math centers Archives

Sunflower Playdough Making Ten Math Center

May 24, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Summer is here! And that means sunshine, sunscreen, and sunflowers!

When you’re thinking about back to school, a common theme is apples, which I love to use as well.

But many of us go back to school long before apple season. (Our district goes back during the last week of July.)

So if you’re looking for a simple early math center to get kids engaged during those early weeks, this sunflower making ten playdough math center is a great fit for first grade!

Any time I can make a resource hands-on, I jump at the chance.

And because you can use this with several kinds of manipulatives, it’s versatile. Which is great if you’re still trying to get your classroom supplies sorted at the start of the year.

Read on to see how to get your copy of this resource – free!

And, for more fun in the sun, take a look at our simple Coffee Filter Crab Craft!

Use playdough to add up to ten with this sunflower themed playdough math center!

Sunflower Making Ten Playdough Math Center

To use this early math center, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Making Ten Playdough Math Center for Early Elementary

This resource includes ten sunflower addition circle cards – each displays a pair of numbers that equal a sum of 10.

There are also ten yellow ten frames inside.

You can print the resource with regular printer paper if you’re only planning to use it once.

But if you intend to reuse it (like most of us teachers do), laminate the cards and ten frames before you cut them out.

How to Use The Making Ten Playdough Math Center

When you’re ready to begin this activity, ask your class about how we add numbers to make ten. If they’ve never done it before, have them hold up all ten fingers.

Walk them through adding a couple of different numbers to make ten.

For example, you could say: “Hold up all ten fingers. We’re going to count out three together. As we count each one, put that finger down. 1-2-3.”

They should have seven fingers still extended. Use this to show that 3+7 = 10. Repeat with a few other combinations.

Now you can demonstrate the activity.

At the center, put down an addition circle card and a ten frame. Use two different colors of playdough.

Make enough playdough balls to represent the first numeral. Then use the second color to make playdough balls that represent the second numeral.

Making Ten Math Center for Early Elementary

Show students how to count each group and then add them all up to make ten.

If you don’t have playdough, you can use just about any math manipulative you can think of.

Coins, buttons, stickers, math counters – even LEGO blocks or drawing circles with dry erase markers would work well.

Scroll down to get your copy of this Sunflower Making Ten Math Center!

Take a look at these other early math activities for centers!

Help early learners recognize plane shapes with this fun ice cream kindergarten shape sorting activity!

This printable cupcake themed Spanish number word matching activity is a perfect fit for math centers!

This apple counting to ten math center for kindergarten is an excellent way to welcome students back to school with fun counting practice!

Sunflower Playdough Making Ten Math Center

To get your copy of this sunflower adding to make ten center, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday!

>>> Sunflower Make Ten Playdough Center <<<

Space Themed Kindergarten Early Skills Unit – Out of This World!

September 23, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Learning basic concepts in preschool and kindergarten is the foundation of a good early elementary education.

By the time students leave kindergarten, we want them to have mastered learning colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.

This space-themed kindergarten early skills unit can help!

Fun Space Kindergarten Center for Early Learners

Educators often introduce these skills during preschool, but it’s in kindergarten when children really get a grasp of each area.

This unit is a great all-in-one when you’re welcoming students to a new school year. You can use it to test for mastery and to support kids who need a bit more practice before moving on to new concepts.

Read on to see how to pick up this early learning center for your class!

And, for more early math practice, take a look at our Apple Counting to Ten Center!

Learn basic concepts about shapes, counting, letter sounds, and colors with this fun space themed kindergarten center!

What’s In the Space Themed Kindergarten Early Skills Unit?

This kindergarten skills unit is packed with activities for learning four different skills:

Printable color matching activity cards (+ a digital version)
Printable shape matching activity cards (+ a digital version)
Printable beginning sound matching activity cards (+ a digital version)
and Printable counting to ten activity cards (+ a digital version)

Each of the materials in the resource is available in both color and blackline. Which can be a huge help if you need to save on ink.

Each of the materials also includes a set of instructions and detailed suggestions for use, including photos and a teaching script.

Digital Space Counting Kindergarten Activity

Each digital activity includes colorful movable slides for use with Google Slides.

Space Themed Digital Counting Activity for Kids

There’s also an answer key file for each activity, which makes grading a snap.

How to Use This Kindergarten Early Skills Unit with Kids

To use this space themed kindergarten early skills unit, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are given below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer paper or cardstock
Laminator (optional)
Scissors
Clothespins
Dry erase crayons (optional)
Google Chromebooks or iPads (for the digital version)

I like to laminate the activity cards, so they’ll stand up to frequent use. But if you don’t laminate them, you might find it best to print them on cardstock.

Using Space Counting Activity Cards at Centers

Simply cut the activity cards apart and let students work with them to find the matching number, letter sound, shape, and color.

