If you are new to the Wednesday #TeachECE series, we WELCOME you! Each week, we partner with other early childhood professionals to offer playful learning activities centered around a weekly theme. This week, activity suggestions revolve around a RAINFOREST THEME. Come play to learn in preschool with FUN Tree Frog Math Games to encourage developing skills!
Rainforest Tree Frog Math Games for Preschool!
Materials needed:
- One copy of Rainforest Tree Frog Counting Games and Lily Pads
- Dry Erase Marker
- Basket or Container to hold the tree frogs
- Tape
- One die (for use with Math Game Suggestions)
Prior to the activity – print the tree frogs, laminate for durability, and cut out each frog. Print as many of the lily pads as necessary for the numbers your own children are learning or currently working on (laminate the lily pads, cut them out, and number with a dry erase marker). Tape the lily pads onto a table, large tray, or a work mat before introducing the activities below.
Math Game Suggestions
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One-to-One Correspondence: invite the kids to count out the number of tree frogs that correspond to the number on the lily pad. The kids should place the number of frogs on the lily pad (remind preschoolers to count out loud as they place each frog on the corresponding numbered lily pad).
Subitizing: place a predetermined small number of tree frogs on top of a lily pad. See if the kids can tell how many frogs are on the mat without counting the individual cards.
Addition: invite the kids to place the corresponding number of tree frogs on two of the numbered lily pads. The kids should then count the total number of tree frogs on both lily pads for practice with basic addition. Begin with lower numbers until the kids gain confidence.
Subtraction: set a pre-determined number of tree frogs on top of one of the printable lily pads. Invite the kids to roll a die and TAKE OFF the corresponding number of tree frogs from the lily pad. The game is over when all the tree frogs have been removed.
Plus 1 or Plus 2: have the kids roll a die one time and place that number of tree frogs on a lily pad. To do mental math, invite the kids to add (+1) or (+2) to the number of tree frogs on the lily pad. To self-check, have the kids physically add (+1) or (+2) tree frogs to the number of frogs on the lily pad and count again to check their answer.
Skip Counting: practice counting up by 2’s or 5’s by placing the appropriate numbers of tree frogs on several of the lily pads. Tip: making a number line (1-20) will help kids have a visual when beginning skip counting skills.
Print the 5 and 10 Frames for further practice with the paper Rainforest frogs or for use with miniature tree frogs.
For more playful learning ideas with a RAINFOREST THEME, please the wonderful activity suggestions below: