Hands on maths activities for kindergarten
Kindergarten Math Games That Make Learning Fun from the Start
Looking for ways to make math fun for young learners? Check out these kindergarten math games! They teach all the basic math skills kindergartners need to master and are sure to engage every kid in the learning process.
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1. Conquer cardinality with penguin dominoes
Kindergarten math students work to master cardinality, understanding that written numerals correspond to the number of items pictured. These free printable penguin dominoes make the concept fun to practice.
Learn more: Playdough to Plato
2. Put together puzzles to gain number sense
Kindergarten math students learn to understand that numbers can be represented in a variety of ways. These free printable puzzles help them practice those skills.
Learn more: Tickled Pink in Primary
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3.
This free printable game helps little ones master their numbers from 11 to 20, both as numerals and represented on ten-frames.
Learn more: The Measured Mom
4. Stack cups and count to 100
Kids love stacking things, so they’ll get a kick out of kindergarten math games that make use of stackable cups. This one has them doing it with 100 cups while they count! Turn it into a competition by putting them in teams and timing them to see who can finish the task the fastest.
Learn more: Kindergarten Smorgasboard/100 Cups
5. Visit the skip-counting store
How fun is this? Grab some toys and label them with price tags in increments of 10 cents. Give kids a handful of plastic dimes, and have them count out the amount needed for each “purchase.”
Learn more: Creative Family Fun/Skip Counting Store
6. Have a rubber duck race
In this game, kids race to see who can be the first to get their rubber duckies to 10 (or any number you choose).
They roll a die and lay out tiles to move their duck. The twist? To get to 10 at the end, they must roll the exact number they need—no going over! Kindergarten math games like this one are terrific for practicing counting on, basic addition, and making 10.
Learn more: Happy Toddler Playtime
7. Practice counting on with cards and dice
Remove the face cards from a deck of playing cards and grab a pair of dice. The first player turns over a card and then rolls the dice. The number on the dice indicates how far they “count on” from the card. (For example, a player turns over a three and rolls a four. They say, “Three: four, five, six, seven.”) If the player gets it right, they keep the card, and the other player(s) get a turn.
Learn more: Creative Family Fun/Counting On
8. Skip-count with craft sticks
There are endless ways to use craft sticks in the classroom. For this game, number a series of colorful sticks by fives, as shown. Kids can practice by putting them in order first.
Then, have a student draw a stick and count on by fives from that number to 100—if they draw 75, they then count 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100. If they get it right, they keep the stick, and the next player takes a turn.
Learn more: Simply Kinder
9. Match teen numbers
Once they’ve mastered the numbers 1 to 10, it’s time to understand how those numerals add up to make bigger numbers. These free printable cards show numerals and matching bundles of sticks that deconstruct each teen number into tens and ones.
Learn more: The Kindergarten Connection
10. Compare numbers with dominoes
Kindergartners learn to compare numbers to determine which is larger and which smaller. Stacking math cubes based on the numbers on dominoes is a fun, hands-on way to compare the two numbers side by side, making it easier to see the difference.
Learn more: My Fabulous Class
11. Face off and compare numbers
You’ll need some small toys for this game, as well as polyhedral dice.
Kids roll and place the number of items on their side. Then, they compare the two to see which is bigger.
Learn more: Natalie Lynn Kindergarten
12. Make 10 with two-sided chips
You’ll need counting chips that are a different color on each side for this activity. Kids shake up 10 chips in a cup and pour them out on the table. Then they see how many they have of each color and write that number bond to make 10.
Learn more: First Grade Fairytales
13. Throw snowballs to make 10
Make “snowballs” from paper (or any way you like), then place them in a bucket at one end of the room. Start kids out by having them toss snowballs into another bucket until they reach 10 (or any target number). Then, up the challenge by placing some snowballs in each bucket and have kids figure out how many more they need to toss in to make 10.
Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls—Snowball Math Games
14. Use Uno cards to play addition war
In the card game War, players each flip an Uno card, and the one whose card is greatest takes them both.
