These math activities for preschoolers are sure to engage the kids as they explore early math. They run the gamut from counting to colors to one-to-one correspondence and include hands-on, multi-sensory ideas. Plus, there are even some free printables focused on math!
Children naturally explore math throughout their day. We, as adults, may not realize this at first. But take a few moments today to sit back and observe.
As you’re watching the kids build a structure with blocks, you’ll see them delve into math. They might count the blocks they used to make a castle. Perhaps they’ll comment on the shape or color of the blocks. The children might even say that they’re taller than what they’ve built.
Watch them as they’re playing outside. They might be counting or sorting the leaves they’ve collected. Maybe they’ll use some sticks to measure the playground fence. I’m sure you’ll hear some observations about the colors all around them.
Those are just a few instances of kids bringing math into their everyday lives. Because that’s the thing . . . math IS in their everyday lives. It’s in OUR everyday lives too. We’re just so used to it that it doesn’t phase us much.
Below you will find a slew of hands-on preschool math activities to try with your students or your own kids. Each and every one has been a hit in my classroom or my home (or both!).
Math Activities for Preschoolers
While many of these math ideas are invitations I came up with, you’ll also find a variety that the kids put together themselves.
Keep that in mind when you’re mapping out your math lesson plans – kids can (and do!) delve into math learning on their own. So sometimes simpler is better. And you never know . . . they might create a new math lesson for you to use in later years.
I’ve broken the math activities for preschoolers into a few different categories. This way, you can find just what you’re looking for! I’ll be updating this page as I share more math ideas, so be sure to pin or bookmark it.
Calendar Numbers and Number Cards
I’ve got a variety of free printable calendar numbers for you and the kids, as well as number cards. The calendar numbers are squares and can be used as part of your linear or traditional calendar. Both the calendar numbers and the number cards can be used to practice a multitude of early math skills. Either way, they’re items you should include with the rest of your math activities for preschoolers.
Sorting Math Activities for Preschoolers
Teaching kids to sort is an important part of preschool math. Below you’ll find sorting math activities to try with the kids.
Shape Activities
Now let’s take a peek at some shape math activities for preschoolers! Little kids get really excited about learning to identify shapes, don’t they?
One-to-One Correspondence Math Activities
Helping children move from rote counting to one-to-one correspondence is a big part of preschool math. It encompasses the understanding that each object in a set can be counted, as well as matching one item to one corresponding item. Children learn that numerals represent a specific quantity. This is important because numerals themselves are an abstract concept. One-to-one correspondence bridges the gap to understanding the abstract.
Click on the links below for each of the 1-to-1 correspondence math activities for preschoolers:
Math Printable Books
Printable emergent readers aren’t just for practicing early literacy skills! They can also be a great way to explore early math skills like counting, colors, number identification, and more. Below are printable books I created to pair with my other math activities for preschoolers.
Preschool Subitizing Activities
Subitizing is knowing how many items are in a group without counting them. It’s how we can look at the dots on the face of a die and just know how many there are, for example. Games involving dice are one of the ways we teach children about subitizing.
Color Activities for Preschool
We can’t talk about math activities for preschoolers without talking about learning colors, right?! And you can use almost anything to explore color identification with the kids, including using the environment around you. But if you’re looking for more ideas, I have some suggestions:
Learn how to dye pumpkin seeds and use them in your math fun.
Make some rainbow sensory bottles with corn syrup (or your other favorite sensory jar ingredients).
Use rainbow rocks for teaching colors.
Set up a scented rainbow science experiment for the kids.
Put together a colorful corn sensory bin.
An “I See” rainbow book combines literacy and math in the form of colors.
Help the kids make a color collage.
This fall colors modeled writing activity can be used to discuss colors throughout the year.
Set up a colored ice sensory invitation.
Even More Math Activities for Preschoolers
As I said earlier, Fun-A-Day houses a lot of engaging math activities. Many of them fit into the above categories, but there are a few that just don’t. I suppose I need to write about more ideas like those below!
Themed Math Activities for Preschoolers
I told you we had a ton of math ideas to talk about, right?! So you’re probably not surprised I have even more to share with you! Below are collections of math activities based around holidays, seasons, or themes. They come in handy when planning, let me tell you!
Click on the links below for the individual collections:
Transportation Math Activities for Preschoolers
Winter Math Activities for Preschoolers
Spring Math Activities for Preschool
Kid-Tested Preschool Math Books
Since we’re chatting about math right now, I thought I’d share some children’s math books with you. They’re all books I’ve read with my students to resounding successes.
Some Preschool Math Supplies You Should Check Out
No, kids don’t need a lot of things to learn math. In fact, grab some rocks and sticks and you’re probably good to go!
That being said, I do have some favorite math supplies. These are items I like using in the classroom for a wide variety of math activities for preschoolers and kindergartners (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
Printable Math Activities for Preschoolers
We have a variety of early math games and activities perfect for small groups and center time. I’d suggest you check out the roll and color bundle first, especially if you want a math resource that works for a variety of themes and holidays.
The roll and color bundle has 11 sets of math games that would work with different levels of children in early childhood classrooms.
This bundle includes Fall Pumpkin Roll and Color, Fall Apples Roll and Color, Back to School Crayon Roll and Color, Summer Fish Roll and Color, Spring Flower Roll and Color, Easter Egg Roll and Color, St. Patrick’s Day Roll and Color, Hearts Roll and Color, Christmas Tree Roll and Color, Fall Leaves Roll and Color, and Turkey Feather Roll and Color.
Each bundle comes with up to 9 game cube configurations and up to 16 game mats. Different game mats focus on the following skills:
- Color Matching
- Shape Matching
- Matching Sets to Numbers (0-5)
- Sets to Numbers (5-10)
- Matching Numbers (0-5)
- Matching Numbers (6-10)
- One More (0-5)
- One More (5-10)
- One Less (5-10)
- Addition Facts (0-5)
- Doubles Facts (0-5)
- Doubles Facts (5-10)
- Writing Doubles Facts (0-10)
- Color Words
- Number Words (0-5)
- Number Words (5-10)
It’s Your Turn
Okay, now that I have talked (and talked and talked!) about math activities for preschoolers, it’s your turn. What are some of your favorite early math ideas and lessons? Be sure to pop over to Fun-A-Day’s Facebook page and let me know.