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Cookie Jar Subitizing
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Snail Subitizing Math Game
Subitizing, the mouthful of a term for “being able to look at a set and know the amount without counting it,” is one of those cringey teacher words that makes parents’ eyes glaze over, you know? But it’s a critical math skill that we teach in Pre-K, as ugly as the word is itself. And one of our absolute favorite free subitizing games is Snail Subitizing from Life Matters Foundation.
Snail Subitizing is colorful and super cute, and requires few items to play. We laminate the game page and provide dice and either bingo chips or a dry-erase marker and eraser. This activity rocks because once shown how to do it, kiddos can progress through the board at their own speed.
Most importantly, however, is that the snails don’t always display the typical dot pattern represented on a standard die. We LOVE that it makes our kiddos think beyond the standard dot configurations they’ve come to know. It makes them think about how different combinations still make up the same number, and it reinforces knowledge of the concept thoroughly.
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Domino Math
Dominoes are fantastic for teaching all kinds of math concepts in pre-k: counting, one-to-one correspondence, subitizing, addition and so on. This Domino Math freebie from Recipe for Teaching features several different domino-themed math tools. Today we are using the blank, oversized domino canvas, which helps preschool kiddos practice all of the aforementioned concepts in one.
We used this page a little differently than it is demonstrated on the RfT site. First, we slid the blank domino sheets into plastic page protectors for use with dry erase markers (laminating works as well). We die-cut a supply of small black circles, and provided a dry erase marker, eraser, die and a “dice containment cup” for each kid.
We asked each kiddo roll their die, determine the number (subitizing!), count out that number of black dots (counting! one-to-one correspondence!), and place them on one side of the domino. Then we asked them to write that number on the corresponding space below. Then, they repeated the process for the second side. After they completed the two sides, then we asked them to finish the (addition!) equation.
This activity also helped with following multi-step directions, working independently and problem solving, and they LOVED it!
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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
Free Preschool Math, Science, Literacy, Reading, Writing and Art Resources for Teachers and Parents