Fine Motor Turkey Math in Preschool

This week’s #PLAYfulpreschool theme focuses on turkeys and feathers, but I’m sure you already figured that out! I’m sharing a turkey math game inspired by my spring flower dice game.

Dice games, in any shape or form, always seem to be a big hit with my preschoolers. They love tossing the toss, and I love all of the learning that takes place. Dice games are pretty simple to put together, but you can also make them more elaborate if you want. On top of that, you can change them up for different levels in the blink of an eye!

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Materials for the turkey math dice game
Play dough or clay (I used Model Magic & kept it in sealed baggies when not in use)
Dice
Craft feathers (I used some from our workroom, but you can find some HERE)

How to play the game with two people
Each player gets a play dough turkey and a handful of feathers. Make sure they each have the same amount of feathers. One person rolls a die, then places the appropriate number of feathers in her turkey. The next player does the same. This continues until one person is out of feathers and is declared the winner.

The Learning
Here are some of the skills this feathery game explores:

• Fine motor skills
• Counting
• One-to-one correspondence
• Turn taking
• Visual patterns

Other ways to play
Place a big pile of feathers in the table (for the kids to share). Each person takes turns rolling a die and adding feathers to his turkey. However, the game is over after a predetermined number of die rolls per kiddo (maybe 5 or 10 each, for example).

This turkey math game can be played individually, too. Just place a turkey, some feathers, and a die near a child and let her at it. Trust me, they will get right into the game even if they’re not playing against anyone.

Numerals could be used in place of the dice. This would add number identification to the other skills this turkey math game teaches.

Addition and subtraction can also be taught and explored with this dice game. The children could roll multiple dice at a time and add the amounts together, then place the total number of feathers to the turkey. Etc. Etc. Etc. I love when simple activities can teach so much to the students!

More #PLAYfulpreschool posts for the week
Check out what the others are sharing this week:

• Name Activities: Feather Letter Turkey by Growing Book by Book
  Turkey Learning Games by The Educators’ Spin On It
  Textured Turkey Feathers Pre-Writing Activity for #PlayfulPreschool by The Preschool Toolbox
  Turkey Geoboard by Still Playing School
  Counting Feathers Sticky Wall by Mom Inspired Life
  Fine Motor Turkey Math by Fun-A-Day!
  Quick & Easy Color Feather Sort by Powerful Mothering
  Make Pretty Feather Window Clings-a tutorial by Capri +3
  Toilet Roll Turkey by Tiny Tots Adventures
  Writing with Feathers by Rainy Day Mum

After writing this post, I came upon some fun math with play dough turkeys from Learn.Play.Imagine! Be sure to check out her take on turkey math!