Math
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Shorter and Longer: Measurement, Cutting and Sorting Activity
The Shorter and Longer freebie from Kindercraze is one of our early school-year favorites. Incorporating measurement, sorting and cutting, it gives the kiddos hands-on control over how they want to complete the activity.
To start, we provide our kiddos with a stash of precut construction paper strips (about 3/4 in x 4 in long), glue sticks and scissors.
We ask them to select whatever color strips they want and to cut each strip into two unequal pieces and then to sort and glue the pieces on the appropriate sides. They love that they get to pick the colors and number of strips, and they get to cut the strips wherever they want.
We generally don’t have any readers yet at the beginning of the year, so after we give our kiddos the instructions, we also draw a short line under the word “shorter” and a long line under the word “longer” to help them remember which side is which.
This is a great assessment vehicle not just for sorting and comprehension of the measurement concepts of longer and shorter, but also for multi-step direction following.
Let us know what you think of this freebie in the comments!
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Roll, Add & Build a Skyscraper City Math Game
We love to use dice games in math small groups with our Pre-K kiddos, and our Roll, Add & Build A Skyscraper City game is one of our favorites. We created it after a student noted how the side-by-side stacked cubes resembled New York City skyscrapers! Indeed they do.
You’ll need two dice per child, and a whole slew of linking cubes or small blocks that can be stacked. Then turn those kiddos loose to add, subitize, identify numerals, connect numerals to quantity and strengthen their one-to-one correspondence skills.
Ugh, isn’t it just like us teachers (and parents) to make everything fun a learning experience?
Get the free download below and let us know how your kiddos enjoy it!
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Knocking Stuff Down While Learning? Subtraction Bowling Makes Preschool Math Fun
The sanctioned hurling of objects to knock things down AND learning math at the same time make for an irresistible combination when teaching the preschool crowd. This is indisputable fact.
So, let’s face it, the Subtraction Bowling freebie from Recipe for Teaching was destined to be a hit before it ever made an appearance in our classroom. And guess what? It was — with the active and reserved kiddos alike.
For each bowling alley you set up, you’ll need 10 cups and a softball-sized ball. A yarn ball, oversized pompom or … dare we suggest … a wiffle ball, if you’re adventurous, will do the trick. The kiddos throw (or roll) the ball at the cups, count how many they knocked down and record it. After subtracting the knocked down pins, they then can record the number that remain standing.
Laminate the free printouts for use with dry erase markers. Your kiddos can hurl, count, subtract and repeat to their hearts’ content!
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Things That Go “Bump” In The Classroom
Ah, Bump, a true favorite in our class! Once Upon a Learning Adventure provides this version as part of a free four-pack of math small group games.
Bump is a fun counting game for working on one-to-one correspondence, numeral identification and connecting numeral to quantity.
Children play the game in pairs, so you will need one game sheet, two six-sided dice and 12 linking cubes in each of two colors for each twosome. (We recommend laminating several copies of the game sheet because this game will surely be popular!)
So many squeals of joy come out of this game — the kiddos love “bumping” each other off a number. Additionally, once they have the game’s directions mastered, kiddos can pair up and play it independently.
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Print and Drive Number Rhymes
We adore the Print and Drive Number Rhymes freebie from Preschool Mom — another fun, hands-on way to teach numbers in small groups or at independent exploration centers.
Combining action with learning, preschoolers use vehicles to drive along roads shaped like the numbers 1-10. This reinforces concepts of numeral recognition and counting.
And this set comes with a bonus: each number has its own cute rhyme that helps children remember how to write it.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you though — use of this fun freebie may cause spontaneous “Vrooms!” to erupt in your classroom!
