Math lesson plans for toddlers

Play Based Math Activities for Toddlers

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Are you looking for play based math activities for toddlers? We've got you sorted with this great collection of toddler activities that all have a math theme to them. No worksheets I promise!

How do I teach my toddler to count? What math activities should my toddler be learning? How do I teach my toddler to add up? These are all questions that often come up in our Facebook Group and on Instagram. The answer is that you don't teach them these things. At least not with flashcards and worksheets. Before the age of 4 or 5 (it varies in each country as to their recommendations) all learning should really be play based.

Teaching math to toddlers is actually really easy. Think about your regular day and the math concepts that you see and explore each day.

counting cars
Pointing out the color of things
Counting how many jumps you can do
Pointing to different shapes in the park
Counting how many peas are on your plate
Looking for numbers on mail boxes

This is just a small sample of how math and number concepts can be explored during your regular day. Giving children, especially toddlers, real experiences of math concepts like numbers, shapes and measurement is a great way to get them to learn (and they don't even know they're doing it!).

If you want to extend on this, there are some fun play based math activities that are perfect for toddlers below.

I've shared some of my favorite math resources for toddlers below:

Please don't stress if your child isn't counting or recognizing numbers at this age. This article gives a good overview of what is expected before starting school and it really is very basic. The article I mentioned (which is talking about first grade!) states that

"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)"

Now first grade is a long way off the toddler age group so enjoy the time you have with them at this age group and have fun with our play based activities!

Play Based Math Activities for Toddlers.

Number Stamping Activity - Crafts on Sea

Simple Counting Activity - Teach Me Mommy

Rings on Fingers - School Time Snippets

Painting Shapes

Montessori Nature Tray Counting and Sorting - Living Montessori Now

Birthday Cake Counting - The Imagination Tree

Counting Math Game for Toddlers - Buggy and Buddy

Magnetic Fishing Number Game - Messy Little Monster

Counting Kites Fine Motor Activity - Best Toys 4 Toddlers

Number Pocket Game - Toddler Approved

Counting with Race Cars - Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

Number Chain - Hands On As We Grow

I would love to see how your toddler enjoyed their play based math activities. Share a photo in our Facebook group or Instagram (follow @myboredtoddler) and use #MyBoredToddler so we can all see! You can also follow us on Pinterest or Facebookfor more great toddler activity ideas.

Some other activities you will enjoy are:

Shape Activities for Toddlers

Counting Activities for Toddlers

Activities, Counting, Numbers, Sorting, Patterns and Graphing

Home
Math Activities

Math starts with understanding concepts that develop as early as infancy. Babies explore the world using their senses. They look, touch, smell, hear, and taste. Infants are curious and want to know everything about their environment. Provided in the links below are activities that can be done with your child, in small groups and in the classroom. We offer Math activities for young children to elementary aged children.

Counting Activities

Cheerios Math Count
Conversation Hearts Match and Count
Counting with Beads
Hands on Counting, Subtraction and Addition Printables
Halloween Candy Sort and Count

Touch and Feel Numbers Book
Snap Cubes
The Guessing Jar
Stepping Stones Number Games
Water and Sand Table

More Math Activities and Games

Colored Pasta: Muffin Math Activities
Touch and Feel Numbers Book
Numbers Shaker
Button Flowers
Beads: Counting, Sorting, Patterns, Stringing
Calendar
Foam Numbers
Colored Ball Games

Activities to Introduce Math Concepts

Paint a Piggy Bank
Make a Book! Fun Addition Word Problems with Stickers

Basic Math Concepts

Numbers and Number Sense

Counting
Recognize (Read) Numbers
Represent (How many is three?)
Quantity (More, Less, Equal)
Simple Addition and Subtraction (numbers less than 10)

Patterns, Sorting and Classifying (Algebra and Functions)

Sorting Objects by Attribute (color, size or shape)
Comparing Objects (color, size, shape)
Simple Patterns
Pictorial (Identifying patterns or classifying objects through pictures)

Measurement (Geometry)

Length, Weight, Capacity of Objects (by Comparing: which object is shorter, longer, lighter)
Time Concepts (morning, afternoon, yesterday)
Measuring Time (clock, calendars)
Days of the Week, Months
Identify time (nearest hour)

Data Gathering (Collecting information about objects by drawing pictures or making picture graphs)

Helpful Toddler Math Tools

Bath Numbers
Counting Picture Books See Our Favorites Here
Wood Puzzles
Sorting cups (graduated sizes)
Stacking Toys
Magnetic Letters
Plastic Measuring Cups and Spoons

For Older Toddlers and Young Children

Kids Calculators
Counters (bears, dinosaurs, etc)
Clock Puzzle
Kids Stopwatch
Cash Register and Play Money
Tangrams
Floor Puzzles
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Flash Cards
Snap Cubes
Mega Bloks
Large Lego

Interesting Facts

Infants begin to learn about size by sensing that some things are smaller and some are bigger by sight and touch.
Infants learn about direction as they learn to crawl and walk as they go over, into and under things.
Children learn about weight as they lift different objects.
Infants start to learn about shapes by the many toys we give them.
Toddlers learn the concept of sets. They sort things, by color, size, or the same shape.

Benefits Gained from Introducing Math Concepts

It becomes a natural part of a child's vocabulary.
Vocabulary is enhanced as they learn to describe things using numbers, colors, shapes.

Development of a lesson in mathematics for preschoolers (preparation for school, age group 6-7 years) | Outline on the topic:

Lesson topic: Consolidation of the studied material.

Goals:
Educational:

Continue the formation of mental operations (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, classification).
Form ideas about the properties of objects: color, shape, size. The ability to identify and explain the signs of similarities and differences of objects, to combine them into groups according to a common feature. Ability to find "extra" object.
To consolidate the skills of ordinal counting within 20.
To form the skill of complete answers to questions.

Developing:

To develop speech, observation, mental activity, the ability to express and justify one's judgments.
Develop auditory and visual attention, memory, logical thinking.
Develop constructive and creative abilities, fantasy, creative imagination.

Educational:

Raise interest in mathematics.
To develop independence, the ability to plan one's work.
To cultivate the desire to help others who find themselves in a difficult situation.
Foster friendly relationships between children, the habit of working together.

Class progress

I Org. Moment

II Message of the topic of the lesson

Teacher. Today in the lesson we will not only count and decide - we will go on a trip. nine0005 But traveling alone is boring and uninteresting, so you need to take friends with you. But who we will take on a trip, you will find out by guessing the riddle.
Round, ruddy,
Cooked in the oven,
Cold on the window.
Children. Kolobok.

U. How does a fairy tale begin?
Children remember.

– Gingerbread man left his grandmother, left his grandfather and went to travel. And the path led him to a country called Tsifiriya. Why is this country named so? nine0003

D. The numbers

live there.
W. Skok yes hop,
Skok yes hop,
A bun rolled,
Round and ruddy,
Straight to the clearing.

The teacher posts the route plan on the board.

III Mental account
U. Rolling, rolling Kolobok across the country of Tsifiriya and reached the station "Count". And the main one at this station is the Hare.
"I won't let you go any further," says the Hare, "until you complete my tasks. If you don't do it, I'll eat you." nine0005 Guys, let's help Kolobok complete Zayka's tasks.

D. We will help!

1) Count up to 20, direct ("chain").
2) Count from 10 to 1, reverse.
3) Count from 1 to 10, through 1.
4) - What number comes before the number 4? (3)
- What number comes after 5? (6)
- What number comes between 2 and 4? (3)
- What are the "neighbours" of 6? (5 and 7)
5) 2 4 6 8 10
- What do these numbers have in common? nine0005 - What is the odd number? Why?

6) Bunny doesn't let Kolobok go. If you solve my problems, then I will let you go.
W. Four hares were walking from school,
And suddenly they were attacked by bees.
Two bunnies barely escaped,
And how many did not have time? ..
D. Two.
W. How did you know that?
D. 4 - 2 = 2.
U. Read in different ways.
U. Solve one more problem.

U. 6 rabbit ears protrude from behind a bush. How many rabbits are there?

D. 3
U. How did you know?
U. Well done! We coped with Zaikin's tasks, you can travel further

.
IV Repetition of the material covered.
U. The next station at which Kolobok was detained was Lesnaya stroyka. And the Gray Wolf commands it.

- And here you must complete my tasks, otherwise I will eat you. In the new houses, the builders forgot to indicate the apartment numbers! But be careful! Each house has a number, and the apartment numbers add up to a number that corresponds to the number of the house. Help Kolobok. nine0003

U. Well done, he coped with my task. But you kolobok should help me deal with the construction plan.

-What lies in the middle (circle),
-What is in my upper right corner (triangle),
-What is in my upper left corner (trapezius),
-What for me in the lower right corner (rectangle),
-What I have in the lower left corner (square). nine0005 -How to call all this in one word? (geometric figures)

U. - What geometric figures do you see?

K K K S
U. - Determine which figure is superfluous in this set?
- On what grounds?
D. Shape, size, color.
U. Well done! Helped the kolobok to cope with the tasks of the Wolf. You can travel further.
V Fizminutka.
U. Now you can rest a little.
Drawings of Christmas trees, circles, sticks, dots in a circle on the interactive whiteboard. nine0003

1. How many green Christmas trees,
So many slopes. (3)
How many circles we have here,
How many jumps we will make. (6)
How many sticks to the point,
That's how many we stand on our toes. (5)
How many points will be in the circle,
Let's raise our hands so many times. (4)
2. Prepare fingers for writing.
VI Comparison of items.
U. Rolling, rolling Kolobok, and towards him the Bear from the station "Comparison".

- Kolobok, Kolobok, I'll eat you! nine0005 - Don't eat me, Bear!
- All right, on one condition. If you help me compare items, then I'll let you go. Help Kolobok.

U. What signs are used for comparison? (greater than, less than, equal to)
-Count how many triangles are in the first bag? (4)
- How many circles are in the second bag? (3)
- Write these numbers in the boxes.

- Check if there are enough circles for all the triangles: connect them with “magic strings”.
- What did you notice? (One triangle was left without a pair, it is superfluous.)
- How many more triangles than circles? (on 1)
- Which sign should be put? (more), etc.
- Well done, guys! Helped Kolobok cope with the task of the Bear. He is very pleased and lets him go further.

VII Graphic dictation.
U. Gingerbread man rolls, rolls, and the Fox meets him, and the clearing is called by her - "Draw - ka."

- You won't leave me, Kolobok, and the guys won't help you.
Help guys? nine0005 VIII Summary of the lesson
U. Well, Lisa will have to let Kolobok go - after all, he solved all the tasks perfectly. And you guys helped him in this. How did you help him?

D. They thought, decided, reasoned, considered.
Reflection. Self-esteem.

U. Now evaluate your work in class. If you are in a good mood, you were interested in the lesson, everything worked out for you, then raise the “sun”, and if you felt uncomfortable, something didn’t work out for you, then raise the “cloud”. Gingerbread Man thanks you for the help you gave him today, and gives excellent marks and prizes for good work. nine0003

Summary of the lesson in mathematics for preschoolers

Summary of the lesson in mathematics for preschoolers
“How to help Pinocchio?”

Author: German Liliya Ivanovna
Methodist
MAOU DOD CDT, village of Vyselki, Vyselkovsky district, Krasnodar Territory

Program content:
.
2.3 to strengthen the ability to establish a correspondence between the number and the number of objects. nine0005 3. Continue to learn to highlight the condition and question of the problem, exercise in solving problems by adding and subtracting single-digit numbers.
4. Formulate orientation skills on a landscape sheet of paper and on a sheet of paper in a cage.
5. Promote the development of logical thinking , attention.
6. Develop listening skills and a willingness to help.

Demo:
- box,
- 4 letter envelopes,
- 6 assignment envelopes,
- cards with the image of objects in the amount of 1-10, the numbers corresponding to them,
- an image of 2 houses numbered No. 5 and No. 6,
- a landscape sheet of paper and pencils,
- a music CD with the song "Pinocchio",
- tape recorder,
- easel,
- magnetic board.
is a multimedia projector.

Handout:
numbers 1 to 10,
for each child a sheet of squared paper and a pencil.
colored pencils sheet of paper

Teacher: — Guys, today, when I came to the office, I saw this box on the table. I looked into it and found a letter. And who wrote it, you will find out if you guess the riddle.
What is this very strange little wooden man?
Looking for a golden key on land and under water,
Everywhere he sticks his long nose...
Who is this? (Pinocchio).
Do you want to know what he writes about?
Children: Yes!
Reading letter
“Dear guys! Please help me! The evil cat Basilio and the fox Alice have locked me in a room and won't give me back my golden key, which I carried to Papa Carlo. They will let me go only when I help them complete the tasks and answer their questions. Guys, I don't know the answers! Please, help! Attached are tips on where to look for assignments. The first task is in envelope number 1. nine0005 Teacher: Well, guys? Can we help Pinocchio?
Children: Yes!
Teacher: Masha, please bring envelope number 1.
(the child brings an envelope; the teacher takes out a sheet with the task from the envelope and reads it)

Task No. 1
"Stand in order."
Take one number at a time while the music is playing, the "numbers" are walking, and on the command "Stand in order" you must line up in order.
"Quick Question, Quick Answer"

Questions:
-Count from 1 to 10 and back. nine0005 -Name the neighbors of the number 3 (referring to the child who has the number 3.)
-Name the neighbors of the number 5.
-Name the neighbors of the number 8.
-I thought of a number, it is less than 5 by one unit. What is this number?
-I thought of a number, it is more than 7 per unit. What is this number?
Well done! We did it, and here's a hint:
Look for the 2nd task in the envelope, which shows a geometric figure similar to the hero of a fairy tale, who was rolling along the path. (He left his grandmother and left his grandfather ...). What is this geometric figure? (Circle)
Yes, it's a circle. Let's see if there is an envelope with a geometric figure - a circle.
Katya, please bring an envelope with a geometric figure - a circle.
(the child brings an envelope; the teacher takes out a sheet with the task from the envelope and reads it).

Task No. 2
“Find the mistake” (children come to the table)
Cards with the image of objects are laid out on the table, and there are numbers next to it, only here something is confused. Check and correct mistakes (children correct).
Well done! Completed the task. nine0005 Hint: task No. 3
is in an envelope, which shows a geometric figure with 3 corners.
Teacher: Which geometric figure has 3 corners?
Children: 3 corners of a triangle.
(the child brings an envelope; the teacher takes out a sheet with the task from the envelope and reads it.)

Task No. 3
Teacher: Answer the questions and solve the problems.
Guys, tell me, please, how many parts are there in the problem?
Children: In problem 2 of part
Teacher: Name them. nine0005 Children: 1 - condition, 2 - question.
Teacher: What arithmetic signs do you know?
Children: Plus, minus, equal.
Teacher: Now you will listen to the problem, and then answer the questions.
“2 sparrows were sitting on a branch. 2 more tits flew in and sat next to each other. How many birds are sitting on a branch?
Teacher: - 1st question. Is there a condition in this task? (Yes). Name it. 2nd question. Is there a question in this issue? (Yes). Name it.
Well done! Solve the following problems.

1. “4 apples hung on a branch, 2 apples were picked. How many apples are left hanging on the branch? (2)

2. “Mom bought 7 pears, Misha ate 4 pears. How many pears are left on the plate? (3)

3. Not in a swamp, but in a tub
Once upon a time there were 2 frogs.
If there are 5 tubs,
How many frogs will they contain?

4. In a clearing near the river
May beetles lived:
Daughter, son, father and mother.
Who managed to count them?

5. A hedgehog gave the hedgehogs
Eight brand new boots.
Hedgehogs squeal with delight.
How many hedgehogs did dad have?

6. In the meadow near the oak
The mole saw 2 fungi.
And further away, by the pine tree,
He found another one.
Well, who is ready to say:
How many mushrooms did the mole find?
Teacher: The next task should be looked for in an envelope with a geometric figure, which has 4 sides and they are all equal. Which geometric figure has all sides equal?
Children: It's a square.
Teacher: But before we open the envelope on which a square is depicted, we need to strengthen our body. What strengthens the body?
Children: Gymnastics. nine0005 Teacher: Let's do a little gymnastics and turn into Pinocchio for a while.

Pinocchio Physical Minute
Pinocchio stretched, (stand on toes, raise hands up - stretch, return to SP)
Here he bent down, unbent, (hands on the belt, legs at the width of the foot, tilt forward. )
Spread his arms to the sides, (spread his arms to the sides)
Apparently he didn’t find the key, (head turns: left, straight, right, straight)
To get the key for us (lower hands down)
You need to stand on your toes (stand on your toes, raise your arms at chest level, stretch your arms. )
And wave your arms, (swing your arms)
Teacher: And now let's open the envelope on which a square is depicted.
(the teacher opens the envelope, takes out the task).

Task No. 4
Teacher: Guys, look how beautiful houses are! Only here the apartments are not numbered. You need to number them.
Hint: The sum of apartment numbers must be equal to the house number.
Teacher: Number the apartments, (children complete the task). nine0005 Well done guys! There are only 2 envelopes left. Which one is next?
“The next task is in an envelope with a picture of a number that indicates the number of days in a week (7).

Teacher: ……, bring the right envelope.
(the child brings an envelope, the teacher reads the task)
Task number 5. "Draw a picture for Malvina"
Draw a cloud in the upper right corner.
- Where did you draw the cloud?
In the lower left corner is a house.
- Where did you draw the house?
The sun is in the upper left corner. nine0005 - Where was the sun painted?
Mushrooms in the lower right corner.
- Where did you draw the mushrooms?
And in the middle is a flower.
- Where was the flower painted?
Well done! The picture turned out wonderful, Malvina will like it very much.

Task No. 6 is in an envelope, which depicts a geometric figure similar to what the chicken laid down in the fairy tale "Turnip".

The task is called "Don't yawn, answer questions quickly!"
How many days are there in a week?
Which days of the week are we talking about "working days"? nine0005 What are the "weekend" days of the week called?
Name Saturday's neighbors?
What are Tuesday's neighbors?
What is the name of the fifth day of the week?
What parts of the day do you know?
What happens earlier morning or evening?
How many fingers are on one hand?
How many ears do two mice have?
How many months in a year?
What number is hidden in the word seven - I?
Tanya found 3 acorns, and Marina found 1 more. How many acorns did Marina find?
Brother is 8 years old and sister is 2 years younger. How old is she? nine0005 Kostya drew 4 planes, and his brother drew 2 more. How many planes did your brother draw?
Who is standing to your right?
Who is standing to your left?
Well done! They answered quickly, did not yawn.
(there is a knock on the door, an envelope is brought into the group)
Teacher: Is it for us? Thank you. And from whom is it interesting? This is a letter from the fox Alice and the cat Basilio. Need to read it urgently.

Reading letter
“We are tired of waiting, so we decided to return Pinocchio to you along with the golden key. But we have one condition. Here it is: draw gifts for us. You must draw in cells. Here's a hint." nine0003

Teacher: There is a plan here. Let's not waste time. Sit down at the tables, move the papers, put the pencil on the red dot. Begin.
6 cells on the right
5VNIZ
2VEVEVO
5 down
1 OVO
1VNIZ
1VEVEVO
1VNIZ
1 OVO
1VNIZ
1 Voro
1 Out of the right
1VEVEVOVE
1V BOLOP
5000 2 ?
Children: Key.