Pre k maths activities
Preschool Math Games and Activities to Engage Young Learners
Preschoolers have lots of important math skills to learn before they start kindergarten. Counting, number sense, sorting, patterns, comparing size, and so much more—these are all concepts toddlers need so they can move on to more advanced math concepts. These preschool math games and activities help kids master those skills in ways that are just as fun as playtime!
1. String beads on pipe cleaners
This is one of those classic preschool math games that has so many benefits for young learners. They get fine motor control practice along with learning to count, recognize numerals, and put numbers in order. All you need are pipe cleaners and beads.
Learn more: Laughing Kids Learn
2. Monster Dice Match
Rolling dice gives kids a chance to practice counting and subitizing. Get the printable for this free matching game at the link.
Learn more: The Measured Mom—Monster Dice
3.
You’ll find lots of dice-related preschool math games out there. In this one, kids roll the dice and then stack blocks together. They finish by counting the blocks all together, an early intro to addition.
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Learn more: Hands On as We Grow
4. Flip Uno cards to make a match
Get some memory practice while you learn numerals. Uno cards, with their bright and cheery colors and large numbers, are perfect for this, but regular playing cards work too.
Learn more: Primary Playground
5. Tag the number
We love that this game gives kids a chance to move! Tape up numbers on the wall (or write them on a whiteboard). Then have kids roll a die and run to tag the number that comes up. You can play this game in other ways too, like calling out the numbers randomly yourself, or taping the numbers in a variety of places around the room.
Learn more: This Reading Mama
6.
Build a cityStack building blocks and build a city skyline. You’ll get a different result every time, making this one of those preschool math games kids can play again and again.
Learn more: Cinta + Co.
7. Race to fill the cup
So simple and so fun! Grab a bin of math cubes or small toys and some plastic cups. Kids roll a polyhedral die (you can also try flipping playing cards or Uno cards) and place that many items in their cup. The first to completely fill their cup wins!
Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls—Fill the Cup
8. Hunt for numbers
Combine a sensory experience with some number practice. Fill a bin with sand, then bury playing cards for kids to find and match up.
Learn more: Busy Toddler/Number Hunt
9. Bounce a balloon
Everyone loves playing with balloons! Roll a die, then see if you can bounce a balloon into the air that many times without letting it hit the ground.
Learn more: Confidence Meets Parenting
10.
Build a beetleThis is just like the original Cootie game, but no need to buy anything! Just cut beetle pieces from construction paper, then roll a die and see if you can be the first to assemble your bug!
Learn more: Teach Beside Me
11. Create shapes with sticks
Toddlers need to master their shapes, and this is a clever way to do it. Put together sets of wood craft sticks (use the same color for each shape) and let little fingers turn them into triangles, squares, and other shapes.
Learn more: Team Cartwright
12. Send bears into hibernation caves
Make “caves” from plastic bowls, then send little toy bears into “hibernation” in each one! Learn how the game works at the link.
Learn more: Pocket of Preschool
13. Park numbered cars
Vroom vroom! Number your toy cars to match the slots in a cardboard parking lot. Kids will have fun zooming them into the right places.
Learn more: B-Inspired Mama
14.
Line up dominoesDominoes are fantastic math learning tools. This game is a sneaky introduction to addition, as kids count up the total number of dots on each domino and put them in the proper place.
Learn more: Busy Toddler—Domino Line-Up
15. Copy ice tray patterns
Seeing and matching patterns is a key skill for preschoolers. Placing pom-poms into ice cube trays with plastic tweezers helps them work on fine motor skills too.
Learn more: Planning Playtime
16. Rubber Duck Math 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! Preschool math games like this help kids master counting to 10 and counting on.
Learn more: Happy Toddler Playtime—Rubber Duck Race
17. Feed the LEGO monster
Sort LEGO bricks by color, shape, or number of dots.
Then compare the number that wind up in each bag to learn the concept of “more or less.”
Learn more: Toddler Approved
18. Drop blocks into tubes
Upcycle some empty cardboard tubes by labeling them with numbers. Then drop small items like blocks or caps into the tubes to match the numbers.
Learn more: Happy Toddler Playtime—Tube Counting
19. 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 and 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. Hold a shape scavenger hunt
Preschool 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
If you loved these preschool math games, be sure to check out 20 Simple and Fun Preschool Science Experiments and Activities.
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Hands-On Math Activities for Preschoolers
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. See my disclosure policy for details.
Math is so fun to teach to preschoolers because there are a lot of daily activities that incorporate math. Preschoolers don’t need worksheets for math…they should learn through play and hands-on activities.