In this twist on one of our favorite kindergarten games, players each flip two cards. They then use counting blocks to represent the numbers and count on or add to find the sum. The largest sum wins the hand, and play continues.
Learn more: Planning Playtime—Addition Game
15. Roll and add for fluency within 5
Kindergarten math students work to become fluent in adding and subtracting within 5. This free printable board game makes it fun!
Learn more: Liz’s Early Learning Spot
16. Get four in a row and learn place value
This customizable game helps teach the early place-value concept of tens plus ones. Get it for free at the link.
Learn more: Two Boys and a Dad
17. Bowl and subtract within 10
Set up a toy bowling pin set (or make one from plastic bottles or toilet-paper tubes). Kids bowl and see how many pins they knock down, subtracting that number from 10. Then they repeat, this time subtracting from the previous answer.
First to get to zero wins!
Learn more: Planning Playtime—Subtraction Worksheets
18. Get off my boat!
So simple, so engaging, so fun! Use tape to outline a boat shape on the floor (or try this outside with sidewalk chalk). Let some kids board the “boat,” then make some get off. Use those numbers to write a subtraction number sentence and solve the equation!
Learn more: Kindergarten Smorgasboard—Get Off My Boat!
19. Drive and compare numbers to music
Prep for this game by using dot markers on paper plates as shown (visit the link below for more examples). Each kid takes a plate then uses it to “drive” around the room as you play music. When the music stops, they find a nearby partner and compare what they see on each other’s plates (e.g., “8 dots is more than 4 dots. 1 green dot is less than 4 green dots.” Then start the music up and repeat!
20. Build a weigh station
Use a hanger and plastic cups to build a super-simple weigh station.
Kids will love dropping items into the cups to see which weighs more or less. Turn it into a game by having them try to guess which object weighs more first or how many of one item equals another.
21. Battle it out in ribbon war
Looking for kindergarten math games that teach non-standard measurement? This idea is fun and easy. Cut colorful ribbons into a variety of lengths and place them in a bag. Each student pulls a ribbon from the bag. Then, put students in pairs and have them compare their ribbons to identify the longer one. The student with the longer ribbon keeps both, and the game continues.
22. Hold a shape scavenger hunt
Kindergarten math students are learning to recognize shapes in their environment and also to categorize and sort. This scavenger hunt does it all! Send them out to find objects in the room that match the shapes. Then count and compare to see how many you have in each category.
Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls—Shape Scavenger Hunt
23.
Hop along a shapes mazeUse 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—Shape Maze
24. Make a match to learn shapes
Grab these free printable memory cards at the link. Then play and learn the basic shapes.
Learn more: Life Over C’s
25. Guess the mystery shapes
Work on geometry terms like “sides” and “vertices” when you sort shapes using these attributes. Start by placing 3D 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
Love these kindergarten math games? You’ll also enjoy these 50 Kindergarten Math Word Problems of the Day!
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Hands on Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten
Homeschooling | Math | montessori | preschool | printables
These Hands on Math Activities for preschoolers are a great way to combine fine motor skills and learning for younger aged children.
Not only will they be able to work on improving their math skills, but they’ll have fun doing so as well. Combining fun and education is possible and these math activities prove just that!
Your preschooler will love knowing that they’re learning and playing at the same time.
Hands on Math Activities for Preschoolers
When minds are young and growing, it’s a great time to incorporate new ideas and learning processes into their minds. These math activities not only introduce new concepts and fun but show them that they’re bright enough to do them on their own as well.
Preschool Math
30+ Montessori Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten
Apple Math Activities
Flower Theme Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten
Valentine Number Playdough Mats
affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.
Don’t be afraid to do these activities with them. They can be a great option to work together while having fun with your preschooler.
