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Home / Early Learning / Math / Monster Counting Activity and Free Printable Monster Number Cards

Monster Counting Activity and Free Printable Monster Number Cards

Shared by Mary Catherine 19 Comments

This monster counting activity is super engaging for young children, as it appeals to multiple senses. The monster calendar numbers aren’t scary at all, and invite the kids to practice all kinds of math.

Counting monster eyes lets the kids practice one-to-on correspondence, as well as number identification. And the printable numbers can be used in a variety of other monster-themed math.

Add this monster math idea to you Halloween activities for preschoolers. And watch as the kids delightedly explore math as they play and learn.

Counting activity for a preschool monster theme with printable monster numbers

Related: How to Make Slime With Kids

Preschoolers like to count.

It’s one of the ways they can explore and categorize the world around them.

Counting is also a critical early math skill, so it’s important to encourage and teach counting throughout a preschooler’s day.

To keep things interesting and at a young child’s level, counting should definitely be fun and hands-on.

Use the printable monster number cards to get the kids counting and learning one-to-one correspondence.

Toss in some sensory play and you’re good to go.

Table of Contents

  • How to Set Up the Printable Monster Counting Activity
    • Prepping the monster counting invitation
    • What we did with our slime monsters
    • What do kids learn from this printable monster counting activity?
  • Alternative Ideas for the Printable Monster Number Cards
    • A slightly different monster counting activity
    • Even more ideas for those number cards
  • More Monster-Themed Activities You Should Check Out
  • Get Your Monster Number Cards
  • Preschool Monster Lesson Plans

How to Set Up the Printable Monster Counting Activity

There are a few different ways to go about putting this monster number activity together.

I’ll share what we did, along with a few different ideas you could try.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Prepping the monster counting invitation

We started off with our glitter monster slime. Whenever possible, I like reusing materials for multiple activities.

We already had some of the slime separated into sensory bags. So we just removed the googly eyes and resealed the bags.

(I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.) Fresh googly eyes were a must for our monster counting, of course. We also used a black permanent marker and our monster number cards from our monster lesson plans.

You can grab a free version of the printable monster number cards at the bottom of the post (click on the teal box).

Since we had the slime monster sensory bags done already, it didn’t take long to set all of this up.

I drew super simple smiles on the slime bags and grabbed some googly eyes.

I’d already cut and laminated the monster number cards, so they were added in easily.

Making a slime monster counting activity using free printable monster number cards

Related: Playful Fall Activities for Preschoolers

What we did with our slime monsters

The slime monster sensory bags were turned into slime monsters waiting for their eyes.

We put the printable monster cards all in one pile and then got started with the top number.

Monster counting activity with free printable monster cards

Related: The Best Math Activities for Preschoolers

We counted out the correct amount of googly eyes and added them to slime monster face.

From there, we went back and counted to make sure we’d added the right number of eyes. Then it was on to the next card.

What do kids learn from this printable monster counting activity?

As with all early childhood activities, there are many learning opportunities here.

Of course, counting and one-to-one correspondence are practiced with the slime monster counting.

In addition to that, kids are working on number identification. They can look at the number on each card and identify it, or they can receive some adult or peer help to do so.

Free printable monster numbers perfect for a counting activity

Related: Halloween Book Making with Kids

Fine motor and sensory skills are also involved here.

The slime is fun to manipulate with little fingers, and it’s got a unique feel to it.

Picking up the small googly eyes and adding them to the monster bags works kids’ pincer grasps along the way, too.

Colors and sorting can come into play here, as well. We used green, blue, and purple monster baggies since we already had them on-hand.

However, it would be great to make a different color for each of the monsters on the number cards.

Then the kids could sort the cards based on their colors before starting the counting activity.

Alternative Ideas for the Printable Monster Number Cards

As I mentioned above, I like reusing materials whenever possible.

The monster number cards don’t have to be used just for counting eyes for slime monsters.

A slightly different monster counting activity

We set up a different hands-on, multi-sensory counting activity with the number cards once we were done with the slime monsters.

I grabbed some black beans leftover from making sensory bottles a while back and put them into a little wooden tray.

The wooden tray is from a lacing card set I got at the Target Dollar Spot a while back – kind of like these lacing cards.

Free printable monster number cards for a monster counting activity

Related: Types of Slime Recipes in the Ultimate Collection from A to Z

The printable monster numbers slotted in perfectly along the top of the tray, with the beans in the larger area.

We pretended the black beans were where silly monsters were hiding under the bed.

Googly eyes were added based on the number cards, just like the slime monster bags.

We also wrote the numbers in the black beans to practice number writing.

Even more ideas for those number cards

  • Use the cards for calendar numbers during a monster theme.
  • Make different sensory bags for the monster faces.
  • Work on numerical order, placing them in a long line from 0 to 35.
  • Sort the cards based on the monsters’ colors.
  • Make patterns based on the colors of the monsters on the cards.
  • Print out more than one set and work on building larger numbers.
  • Add them to a silly monster math game.

More Monster-Themed Activities You Should Check Out

Monster Counting Activity and 18 More Monster Ideas for Kids

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Feed the Monster Alphabet Match // Sara J Creations

Monster Alphabet Playdough Mats // Modern Preschool

Counting Cards // Miss Kindergarten

Monster Math Addition Clip Cards // The Kindergarten Connection

Counting Mats // The STEM Laboratory

Monster Measurement Cards // Fairy Poppins

Monster Alphabet Game // Stay at Home Educator

Felt Monsters Busy Box // Teach Me Mommy

Letter Match // Schooling a Monkey

Monster Snowball Coverall // Recipe for Teaching

Snow Monster Addition Puzzles // The Simplified Classroom

Monster Shape Graphs // Playdough to Plato

Slime Monster Counting Activity // Fun-A-Day

Name the Monster Phonics Game // Play & Learn Every Day

Monster Counting Emergent Reader // A Dab of Glue Will Do

Color Monsters Write the Room // Letters of Literacy

Monster Truck Numbers: Bigger and Smaller // Liz’s Early Learning Spot

Creation Tray // Powerful Mothering

Monster Feelings Match Up // Pocket of Preschool

Get Your Monster Number Cards

These cards are for members of Fun-A-Day’s email community. If you’re already a member, enter your email below and get the cards sent to you. Otherwise, enter your information to join the email list (and receive the monster number cards as a free gift). These emails will be chock full of early childhood education resources, activities, tips, and even more freebies!

Preschool Monster Lesson Plans

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for classroom teachers and home preschool families so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.

Monster Preschool Lesson Plans

This set includes active hands-on learning ideas, book suggestions, and the following printables:

  • Monster Calendar (or general number) Cards
  • Uppercase Monster Letter Cards
  • Lowercase Monster Letter Cards
  • Color Matching Monster Mats and Activity Pieces
  • Counting Monster Mats (1-10)
  • Roll and Count Monster Math Game Boards (6 versions)
  • Feed the Monster Templates
  • Monster Munchies Beginning Sound Cards
  • Number Cubes (6 versions) for Monster Math Activities
  • Roll-A-Monster Creative Art Activity Pieces and Game Cube
  • Monsters’ Healthy Choices Recording Sheet
  • Monster Hourse Beginning Sound Sort
  • Monster Number Cards(0-35)
  • Where Do Monsters Live Book Making Guide and Printable Pages

Get your monster-themed lesson plans:

Preschool Monster Lesson Plans for Preschool Classrooms

Monster-Themed Lesson Plans for Home Preschool Families

You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers

Slime Monster Counting Activity - Kids can work on counting, one-to-one correspondence, and more early math skills. Love the free printable monster numbers
Slime Monster Counting Activity - Love these free printable number cards

Filed Under: Math Tagged With: Fall, Free Printable, Halloween, monsters

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Comments

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  1. Krystal Herrera says

    November 21, 2017 at 4:13 am

    It looks so fun to use for learning. Thank you for sharing this. My kids will really enjoy this item. Great post! <3

    Reply
  2. Trisha says

    May 29, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    This is adorable! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      June 2, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks so much, Trisha! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Katie McClelland says

    October 2, 2018 at 11:09 pm

    Where did you purchase the sand trays with the large compartment and the smaller section up top?

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      October 4, 2018 at 10:10 am

      Hey Katie! Love those trays! I mentioned in the post that I got them when I purchased some lacing cards at Target (in their Dollar Spot area). Some of the Melissa and Doug lacing cards come in trays like that as well.

      Reply
  4. Nancy says

    March 16, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    Great idea! I always do a monster unit in the spring or summer. This will make a super addition to it.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      March 17, 2019 at 4:31 pm

      Great! Let me know how it goes. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jill R Van Eck says

    October 26, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Love these!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      October 26, 2019 at 10:29 am

      Thanks, Jill! I hope your kids have a blast using them!

      Reply
  6. Melissa Altman says

    August 3, 2020 at 10:20 am

    Love

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      August 13, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      Thank you! Let me know if you try it with the kids. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Caliaro says

    September 25, 2020 at 12:37 pm

    Comment faire pour imprimer les monstres qui sont gratuit

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      September 27, 2020 at 5:32 pm

      There’s a large teal box near the end of the post. You can click on it, then enter your name and email address. That will have a copy of the free number cards sent to your email. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kathi says

    September 28, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    love the monster ideas

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      September 28, 2020 at 8:28 pm

      Thanks, Kathi! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Taylor says

    January 20, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    I love the monsters. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      January 20, 2021 at 4:18 pm

      Happy to help! 🙂

      Reply
  10. angela says

    August 20, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    so beautiful material, thanks for sharing . love it.
    thanks

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      September 8, 2021 at 9:35 am

      You’re welcome, Angela! Let me know how it goes if you try it with the kids. 🙂

      Reply
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My name is Mary Catherine, and I love to share meaningful {and fun} learning activities for kiddos! Feel free to browse and stay awhile!

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