1. Patterns with Bears
Counting Bears are a great math manipulative to use with preschoolers. You can sort, count, or use them with patterns.
I created some pattern cards to help with this. The first page is an AB pattern, meaning two colors alternate in the pattern.
The second page is an ABC pattern, meaning three are three colors in the pattern. For this activity, your preschooler will set the colored bear on top of the matching color to create a pattern. On the ABC pattern cards, the last circle is left empty. That is for your child to tell you what color it should be.
You can get the color patterns printable at the bottom of this post.
Math Skill: Patterns and Relationships
You can find more pattern activities here.
2. Sorting Colors with Bears
Sorting is a skill preschoolers should work on a lot. One way to sort is by color. We do this with our counting bears and a sorting mat.
You can get the sorting mat printable at the bottom of this post.
You can even use colored tape and pom poms to practice sorting! Add in some tweezers for some extra fine motor practice.
We also love counting mats! These are great for learning to count and working on one-to-one correspondence.
Math Skill: Patterns and Relationships
3. Money Muncher
A fun way to work on sorting is with the Money Muncher! It’s also a great activity for fine motor skills. To see all the fun details, click here.
Math Skill: Patterns and Relationships
4. Sorting Jelly Beans
Anytime we work with candy, my kids love it! You can sort M&Ms or jelly beans or whatever! To see how we did this with jelly beans, click here.
You can get the jelly bean sorting printable at the bottom of this post.
One more idea for sorting is by using toy animals. Have them sort by different characteristics, such as land animals and sea animals.
Math Skill: Patterns and Relationships
5. Graphing
Graphing is always good to introduce to preschoolers. It doesn’t have to be complex, but you can do a simple activity like graphing the types of transportation on a bar graph and use small pictures or toys (or I used erasers from The Dollar Tree).
Make graphing hands-on using apples! Even young preschoolers can begin learning about graphing with this activity.
Check out this free gumball graphing activity right here.
Math Skill: Patterns and Relationships
6. Shape Wheel
This is a fun activity for learning shapes! Just print this shape wheel and draw the same colored shapes onto clothespins. Have your child match the clothespin to the shape on the wheel. This is great for working on fine motor skills!
You can get the shape wheel printable at the bottom of this post.
Math Skill: Geometry
7. Shape Sorter
An easy way to practice shapes is with a Shape Sorter! I bought these shapes at Michaels Craft Store many years ago, but these 3D geometric shapes would be a good option if you’re interested in creating a Shape Sorter. Check out this post for details on how to make this easy math activity.
Math Skill: Geometry
8.
Noodle Shape Cards
A neat sensory activity and a fun way to learn shapes are with noodles! See the post here to download the free shape cards.
Math Skill: Geometry
9. Foam Sticks
Learn shapes in the tub with these foam sticks! You can see how we did this here.
Another fun way to practice shapes is with the cookie shapes matching activity!
And my favorite way to teach about shapes is with my shape rhymes!
10. Dice Game
This is a really fun game! I took this Melissa & Doug wooden toy and put white circle stickers on the top of the pegs. I wrote numbers 1-6 and had 2 stars. I had my son roll the dice and whatever number it landed on, he would pound with a toy hammer. If the number he rolled was already down, he hit the star. Not only was this fun for him, but he was able to “subitize”, which simply means to recognize numbers instantly without counting the dots.
Math Skill: Number Concepts
11. Star Number Cards
Practice counting and recognizing numbers with star number cards. This one is great for working on one-to-one correspondence and fine motor skills.
You can get the star number printable cards at the bottom of this post.
Math Skill: Number Concepts
12. Ladybug Math
We made these adorable ladybugs and they were a hit! Not only were they fun to play with, but we did a lot of counting and sorting with them. Read all about it here.
Math Skill: Number Concepts
13. Balloons
Learn the order of numbers with this really fun game involving balloons! Check out the details here.
Math Skill: Number Concepts
14. Estimating with Water
We learned about estimation with a dropper with some fun, hands-on water activities.
Math Skill: Measurement
15.
Pouring and Comparing
We practiced pouring skills with rice into these beakers. Then I had my son line them up from biggest to smallest. Using comparative words like big/small or empty/full help teach preschoolers about simple concepts of measurement. This is simple and you could elaborate on this activity.
One more easy way to practice measurement is with Unifix cubes. Place different lengths of tape on the floor or poster board. Then have your child use Unifix cubes to measure the lines. This is a simple way to practice counting, measuring, and comparing lengths.
Math Skill: Measurement
Lastly, check out this really easy and fun way to practice counting!
