sets are designed to help a child's development by learning through play.

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DUPLO® | Building Sets & Blocks | Official LEGO® Shop US

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For 50 years, we have been introducing DUPLO® sets to little builders with big imaginations. The building blocks and sets are designed to help a child's development by learning through play.

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Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday! Today I'm going to share my thoughts on using a daily calendar in the early childhood classroom.

Depending on what grade and what type of program you work in you may or may not be aware of the great calendar debate. There are those who are opposed to using a daily calendar in early childhood classrooms and have deemed it not developmentally appropriate. There are others who feel that using a calendar is more about teaching concepts and using the calendar as a vehicle to do so, I fall firmly into the latter camp.

Above you can see a picture of the calendar area in my classroom. I have listed below some of the skills that can be taught during calendar time each day:

I use the calendar to talk about the beginning sounds in the days of the week. We do the same thing with the months. I also clap the syllables in the day of the week and month of the year. As my leader points to the days on the calendar we are practicing return sweep. When the leader points to the days on the number line we are practicing linear progression of numbers.

Whether your calendar time is appropriate or not depends on your expectations, if you expect your students to learn the sequence of the days, memorize the months in order, and understand how the calendar works that is not an appropriate expectation for young children. If your expectation is for students to learn basic math and literacy skills through the calendar then it can be very appropriate.

Stay tuned for Featured Friday tomorrow, I will be reviewing one of my favorite teacher products and announcing the latest giveaway!

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Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday! Today I'm going to share my thoughts on using a daily calendar in the early childhood classroom. Depending on what grade and what type of program you work in you may or may not be aware of the great calendar debate.

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BRIGHT CHEVRON COUNTING THE DAYS OF SCHOOL WITH TEN FRAMES

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Count the days of school up to 180 with this easy math routine! Build number sense and decorate at the same time! WIN WIN!!BONUS: JUST ADDED: THIS SET NOW COMES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SIZES TO CHOOSE FROM! Two to a page OR three to a page!More in the Bright Chevron series:Bright Chevron Alphabet and Num…

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I'll be starting a fraction unit with my fourth graders shortly. This would be an interesting way to include the "Is It Fair?" routine.

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4 million free and priced teaching resources created by teachers for instant download including lesson plans, interactive notebooks, unit plans, novel studies, worksheets, printables, quizzes, task cards, math centers, projects and more. Join over 6 million teachers on the web's most vibrant collaborative exchange.

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Early Numeracy: Could be used with small manipulatives for Build It

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We use Tara West math program.
They use body counting
We count during transitions, when we line up to come in from recess, circle counting to a specific number
We use a number arc and add a number each lesson
Later in the year we start counting from a certain number and stop on a different number (Lets start counting at 7 and stop at 14)

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This could be a day outside. You could take number cards and use rocks, leaves, sticks....

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When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.

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Pin by Barb Coldiron on 1.sınıf | Montessori activities, Montessori toddler activities, Preschool activities

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Sep 8, 2018 - This Pin was discovered by Barb Coldiron. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest

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When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.

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Feb 28, 2022 - A fun math activity inspired by the book The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins. Your kids will love learning math concepts and acting out this classic story.

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Days of School and Other Calendar Activities

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Days of School and Other Calendar Activities

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Oct 8, 2016 - These number sense activities and games are perfect to help kindergarten and first grade students gain awareness of the numbers 0-20. Students practice ordering numbers, comparing numbers, building numbers, and identifying different ways to make the numbers 0-20.What is number sense?Number sense is ...

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Building Number Sense in Kindergarten and First Grade - Susan Jones

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Tons of number sense activities and lessons for the kindergarten and first grade classroom. These games provide meaningful practice to develop number sense.

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Match number cards from a card deck or game of Uno with dots on dominoes. Find every number combination on the dominoes.

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*This picture was taken for my own information, as I was recreating the number/word pieces to be in three different colors.*

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Straws/Place Value, Calendar Routine

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 We create a class timeline with events on different color stickies, we show birthdays with paper cupcakes on each month label. we add straws for each day

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My current calendar area (Olson. 1st)

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https://beyondtraditionalmath.com/2013/12/31/math-play-20-minutes-a-day/

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A link to a Pinterest board for Equal Shares: https://www.pinterest.com.au/melstrother/fair-share/

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I use straws but also use tens and ones place value blocks to keep track of the days of school.

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build the number math routine for preschoolers variety of tools

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Counting Collection Extension Activities - Research and Play

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A math tool that I have used for the past six years has been one of the most impactful things I’ve brought into my classroom is counting collections! Have you heard of them? I first learned of counting collections during a CGI training I attended one summer. CGI stands for Cognitively Guided Instruction, and the

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Fair Sharing | Peg + Cat | PBS LearningMedia

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Below you'll find a variety of resources to help teach children fractions and division, as well as an educator's guide under the Support section. Peg and Cat help a band of pirates share treasure fairly, using simple division and fractions. This unit has two class activities, videos, online games, and activities to extend the learning at home.

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This is my calendar that we use for counting and patterns.

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Pin by Erika Horton on Math. | Card games, Matching games, Dollar stores

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This Pin was discovered by Erika Horton. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest