One More One Less Activities

Use these hands-on one more one less activities to strengthen number sense skills in preschool and kindergarten.

So your kids have learned to count. Maybe they can count to 10, 20…even 100! Does that mean you’re done teaching them the math skills they’ll need?

Of course not! Learning to count is just one small step on the path to mathematical understanding, or number sense. Developing number sense is a key focus throughout the early years and beyond, and the process includes a variety of skills.

In this specific article we’re going to take a look at one of these skills, understanding one more and one less. Although this seems obvious to us as adult learners kids can often struggle with this concept, particlarly one less. Providing them with many concrete experiences with hands-on materials can lead them to a deep understanding of the concept, and this will support them later on as they need to rely on the concept of one more and one less to do more complex math problems.

WHAT IS NUMBER SENSE?

But first, you may still not have a clear picture of number senses and why it’s important. This video from Build Math Minds gives a good overview.

TEACHING TIPS & MAJOR CONCEPTS KIDS WILL LEARN

This article from Maths No Problem shares some of the signs of what good number sense looks like and what poor number sense looks like.

For additional reading on number sense skills and how to teach them, these books are helpful.

ONE MORE ONE LESS ACTIVITIES ON FANTASTIC FUN AND LEARNING

The great thing about one more one less activities is there are many opportunities to naturally weave them into your daily routines if you are intentional about it.

Here on Fantastic Fun and Learning I’ve outlined a series of three hands-on activities you do with any small items (math manipulatives).

Once you learn the simple steps and the math talk that goes along with the activities to deepen the learning potential, then you can also duplicate the same activities with things like snack items and small toys your child plays with throughout the day.

Learn the simple hands-on one more and one less math activities.

ONE MORE ONE LESS MATH GAMES

As kids beging to understand the concept of one more and one less we want to help them develop fluency and be able to quickly identify one more and one less without having to give it a lot of thought.

At this stage playing fun one more and one less math games can help kids develop that fluency.

TRY A ONE MORE ONE LESS MATH GAME FOR FREE

We’ve developed a full year’s worth of thematic one more and one less games to help kids revisit this skill all year long.

We’ve shared about two of the one more one less math games before, and you can try them for free with your kids..

Read about the fish one more one less math game and try it out for free.

See how we use the ladybug one more one less game and get a free copy to try for yourself.

GET THE FULL ONE MORE ONE LESS MATH GAMES SET

Here’s a look at the main components of the complete 57-page one more and one less games set.

What others are saying about this set:

“So easy for kids to use independently. I have been looking for activities to strengthen one more, one less.”

“My students need extra practice with this skill. I know they will enjoy this hands-on approach.”

“This was great for centers and small groups!”

Grab your copy below.

Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

INFORMATIONAL YOUTUBE SONGS & VIDEOS

Songs and videos are another helpful tool to help kids remember key skills. These songs and videos are helpful to watch along with your hands-on one more one less activities.

One More Song from Harry Kindergarten Music

One Less Song from Harry Kindergarten Music

One Less Number Game Open Answer Song from Jack Hartmann

One More Video Lesson from Periwinkle