Hands on Math Activities for Kindergarten
Click on the links below for more Math Activities
- Watermelon Roll & Cover Math Game from totschooling.net
- Dinosaur Board Game Counting Activity from funlearningforkids.com
- Feed The Caterpillar Spring Math Activity from fantasticfunandlearning.com
- Free Printable Counting Mats For Duplo Blocks from lifeovercs.com
- Feed The Shark Math Game from rainydaymum.co.uk
- Counting And Addition Activity Tray from theimaginationtree.com
- 6 Rainbow Themed Math Activities For Preschoolers from stayathomeeducator.com
- Clothespin Turkey Math Games from coffeecupsandcrayons.com
- Fishing Math Game With Free Printables from buggyandbuddy.com
- Bumblebee Preschool Math Printable from iheartcraftythings.com
- How Many Am I Hiding? Math Game from prekinders.com
- Counting Caterpillars Math Activity from alittlepinchofperfect.com
- Counting Beads On Pipe Cleaners from laughingkidslearn.
com - Roll And Dot The Number Math Activity from funlearningforkids.com
- Tactile Counting With Craft Sticks from whereimaginationgrows.com
- Five Little Leaves Math Preschool Subtraction Game from prekinders.com
- Colour Sorting Pom Pom Drop Game from theimaginationtree.com
- Insect Counting Numbers Math Activity from fantasticfunandlearning.com
- It’s A Zoo! A Counting And Graphing Game For Preschoolers from stayathomeeducator.com
- Low-Prep Play Dough Mats For Counting To 10 from lifeovercs.com
Math Activities for Preschoolers
Math Activities
Hands on Activities for Preschool
Studies have shown that if you like this, you will also love the following articles. I have pulled them together for you right here:
Ladybug Math for Preschoolers (Free Printables Count & Clip)
FOR THE BEST ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST
Math class | Plan-summary of a lesson in mathematics (senior group):
Abstract of a lesson-entertainment in FEMP for older preschoolers "Counting within 10"
Compiled and conducted by: Elena Igorevna Vagina, teacher of the 1st qualification category Kindergarten No.
59 "Kaleidoscope".
Date: May 29, 2019
Description: Synopsis of organized educational activities on the formation of elementary mathematical representations for children of senior preschool age on the topic "Counting within 10". This material will be useful to teachers, parents. This summary of the FEMP entertainment activity is aimed at consolidating the count within 10, improving knowledge about the geometric shapes of older preschoolers.
Integration of educational areas: "Cognitive development", "Social and communicative development", "Speech development", "Artistic and aesthetic development", "Physical development".
Purpose: fixing the score within 10.
Tasks:
• fix the score within 10;
• improve knowledge of geometric shapes;
• promote the development of imagination, memory, attention, logical thinking, the ability to navigate in space;
• cultivate interest in mathematics.
Equipment: geometric shapes, cards with numbers, a map with stations, pictures of animals, fairy tale characters, coloring books with numbers.
Methods and techniques: Methods and techniques: game, verbal (conversation), visual, practical, problem-based learning.
Course of the lesson
Educator:
- Today, guys, we will go on a train journey through unusual stations. We will travel with a map.
- What do you see on our map? (name of stations)
- Let's try to count how many stations are on the map (4 stations)
- What do you think, what are these stations? (Station "Merry Account", station "Entertaining Figures", station "Why", station "Game", station "Forest Problems")
1. Station "Merry Account"
Educator:
- Children, today we will go to travel around the country "Mathematics". This country consists of several stations. At these stations, fairy-tale heroes are waiting for us. I'm sure you all love math and this journey will be interesting. We will travel by train. Before we go on a journey, we must learn the following words:
We'll go by train,
We'll find a lot of new things.
Stations we will visit
And we will give you the correct answer!
- On our map we see the Cheerful Account station. We are met by the fairy-tale hero Pinocchio, who asks to complete the tasks:
1) Show the number that is hidden between 4 and 6; 3 and 5; 7 and 9.
2) Show the digit for a number greater than 2 but less than 4; greater than 5 but less than 7.
3) What number comes after 8? Show the number.
4) The number that comes before 7? Show the number.
2. Station "Entertaining figures"
We will go by train,
We will find a lot of new things.
Stations we will visit
And we will give you the correct answer!
Fairy-tale heroes rest at the station. Name them (Crocodile Gena and Cheburashka). They can not cope with one task, let's guys help them.
1) What are the names of the figures? Why are they called that?
