There are so many ways to use chocolate kisses for learning! So far we’ve shared some free printable Valentine’s Day math ideas for graphing and measuring with chocolate kisses. Today we’re using them for sorting and adding in this beginning addition valentine math activity. As toddlers focus on sorting chocolate kisses by color we can extend the learning opportunity for preschoolers and kindergartners by both sorting and including a bit of number sense practice to help get ready for addition.
This Valentine’s Day math activity works well in small groups or math centers during your Valentine’s Day theme activities.
FIND EVEN MORE VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE LESSON PLANS
ABOUT VALENTINE’S DAY AND HEARTS.
Sorting and Combining Sets Beginning Addition Valentine Math Activity
For this activity we used the free printable sorting mats (available below). If you’re working with one child and prefer not to use the printable, this activity can absolutely be done without the printable mat.
However, when working with a goup of kids the free printable comes in handy, as it gives kids a way to organize their sets and work at their own pace while you interact and discuss observations with other students.
I like to laminate the mats or place them in reusable pouches so that we could repeat the activity multiple times.
The free printable set includes:
- One option with colored circles to match the standard Valentine Hershey Kisses package
- One option with the color words
- One blank option so you can use any set of Kisses that you have on hand
I place the mats out with a number cube, the Kisses, and a dry erase marker. You could also differentiate for older kids by including two number cubes to roll for each turn so the amounts are higher.
Kids start by rolling the number cube for the first circle.
They count out that many Kisses in the corresponding color and then add those to the circle.
Continue rolling and counting out the number of Kisses until all three circles have Kisses in them.
To get some number writing practice we then write the number of each kind of chocolate kisses.
Take time here to discuss any observations.
- Which color had the most Kisses?
- Which color had the least?
- Did any of them have an equal amount of Kisses?
For an extra challenge, we then combine the sets to find out how many in all. Then we record the sum.
(And do remember to use the italicized terms so that kids begin to get used to them and are able to use them as they have math discussions too.)
GET YOUR COPY OF THIS FREE PRINTABLE VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITY
Click the pink button below to get a free printable copy of the Chocolate Kisses Beginning Addition Valentine Math pages.
Click this link if you do not see the pink download button above.
More Valentine’s Day Math Activities
Get more hands-on math fun with our 28-page roll and color hearts math set. Practice early math skills with these fun games kids love.
~~ Click Here to Get the Roll and Color Heart Math Set ~~
PRINTABLE VALENTINE’S DAY THEME LESSON PLANS
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
VALENTINE’S DAY THEME
GET YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY THEME LESSON PLANS
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
HEART THEME
GET YOUR HEART THEME LESSON PLANS
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Originally published February 2014.
Updated January 2019.
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