Numbers are the foundation of math understanding. But a number is not a symbol; a number is a quantity. “Three” is a collection of a certain quantity of items. The best way for preschoolers to develop the understanding of how many is three (or any number) is through counting. And not just saying the number sequence. “Counting” must include handling actual objects or doing other physical, concrete actions with the numbers. Use these counting games with your preschoolers to build their number sense and math understanding.
Counting Games for Math Practice
Fill the Frame
Materials needed:
- Ten Frames and Counters
- Dot Dice
Play the game:
Roll a die. Place that many counters in the frame. Continue until the frame is filled. Two children could play together, taking turns rolling and filling their frames. Or one child can play this game alone.
Step It Out
Materials needed:
- Homemade number cards – on paper squares or index cards, draw groups of dots for numbers 1-5; make several of each quantity (draw the dots in different arrangements)
- Paper or small carpet squares
Play the game:
Tape the paper to the floor in a trail across the room. (Or lay the carpet squares in a trail.) Mix the cards.
Hold a card for a child to see. She can determine the number/quantity and step that many spaces on the floor. Take turns among the children as they move across the room on the paper trail. The game ends when all players have moved across the room.
Number Sort
Materials needed:
- Homemade number cards (see above)
Play the game:
Mix the cards and lay in a stack facedown. Turn over the cards, one at a time, and place them in groups by number. (All cards that show 5 together, all cards that show 4, and so forth). For more advanced play, find two cards that together equal the quantity of another card. (For example, a card of 3 and a card of 1 are the same quantity as a card of 4.)
Build a Tower
Materials needed:
Play the game:
Roll a die. Count that many cubes and stack them together. Two children take turns rolling the die and building their towers. After 3 turns, compare the two towers to see which one is taller. Restart or continue to play, adding to the towers.
Park the Cars
Materials needed:
- Small toy cars – draw a set of dots on the top of each car that represents a number 1-5
- Poster board parking lot – divide the poster board into different sections; in each section draw a set of dots that represents a number 1-5 (match the quantities to the ones on the cars)
Play the game:
Lay the parking lot on a table or the floor. Place the cars beside the parking lot. Choose a car and determine the number on it. Drive the car to park in a space with the same number. Children can take turns parking the cars, or a child can play this game alone.
Developing Counting Skills
As you help your children practice counting, you can developing important skills and concepts for math.
– Understanding of numbers in order
– Counting each object or dot only once in a group
– Learning the last number said is the quantity/amount/number of objects or dots
– Understanding that the quantity of a number is the same, no matter the arrangement (that is, 5 is always the same number of items even if the items are grouped differently)
– Comparing numbers and determining if a quantity is greater than, less than, or equal to the same as another quantity
– Subitizing; recognizing a quantity without having to count it
How do you build math skills through counting games? What are your favorite games to use to build counting skills? Tell us in the forum.