If you’re looking for digital math activities, make sure to check out my counting activities using Google Slides.
If you’d like to download the 5 free printables I shared in this blog post, just click on the button below!
Abstract of a lesson in mathematics in the preparatory group: "Country Mathematics" | Outline of a lesson in mathematics (preparatory group):
Summary of a lesson in mathematics in the preparatory group:
"Country of Mathematics"
Purpose: to cultivate a love for mathematics; continue to teach children to compose and solve simple arithmetic problems, for addition and subtraction within 10.
To consolidate: counting within 10 in forward and reverse order, logical thinking of children; improve knowledge of geometric shapes and orientation on a plane.
Materials: 2 letters of the Queen of Mathematics, geometric figures of various shapes and sizes; counting sticks; visual material for solving arithmetic problems; ball; alphanumeric cards from 1 to 10.
Course of the lesson:
Teacher: - “Today they brought me a letter. This letter was sent to us by the Queen of Mathematics herself. Here, listen to what she writes.
(The envelope with the letter is decorated with numbers, signs, geometric figures.)
1. Letter from the Queen of Mathematics: “Hello, dear children! The Queen of Mathematics is writing to you. I really need your help. The fact is that a loser and a bully got into my mathematical kingdom. He did terrible things: he destroyed the geometric shapes in my city, he does not know numbers at all, he solved problems with errors!
Everything is broken in my mathematical kingdom-state! Dear guys, if you are quick-witted, attentive and not afraid of difficulties, hurry to help us! The mathematical realm is in danger.
Your friend Queen Mathematics.
Teacher: - "Well, guys, let's help Queen Mathematics put things in order in her mathematical kingdom-state?"
Children: “Yes, yes, we will help!”
Teacher: - But how to get into this realm? I seem to know...
1. - But it's not easy at all, for this you need to find out the password. And the password will be the correct answers to the questions sent by the Queen of Mathematics.
- Listen carefully to the questions and give the correct answers.
(Teacher throws the ball - children answer questions)
1. How many ears do two cats have? (4)
2. How many days are there in a week? (7)
3. How many eyes does a traffic light have? (3)
4. How many fingers are on one hand? (5)
5. How many suns are there in the sky? (1)
6. How many paws do two dogs have? (8)
7. How many fingers are on two hands? (10)
8. How many days off are there in a week? (2)
9.
What number is less than 7 but greater than 5? (6)
10. What number is greater than 8 but less than 10? (9).
(In the process of answering questions, children attach cards with numbers - answers to the board)
You answered all the questions correctly, but in order to find out the password, you need to put the numbers in order. (a child comes out and lays out a number row)
- And now I will turn the cards over to the other side, and we can read the “password” (the word “Math” is written on the back).
Teacher: “Well done, guys, you have learned the password, and now we are in a mathematical country. And here is the first task: you have to become rescuers and builders. The bully destroyed the Queen's house, which consists of geometric shapes. The Queen of Mathematics sent us a scheme according to which we must restore her home in the mathematical kingdom. Let's see what geometric shapes the house consists of.
Children: “From squares, triangles, rectangles…”.
2. Task "Build a house from geometric shapes"
(Children assemble houses from geometric shapes according to the scheme)
Teacher: “Well done, guys! You are amazing builders. Mathematical country has come to life, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us!”.
3. The next task "Problem Solving"
- See what trees grew near the house of the Queen of Mathematics?
(There are 7 pictures of oaks and 3 pictures of pines on the board.)
The teacher reads the problem:
“Here are 6 oaks and 3 pines
How green and slender they are!
How many trees are there? Find out
And count well.”
- Yes, this is a task!
- What is the condition in this problem?
- What's the question?
- How many oak trees have grown? (child puts a number)
- How many pine trees? (puts a number)
- Name the arithmetic operation with which you will solve this problem. (addition)
- What sign shall we put? (+)
- What was the solution? (6+3)
- What is the answer in the problem? (Total grew 9trees)
4.
Physical activity.
One - rise, stretch,
Two - bend, straighten,
Three - three claps in the hands,
Three nods of the head,
Four - arms wider,
Five - six003,
Five - six003
sit down in place.
5. (There is a picture on the board - a six-headed serpent)
- Look into the realm of mathematics, the serpent Gorynych flew in, he wants to burn the house and trees. Let's help the hero to defeat him.
“There was a desperately harsh battle
The serpent had 6 heads.
- Take the bill. sticks and lay out as many as the snake had heads.
But the hero cuts down 3… (I cover 3 heads)
How much is left, look.”
- Cut off 3 heads. How many heads does the serpent Gorynych have left?
(The snake Gorynych has 3 heads left) repeat ....
- What is the condition in this problem?
- What's the question?
- Name the arithm. action with which you will solve this problem.
- Use counting sticks to solve this problem and name the answer.
6. Experience.
“Well done, guys, you did a great job with all the tasks: put the numbers in order, restored the destroyed house, counted the trees near the house, helped the hero. Well, now it's time for us to return from mathematical country. And in order for us to find the way home, the Queen of Mathematics sent us a route. He is in this kinder - surprise. But the trouble is, the kinder surprise fell into the water, and we have to get it. But there is one condition: you can’t put your hand into the jug. How can we do it? (children's answers).
- I will help you. In order to cope with the task, we need these plasticine balls. I will lower them into the water, and you name which ball I lower in a row. (First, second ....) - Correct. Look what happened: with the help of balloons, the water level rose, and we were able to get the capsule without putting our hand into the jug.
- We only need to draw the route.
You have leaflets on the tables, our location is marked with a red dot, and this is our kindergarten. If you correctly follow all my instructions, then we will get to our D. garden. Put the pencil in the red dot and go ...
(Graphic dictation)
7. Teacher: “Well, here we are at home, in kindergarten. All mathematical adventures are over. Guys, now tell me, was it very difficult for you?
Children: "It's not difficult at all, and even interesting!"
The teacher's assistant enters and says: "You have a letter."
Educator: “Thank you very much. Who could it be?"
Letter from the Queen of Mathematics: “Dear friends! Thank you very much for your help! You did an excellent job with all the tasks. You not only saved the mathematical country, you created beautiful houses from geometric shapes, it became better than before. Absolute precision and order reign in my mathematical realm.”
(The teacher reads to the children a letter in which the Queen of Mathematics thanks the children for their help.
)
Educator: “Guys, thanks to the knowledge gained in kindergarten, you helped the mathematical country and its inhabitants. Soon you will go to school and learn a lot of interesting things there.
summary of the lesson in mathematics for the preparatory group on the topic: "Repetition" | Outline of a lesson in mathematics (preparatory group):
"Exercise for the mind"
Hello guys. Today in the lesson we will remember everything we know about geometric shapes and learn new secrets of shapes. But in order for you to quickly and correctly answer, you need to do exercises for the mind. I will ask questions, and try to answer them quickly.
- How many days are there in a week?
Children: 7
- What is the 5th day of the week?
Children: Friday
- What day of the week is between Thursday and Friday?
Children: Wednesday
- What day does the week end?
Children: Sunday
- Why was the week called the week before?
Children: because 7 days
- How many months are there in a year?
Children: 12
- How many days are there in a year?
Children: 365
- How many hours are there in a day?
Children: 24
- How many minutes are there in one hour?
Children: 60 minutes
- How many seconds are there in one minute?
Children: 60 seconds
- How many ears do two rabbits have?
Children: four
- How many paws do two cats have?
Children: 8
Well done! Now you can start more difficult work.
2. “Each figure has its own house”
Educator: Guys, everyone has a set of geometric shapes on your tables. In front of you are 4 houses for figures. Your task is to lay out all the figures in shape, each in its own house. (Children lay out the figures into 4 houses: squares, triangles, circles and rectangles). After completing the task, ask the children why they arranged the figures in such a way; name each shape.
Teacher: How many sides and angles does a triangle have?
Children: 3 corners, 3 sides
Educator: How many sides and corners does a rectangle have?
Children: 4 corners and 4 sides
Educator: How many sides and corners does a square have?
Children: 4 corners and 4 sides
Educator: How many sides and corners does a circle have?
Children: a circle has no corners and sides
Educator: That's right, I didn't confuse you! A circle has no corners or sides
Educator: And now lay out the same figures again into 4 houses, but not in shape, but in color.
Educator: How many figures did you get in each house, count.
- Which house has the most figures? Which one has less?
Well done! And you have completed this task.
3. Working with counting sticks.
Educator: And now let's work with counting sticks.
You will have the following task:
a) make 3 equal triangles out of 7 sticks;
b) out of 7 sticks - 2 squares,
Take 2 more sticks.
c) 9 sticks – 4 triangles,
Take 1 more stick.
d) from 10 sticks - a five-pointed star.
If the children find it difficult, then prompt them or help them complete the task.
4. Physical minutes. Semicircle
If you suddenly break the circle,
You will get a semicircle.
This is a month in the clouds
And half an apple in your hands.
This is a mushroom cap,
Wet hummock in the swamp.
A multicolored semicircle
A rainbow rose over the meadow.
