As part of our insect theme activities during the spring I love to incorporate a lot of fun, hands-on activities to help us learn about real insects and use the concept of insects for various learning activities. Here in this insect counting numbers math activity we’re using an adorable bug theme printable that helps preschoolers and kindergarteners learn different ways to represent the numbers from 0 through 10.
GET A FULL WEEK OF BUG THEME ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRESCHOOL INSECT THEME LESSON PLANS.
See the Insect Counting Mats in Action
Watch this short video to see some of the manipulatives we like to use as we play with these insect counting mats.
Ways to Play
First you’ll want to decide what manipulatives you’d like to use for this set. There are a lot of options! You might try:
- pom pom or pony bead insect “eggs”
- toy insects
- mini eraser insects
- play dough (to make insect eggs)
And remember that you can switch out the manipulatives you use after a while so the kids get a fresh way to play. This saves you time and gives them more opportunities to practice the skills in a fun way.
Kids can practice counting out sets to match the number on the counting mat. The free printable includes mats for numbers zero through ten. Spread them out on the floor and use them all at once if kids have a good base knowledge of numbers to 10. Or limit them to a smaller set of numbers to help kids hone in on those specific numbers.
There is also a printable ten frame in the set so kids can practice building the numbers in the ten frame as well.
As kids sort the printable bugs they’ll find different ways to show each number.
There are dot sets, numerals, numbe words, fingers, and dominoes. You may also differentiate this activity by including one some of these aspects as kids are ready for them.
Want to add in more writing to your math activity? As kids develop skill in identifying the different ways to show each number you can extend this activity by having kids use each bug as a cue card
As they pull select a bug kids can write or show the number in the same way.
For the number, number word, and ten frame we usually draw on the mat with a dry erase marker.
For the hands we count on our hands, and then show a set of manipulatives on the mat (like the yellow “eggs” shown above).
For the domino bug we find different dominoes to match the number. Note: It may be helpful to narrow down your set of dominoes a bit if you have a very large set for kids to search through.
GET YOUR FREE INSECT COUNTING NUMBERS MATH ACTIVITY
As you can see there are a lot of possibilities with these free Insect Counting Numbers Math Activity Printable Mats! Complete the form below to get your set emailed to you.
PRINTABLE INSECT 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.
Explore an insect theme with your preschoolers for this spring. This pack includes editable lesson plans and hands-on activities for a week full of math, reading, & science learning activities about bugs. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:
This set currently includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:
1) Editable Name Bug Activity
2) Counting Insect Parts Diagram and Math Activity
3) Here is the Insect Emergent Reader (3 Variations)
4) Uppercase and Lowercase Alphabet and Hand Lens Letter Cards
5) Insect Life Cycle Recording Sheet
6) Insect Counting Puzzles (3 Variations)
7) Insect Patterning Cards
8) Insect Roll and Graph Games (2 Versions)
9) Insect Build A Word Mats
10) Lightning Bug Numbers Counting Activity
11) Insect Size Sorting Activity
12) Insect or Not an Insect Sorting Activity
GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Home Preschool Insect Theme Lesson Plans
Preschool Classroom Insect Theme Lesson Plans
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Jane Cook
fantastic fun and learning counting numbers insects – the children in my nursery will love these.
Lynn
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Lynn
Shaunna Evans
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