Math Games Mondays - Gnomes

Math doesn't have to be boring!

I have done TONS of these games - all different versions.  I decided to do a Gnome theme one today because of Spring.

Have one sheet of gnomes printed on sturdy cardstock, a handful of ladybug (or any kind of) buttons, and a dice.

Each child takes turns rolling the dice, then covers that number of gnomes or mushrooms with the ladybug buttons.  For example, Ethan rolls a 4.  Ethan will count 4 ladybug buttons.  Then he will cover 4 gnomes or mushrooms with a ladybug (one button per gnome).  The game ends when all the gnomes and mushrooms are covered.

I found this print on etsy.com but you could use stickers or clipart to make your game board.  The ladybug buttons are from Dress It Up and I found them at Joann.

This game works one counting, number value, one-to-one correspondence, and taking turns.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Math Games Mondays - Gnomes by melanieshanks on Polyvore

Little Gnomes 1 - 8 x 10 Art Print/Wall Art - Baby Nursery Decor and...
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Math Games Mondays - Horses & Hearts

I think every kid goes through a "Horse Phase", right?

In this household, we are no exception.  Horses have taken over our lives!  We have horse toys, barns, horse rug, horse sweaters, etc!

If your child is "into" something, go with it!  Create learning opportunities around their favorite thing - whether it be a movie, a show, an animal.  If they are interested in it, the learning will be even more exciting!

I found this adorable and rainbow clipart on etsy.  Simply purchase and print one sheet per child on sturdy cardstock (or you could laminate so it lasts longer.  I always laminated my game boards when I taught preschool.)  I purchased a Horse Toob from Safari Ltd at Joann or Michael's.  Now you're ready to play.

Simply roll the dice.  4?  Count out 4 horses.  Now cover 4 heart/squares - one horse per heart/square.  Continue taking turns till all the heart/squares are covered with horses.  This game teaches counting, number value, one-to-one correspondence, and taking turns.

You could adapt this game to fit your child's interests or your weekly preschool theme.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Math Games Mondays - Horses & Hearts by melanieshanks featuring horse home decor

60% OFF SALE Digital Clip Art Clip Art Hearts Spring Summer Clipart...
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Math Games Mondays - Bunnies

Easter is less than 2 weeks away!  How did that happen?  I feel like it sneaks up on me every year.  Lots to plan!

So why not have a Math Games Monday with a Bunny twist?

I found this Bunny clipart on etsy.com, the buttons are Dress It Up buttons found on shellysbuttonsandmore.com, and a simple dice.  Nothing fancy here, but a whole lotta learnin' going on!

Print one sheet of bunny clipart per child playing.  Every child should get a handful of carrot buttons (enough to cover each bunny). 

On each turn, the child will roll the dice.  Whatever number is on the dice, the child should count that many carrots, then cover that number of bunnies with the carrots.  Example, if he rolls a 3, he could count out 3 carrots.  Then, he should cover 3 bunnies (one carrot on each bunny).  Continue until all the bunnies are covered!

This game helps with counting, number value, one-to-one correspondence, and taking turns.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Math Games Mondays - Bunnies by melanieshanks featuring quote wall art

Quote wall art
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Math Games Mondays - Sloths

I found this adorable Sloth clipart on etsy.com.  I immediately thought Math Game!

Simply print out the sloths on a sheet of cardstock (sturdier for longer use).  Print one per child playing.  Grab a handful of pebbles or rocks and a dice.

Have the child roll the dice.  If he rolls a 5, have him cover 5 sloths with pebbles.  Remember to count individual pebbles. This helps with one-to-one correspondence.  Continue rolling the dice until all of the sloths are covered up!

This game teaches counting, number value, taking turns, and one-to-one correspondence.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Math Games Mondays - Sloths by melanieshanks on Polyvore

60% OFF SALE Digital Clipart Clip Art Sloth animal Cute Animal Clipart...
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Math Games Mondays - Buttons make great counters

I am not reinventing the wheel here.

Preschool teachers have been using buttons as preschool math counters for a looong time. But I recently discovered Jesse James Dress It Up buttons and my mind started spinning with the possibilities ~ themes and games and sorting.

I first found these adorable buttons at Joann stores then Meijer and Hobby Lobby. Dressitup.com has many many irresistible varieties. I am planning some Math Games Mondays with these cuties. 

Preschool teachers and kindergarten teachers tend to use themes.  Trust me, you will be able to find buttons to fit your theme with Dress It Up buttons.  No, I don't work for them and no, this is not a paid advertisement.  I just love these adorable buttons.  More ideas coming soon.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Buttons make great counters by melanieshanks featuring garden gnomes

Math Games Monday - Roll the Dice Games

Games are fun...and easy to make.

You need very few supplies - paper, glue, cutouts or stickers, 2 penguin game pieces, and a die.  My penguins are from Safari Ltd. Penguins Toob.

Simply map out a twisty path with your snowflakes and glue them on.  If you are using stickers, place them on.  Kids can help make the gameboard.

Roll the die and move that many spaces. Easy, peasy.  You can make these easy game for little money and for any theme you want.  You could coordinate your game to your child's favorite book or movie.

 OR if you have 2 players...you can use the penguins to take turns (patience is a good thing!) to see who reaches the end first.

 So that there's no hard feelings, I always say, "Kate is the first winner. Ethan is the second winner." I learned that from a veteran preschool teacher of 20 years.

 I used Safari Ltd. Penguins from a Toob, but you could use any animal as game pieces.  If it's snow-themed, you could use any polar animals or Anna, Elsa, or Olaf figures like these at the Disney Store as game pieces.

 The possibilities are endless.

Games are great for teaching taking turns, patience, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and family bonding time.

Have a Fun & Playful day!
Mel

Math Games Monday - Love Birds

 Happy Monday!

I decided to do a series of Math Games Mondays for preschoolers.  I was talking to a former classmate who is in the international banking field.  She said, "I think I like preschool math the best - you get to "subtract" M&Ms. Sounds yummy to me!"

Preschool math is sooo important and easy to come up with ideas.  I saw these bird cutouts at my local Dollar Tree dollar store along with the acrylic hearts and an idea sparked!

I simply added a large number to each one and the number word under it.  Add a cup to contain the hearts and wa-la! you have the Love Birds math game.

Easy peasy, right?  You could do duplicate this game a million zillion times using any kind of cutouts that you find.  I had a set for each letter (monkey cutouts for M day, frog cutouts for F day, etc) when I taught preschool.  They got beat up some by all the little hands using them, but these games are cheap to make.

So the child takes a Love Bird. He can read the number or you can read it to him.  Then, he takes one heart at a time and places it on the bird cutout until he reaches the right number.  It is important for the child to count each heart that he places on there and physically slides or places the heart on the bird.  This is one-to-correspondence - an important preschool skill.

The child may need help and that's okay - it's bonding time.  He may want to add too many or not enough.  Just say, "Let's count together."  You can model counting each heart individually.  Children learning by watching us.  :)

Play as long (or short) as he wants.  The idea is to keep it fun and light.  It'll be so fun that they won't even know they are learning.  That is how children learn - by playing.

This game teaches number recognition, number word recognition, one-to-one correspondence, the value of each number, and counting.

Happy Monday & Happy Playing!
Mel