Once kids have a grasp of the beginning concepts of combining sets and telling stories about joining groups of objects we can begin introducing addition sentences and gently exposing them to math facts. This is not something they will master in preschool or kindergarten. Instead it is a gradual progression from understanding the concept of addition toward quickly being able to recall math facts that will be used to later solve more complex math problem. Using hands-on activities like this flower petal addition activity we can give kids concrete opportunities to model and make sense of early addition concepts and help them begin to recognize math facts.

GET MORE FLOWER INSPIRED MATH ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE FLOWER NUMBER SENSE PACK.

This free printalbe flower petal addition activity works well as:

• a small group activity during math groups
• a math center option during center time
• an independent activity for early finishers

SEE THE FLOWER PETAL ADDITION ACTIVITY IN ACTION

Watch this quick video to see some of the ways we’re using this free printable.

Ways to Use the Flower Petal Addition Activity

As with nearly all of my early learning printables I designed this addition activity to be versatile. That way you can prepare it and use it in the way that best meets your preferences.

If you want to save a bit of time cutting out the materials, then leave the stems as a work mat. Then cut out the individual flower petals, and have kids match the correct petals to each work mat.

Note: These can also be added to a math activity binder with velcro dots in place for each petal to be attached to the mat.

If kids are just beginning to learn about addition, I would not include all of the mats and petals. Instead limit to two or three options for them to work with until they beging to develop some math fact fluency.

If you’d rather cut the flower stems out so they look more like actual flowers, then that’s a fun way to switch it up a bit. Just be sure to laminate your pieces so they don’t tear easily.

Another options is to use real maniplutives instead of simply adding the flower petals to the stems. Here we are using buttons to represent the flower petals. Kids can choose a flower petal that goes with the sum and modle the combination with the buttons, or they can create their own combinations without the petals as prompts.

If you have little sensory seekers who love play dough, you can even use play dough as the “petals”. Let kids roll play dough balls or press out their own flower petals to show different combinations for each sum.

There are a ton of possibilities! Your kids may even come up with more ideas as they begin working with this free printable. Be open to their discoveries!

More Number Sense Resources for Early Childhood

Flower Number Sense Math Activities

One More One Less Activities

More and Less Domino Math

Ladybug Number Sense Activities

GET YOUR FREE FLOWER PETAL MATH ACTIVITY

The 10-page free printable flower petal math activity set includes:

• Flower stems for numbers 6 through 10
• Flower petal combinations for numbers 6 through 10
• Blank flower petals for kids to create their own addends

Get More Flower Math Activities in the Flower Number Sense Pack

This 69-page set is designed to be very interactive, giving kids many opportunities to use manipulatives.

You can introduce the ideas during circle time and then use the math games during small group and center time.

There are even differentiated take home packs for families to do the activities at home.

Inside there are:

• Tips and Ideas for Use
• 0-10 Flower Number Cards Sets in Color and Black and White
• 16 Activity Cards with Hands-on Number Sense Activity Directions
• 9 Small Group and Center Number Sense Activity Mats
• 14 Number Sense Recording Sheets
• 4 Differentiated Take Home Packs of Number Sense Activities

Get a Full Week of Flower Theme Fun & Learning

This pack includes editable lesson plans and hands-on activities for a week full of math, reading, & science learning activities about flowers and the plant life cycle. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set: