Preschool Math Activities

Enhance preschool math time with activities.

Preschool math activities allow students to learn the subject in an exciting way. Although teachers should employ traditional methods first, they should also use activities to enhance the lesson and encourage further understanding.

Make Some Noise

Since preschoolers are full of energy, allow them to be physical while learning their numbers. Hold up a large number flashcard, and allow students to clap the appropriate number. Vary the activity by allowing students to hop up and down, stomp their feet or quack like a duck for each number. This type of activity enhances recognition between the numerical value and the written number.

Guess Who?

Help preschoolers recognize basic shape by playing a game called Guess Who? Call out characteristics of a shape, and the students must guess which shape you are describing. To describe a triangle, you could say something such as, "This shape has three sides and three angles."

Make the activity more interactive by passing out index cards marked with shapes to each student. When the student thinks he knows the answer to your clues, he can hold up the appropriate card into the air.

Calendar Songs

Help preschoolers understand calendars by posting a large calendar with the days of the week and months of the year. Teach students songs featuring these terms.

Enhance understanding by allowing students to post the numbers on the calendars with shapes. Refer to the calendar throughout the week, and teach terms such as "yesterday," "today" and "tomorrow."

Matching Cards

Pass out two sets of cards to each student. One set of cards is numbered one through 10; the other set of cards has a quantity of animals printed on the cards. The first card will have one lion, the second card will have two lions, etc. Have the students match up the number with the quantity. If time permits, allow the students to paste the cards to a paper as a craft project.

Number Hunt

Place some number cards around the classroom, and allow students to go on a number hunt to find the printed numbers. Place some cards in plain sight, such as the chalkboard, and then have others slightly hidden, like on the cover of a book. Encourage students to look for quantities too, such as a stack of three books or a group of 10 pencils.

References

• You Tube: Days of the Week Song
• You Tube: Months of the Year Song

Resources

• I Love that Teaching Idea: Math Ideas
• Songs for Teaching: Math Songs