- How many angles does a triangle have?
- How many angles does a circle have?
- What do you know about the square?
- Name the objects that consist of these figures.
- Draw the shapes to make objects.
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(Children on the blackboard do the task)
- What objects did you get? (clock, mirror, wood, TV, ball)
2)
- Determine which of the figures in this set is extra. (Circle) Explain why. (All others are quadrangles)
3)
- One of the shapes is different from all the others. What's the score? (Fourth) How is it different? (All pieces are green and she is red)
- Which figure is extra? What is her account? Show the number. Why?
4)
Among these figures there is an extra one. Find her. What is her account? Show the number. (Fifth figure.) Why is it superfluous?
5)
- Look at this picture: here is a mother cat, a father cat and a kitten. What figures are they made of? (Circles and triangles.) Which triangle is needed for a kitten? For the mother cat? For cat dad? Draw your cat."
3.
Physical education:
Owl-owl, (hands behind the head, turns left, right)
Big head,
sits on a stump,
turns his head, (turns his head in different directions)
looks in all directions,
Yes, how
Will fly! (we imitate the flapping of wings, raise our hands up)
4. Pochemuchka station
We will go by train,
we will find a lot of new things.
Stations we will visit
And we will give you the correct answer!
- Another fairy-tale hero Dunno asked us riddles:
“Once upon a time there were days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Once they argued about which of them is more important. Let's guys help them resolve the dispute.
- What can you do on Monday?
- What day of the week follows Monday? Why is it so named?
- What does Wednesday mean?
- What day of the week comes after Wednesday, why is it called that?
- What do we do on Friday and why is it called that?
- What day of the week comes after Friday?
- Name the following days.
Why do they have such a name?
- What do you think, which of them is more important and more needed? (all are needed)
- How many days of the week are there? Show the number and name these days in order.
5. Gymnastics for the eyes "A walk in the forest"
We went for a walk. (walking in place)
Mushrooms - look for berries
How beautiful this forest is.
It is full of various miracles.
The sun is shining above, (looking up)
Here is a fungus growing on a stump, (looking down)
A thrush is sitting on a tree, (looking up)
The hedgehog rustles under the bush. (look down)
On the left, a spruce grows - an old woman, (look to the right)
On the right, pines - girlfriends. (look to the left)
Where are you, berries, ay? (repeat eye movements)
I'll find you anyway! (left - right, up - down)
6. Game station
Educator:
- The fairy-tale hero Leopold invites us to play with you, and at the same time check how you count to 10 and back.
The game is called "Seat the Passengers in their Seats". Passengers in our game are numbers from 1 to 10. You must seat them in order (Children seat numbers and count to 10 and in reverse order)
7. Station "Forest Problems"
We will go by train,
We will find a lot of new things.
Stations we will visit
And we will give you the correct answer!
Educator:
- A wise owl lives at this station, which knows everything. And for you, children, she has prepared puzzles.
Problems about forest dwellers:
1) In a meadow on a spring day
Under a tall pine tree
To a bear cub on his birthday
Forest people gathered:
Hedgehog, wolf, raccoon, badger,
Hare, elk, fox - friend.
Count quickly,
How many guests there were!
(Show the number)
2) A squirrel dries on a rope
Two mushrooms and three carrots.
A ferret came running and dragged off the fungus.
The hare ate two carrots.
What's left on the rope? (Show the number)
8. Summing up the lesson
Educator:
- Children, which stations did we travel to?
- Which of you liked which station the most?
- And let's count together to 10 and back.
- Well done guys, it was interesting to travel with you. Thanks to all!
- For good work in class, the Wise Owl has prepared a gift for you - coloring pages with numbers.
"Methods and techniques for the formation of elementary mathematical representations among preschoolers" - JV "Kindergarten No. 2, secondary school No. 30, Syzran"
Message on the topic:
elementary mathematical concepts in preschoolers”
Mathematical knowledge of a preschooler is a directly important basis in the mental development of a child. Thanks to mathematical knowledge, children learn to: analyze, compare, synthesize, perform computational operations, think logically, distinguish between geometric shapes, name their features, navigate in space.
