PreK math activities or provocations are one of the easiest to set up and literally take no additional manipulatives than what is already in your classroom. With young children, any item becomes a counting object and can be used with 10 frames as addition and subtraction items. TK students need to be able to learn math in a hands-on way. They should be encouraged to touch the items, physically move items in the space to understand spatial awareness and be encouraged to pattern EVERYTHING. I use photographic evidence to document all learning, you can read more about that here.
Hands-On Math
I use the program Math Their Way with my TK students. Since it was originally designed as a Kindergarten math program it has great instructional methods for teaching Prek math. I start the year allowing my students to become familiar with the manipulatives. This way when we begin learning about numbers, counting, adding and subtracting the children are able to focus- rather than getting stuck on the new cool items. Every month when I introduce another manipulative (typically thematic) I allow a few days of exploration before the “math” starts.
As the year progresses I begin adding the roll and count activities to our daily math centers. The children roll the dice, count the corresponding number of manipulatives. Then they add the small counting pieces to their number card. I do include the number/counting page for the children who may need help with number recognition.
During the TK year, my objective is to introduce number concepts, inspire a love of numbers, and help students learn that math is everywhere.
Prek Math Activities Their Way
I love to use 10 frame activities to help my students learn about numbers. We even use the 10 frame mat to decipher numbers using their whole bodies. I am a firm believer in getting students up and moving. Kinesthetic learning is crucial in the early years. We use the 10 frame mat for counting boys v. girls, velcro shoes v. ties, brunette v. blonde, eye color, etc. In addition to getting my students up and moving it is also a perfect way to enhance their concrete understanding of numbers.
Since our classroom is a natural classroom I also use wooden 10 frames for our table work. They come from a great company called Montessori Restore. The wooden 10 frames are out every day and used by the children for counting all sorts of found items.
Looking for more 10 frame activity ideas? Head over to my friend Amanda’s blog and read about how she uses 10 frames in her Kindergarten classroom.
Books for PreK Math Activities and Provocations
I use the following list of books to keep around the classroom. By leaving books in various centers I find the students become more engaged with words and numbers in an authentic way.
- 10 Black Dots
- Mouse Shapes
- Fish Eyes
- One Duck Stuck
- Cubes, Cones, Cylinders
- Round is a Tortilla
- Sorting at the Market
- So Many Circles
- Anno’s Counting Book
- 10 Little Rubber Ducks
- The M&M Counting Book
- The Crayon Counting Book
I have even started adding a clap and count the syllables activity to our literacy centers. Combining math with every lesson will help the children begin to grasp the abstract concepts in a concrete manner.
If you are still looking for math activities for your students, you can read more about 1:1 correspondence here with my friend Kari.
My friend Maria over at My Preschooler and Me, can help your young students gain a strong grasp of number sense.
Or 1-2 grade students, check out my friend Kayla at the Average Teacher. She has a whole blog post all about elementary math measurement activities.
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