Preschool children develop memory, attention, thinking. The knowledge gained in kindergarten, children apply in everyday life. Therefore, the task of the teacher: to arouse children's interest in educational activities, to give the necessary elementary mathematical knowledge, to lead children to independent answers, search for solutions. The teacher must find an approach to each child and give this knowledge to all children.
Methods and techniques for the formation of mathematical representations in preschoolers.
In the process of forming elementary mathematical concepts in preschool children, the teacher uses a variety of teaching methods:
- practical,
- visual,
- verbal,
- gaming.
When choosing a method, a number of factors are taken into account:
program tasks to be solved at this stage;
age and individual characteristics of children;
availability of the necessary teaching aids, etc.
;
The teacher's constant attention to a reasonable choice of methods and techniques, their rational use in each specific case ensures:
— successful formation of elementary mathematical concepts and their reflection in speech;
- the ability to perceive and highlight relations of equality and inequality (by number, size, shape), sequential dependence (decrease or increase in size, number), highlight quantity, shape, size as a common feature of the analyzed objects, determine relationships and dependencies;
- orientation of children to the application of mastered methods of practical actions (for example, comparison by comparison, counting, measurement) in new conditions and an independent search for practical ways to identify, detect signs, properties, and connections that are significant in a given situation. For example, in the conditions of the game, to identify the sequence, the pattern of alternation of features, the commonality of properties.
In the formation of elementary mathematical representations, the leading method is a practical method.
Its essence lies in the organization of children's practical activities aimed at mastering strictly defined methods of action with objects or their substitutes (images, graphic drawings, models, etc.).
Characteristic features of the practical method in the formation of elementary mathematical concepts:
— performance of various practical actions;
— wide use of didactic material;
- the emergence of ideas as a result of practical actions with didactic material:
- development of counting skills, measurement and calculation in the most elementary form;
- wide use of formed ideas and mastered actions in everyday life, play, work, i.e. in various types of activity.
This method involves the organization of special exercises that can be offered in the form of a task, organized as actions with demonstration material, or proceed in the form of independent work with handout didactic material.
Exercises can be collective - they are performed by all children at the same time, and individual - they are carried out by an individual child at the teacher's board or table.
Collective exercises, in addition to mastering and consolidating knowledge, can be used for control.
Individual, performing the same functions, also serve as a model for which children are guided in collective activities.
Game elements are included in the exercises in all age groups: in the younger ones - in the form of a surprise moment, imitation movements, a fairy-tale character, etc.; in seniors, they acquire the character of a search, a competition.
From the point of view of children's manifestation of activity, independence, creativity in the process of performance, reproductive (imitative) and productive exercises can be distinguished.
The game as a method of teaching and the formation of elementary mathematical representations involves the use in the classroom of individual elements of different types of games (plot, mobile, etc.), game techniques (surprise moment, competition, search, etc. Currently a system of so-called learning games has been developed.
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All didactic games on the formation of elementary mathematical representations are divided into several groups:
- Games with numbers and numbers
- Time travel games
- Orientation games in space
- Games with geometric shapes
- Logic games
Visual and verbal methods in the formation of "elementary" mathematical representations are not independent, they accompany practical and game methods.
Techniques for the formation of mathematical representations.
Kindergarten widely uses methods related to visual, verbal and practical methods and applied in close unity with each other: This is the main method of teaching, it has a visual-practical-effective nature, is performed using a variety of didactic means, makes it possible to form skills and abilities in children. It has the following requirements:
- clarity, dissection of the display of methods of action;
- coordination of actions with verbal explanations;
- accuracy, brevity and expressiveness of speech accompanying the show:
- activation of children's perception, thinking and speech.
- Manual for self-exercises. This technique is connected with showing the educator methods of action and follows from it. The instruction reflects what and how to do in order to get the desired result. In the older groups, the instruction is given in full before the start of the task, in the younger ones it precedes each new action.
- Explanations, explanations, instructions. These verbal devices are used by the educator when demonstrating a method of action or in the course of performing a task by children in order to prevent errors, overcome difficulties, etc. They should be specific, short and figurative.
Demonstration is appropriate in all age groups when getting acquainted with new actions (application, measurement), but it requires activation of mental activity, excluding direct imitation. During the development of a new action, the formation of the ability to count, measure, it is desirable to avoid repeated display.
Mastering the action and improving it is carried out under the influence of verbal techniques: explanations, instructions, questions. At the same time, the speech expression of the mode of action is being mastered.
- Questions for children.
Questions activate the perception, memory, thinking, speech of children, provide comprehension and assimilation of the material. When forming elementary mathematical representations, a series of questions is most significant: from simpler ones aimed at describing specific features, properties of an object, the results of practical actions, i.e., ascertaining, to more complex ones that require establishing connections, relationships, dependencies, their justification and explanation, use the simplest proofs.
Most often, such questions are asked after the educator demonstrates the sample or the children complete the exercises. For example, after the children have divided the paper rectangle into two equal parts, the teacher asks: “What did you do? What are these parts called? Why can each of these two parts be called a half? What shape are the parts? How to prove that the squares are obtained? What should be done to divide the rectangle into four equal parts?
Basic requirements for questions as a methodological device:
- precision, concreteness, conciseness:
- logical sequence;
— variety of formulations, i.
e. the same question should be asked in different ways
— optimal ratio of reproductive and productive questions depending on the age of the children and the material being studied;
- give children time to think;
- the number of questions should be small, but sufficient to achieve the didactic goal;
- prompting questions should be avoided.
The teacher usually asks the whole group a question, and the called child answers it. In some cases, choral responses are possible, especially in younger groups. Children need to be given the opportunity to think about the answer.
Children's answers should be:
- short or complete, depending on the nature of the question;
- independent, conscious;
- accurate, clear, loud enough;
- grammatically correct (observance of the order of words, the rules for their agreement, the use of special terminology).
In working with preschoolers, an adult often has to resort to the method of reformulating the answer, giving it the correct sample and offering to repeat it. For example: “There are four mushrooms on the shelf,” says the baby. “There are four mushrooms on the shelf,” the teacher clarifies.
- During the formation of elementary mathematical concepts in preschoolers comparison, analysis, synthesis, generalization are not only
as cognitive processes (operations), but also as methodological techniques that determine the path along which the child's thought moves in the process of learning.
Comparison is based on establishing similarities and differences between objects. Children compare objects according to quantity, shape, size, spatial arrangement, time intervals - according to duration, etc.
Analysis and synthesis as methodological devices act in unity. An example of their use is the formation in children of ideas about "many" and "one", which arise under the influence of observation and practical actions with objects.
- Modeling is a visual-practical technique that includes the creation of models and their use in order to form elementary mathematical concepts in children. The reception is extremely promising due to the following factors:
- the use of models and modeling puts the child in an active position, stimulates his cognitive activity;
- the preschooler has some psychological prerequisites for the introduction of individual models and elements of modeling: the development of visual-effective and visual-figurative thinking.
Models can play different roles: some reproduce external connections, help the child to see those that he does not notice on his own, others reproduce the sought-for but hidden connections, the properties of things that are not directly perceived.
Models are widely used in the formation of
- time representations: model of parts of the day, week, year, calendar;
- quantitative; numerical ladder, numerical figure, etc.
), spatial: (models of geometric shapes), etc. - when forming elementary mathematical representations, subject, subject-schematic, graphic models are used.
- Experimentation is a method of mental education that provides the child with self-identification through trial and error of connections and dependencies hidden from direct observation. For example, experimentation in measurement (size, measurement, volume).
- Monitoring and evaluation .
These techniques are interrelated. Control is exercised through monitoring the process of children performing tasks, the results of their actions, and responses. These techniques are combined with instructions, explanations, explanations, demonstration of methods of action for adults as a model, direct assistance, and include the correction of errors.
Methods and results of actions, behavior of children are subject to evaluation. The assessment of an adult who teaches to be guided by a model begins to be combined with the assessment of comrades and self-esteem.