You can use the activity cards as clip cards by adding clothespins.

Or you can laminate the cards and let students use dry erase crayons to color the correct number, letter, shape, or color.

Blackline Space Kindergarten Center Shape Activity

If you use a blackline version, you can even let the kids color in the cards before working with them.

My personal favorite is using them at centers or in busy bags.

I like to put the cards on separate rings (by concept) and then I can hand them out all at once.

Using a Digital Space Counting Activity with Kids

Using the digital version of each activity is simple.

Just use the link in the resource to create a copy of each activity for use in Google Slides.

Students can move the yellow checkmark to mark the correct shape, color, letter sound, or number on each slide.

Digital Space Themed Color Matching Activity

There’s also an answer key for each activity. So you can grade each student’s work without having to navigate away from the assignment.

Digital Beginning Sounds Matching Activity

Get a look at one of the activities in use below!

Scroll down to get this space themed kindergarten early skills unit for your students!

Try some of these other early learning ideas!

Learn the Spanish ABCs with this fun Spanish alphabet literacy center for early learners!

These shark themed counting to ten puzzles are wonderful for use at early math centers!

To get your copy of this Out of This World! Space Themed Early Learning Unit, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

>>> Out of This World! Kindergarten Bundle <<<

3 Tips for Prepping Math Centers – Fast!

August 31, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand. All opinions are 100% mine.

Math centers. Once they’re organized and ready to go, they’re awesome – especially for primary grades.

Kids can rotate from station to station, completing hands-on learning activities and getting some practice for concepts you’ve gone over in class.

It’s the prepping part that is…a challenge.

If you’re looking for some tips on how to prep a math center faster, here are three suggestions that have been working for me.

Even better, one of my math center prep hacks makes it easy to clean activities in between groups of students. Which is super important, especially these days.

Read on to read my math center prep tips! And, for more fun math activities for early grades, take a look at my list of printable counting puzzles!

Three Tips for How to Prep a Math Center – Fast!

1. Choose the activities you plan to include before you print.

This is a mistake I’ve made all too often. I love the center and the activities in it, so I think “I’ll use all of these!” and I print the entire thing.

Reality: I never end up using everything. Never.

There are a couple of activities that are a big hit and those are the ones the kids want to do again and again. Huge waste of time (and ink!)

Scroll through the center to find the worksheets or activities that will be a good fit for your students.

Write down the page numbers for printing those specific pages. Then start printing what you need.

2. Gather up the manipulatives and tools you’ll need for each activity.

Math center activities for early grades usually include different kinds of tools and movable pieces.

I find it best to get all of these items together before I start preparing the center itself.

When I’m prepping center activities, I tend to use hook and loop sticky dots, scissors, and O rings.

The activities are designed for use with dry erase markers (or crayons), transparent spinners, and clothespins, among other manipulatives.

So I put all of the tools I need to prep the center in one group and the tools students will need to use the center in another.

Then I’m not running back and forth to my desk when I need to switch from assembling one activity to another.

And I already have the items students will use for the center in one place too. That makes it much easier to organize each activity as I go along.

3. Use clear laminate to cover each activity or worksheet page.

But my absolute favorite tip for how to prep a math center is to use clear laminate to cover every activity.

Personally, I’m partial to the Smooth Top® EasyLiner® from Duck Brand.

Clear laminate works just like the laminating sheets in your laminator.

The advantage is that you don’t have to wait for the laminator to heat up (which seems to take forever).

And, you don’t have to wait in line to use the machine (which also seems to take forever).

EasyLiner® also comes with helpful gridlines that make measuring the right amount a snap!

I just roll out several inches of the clear laminate – gridlines facing up.

Then I lay the activity page on top. The edge of the page is my measuring line.

Cut the length of clear laminate you need.

The gridlines side is the removable piece you’ll need to peel off. I find it best to snip a tiny corner off.

Then it’s easier to peel the backing off in one piece, which avoids leaving crease marks on the laminate.

Lay the laminate down, sticky side up. Then place the activity directly on top, face down.

Flip the page over, add a second sheet to cover the back (if needed), smooth it out, and you’re done!

All that’s left now is to cut out any activity pieces and add other items (such as the sticky dots you see above).

Removable Adhesive EasyLiner has another advantage: It wipes clean.

So, if you need to sanitize your math center activities in between groups, you can use cleaning wipes on the pages with no problem.

I love clear laminate for making dry erase activities in my centers.

With it, I can turn any printable worksheet into a reusable center activity.

When the pages are covered with clear laminate, I can let students use dry erase markers or dry erase crayons.

Then just use a napkin (or a napkin plus water for wet erase markers) and we’re good to go for the next group!

Watch me cover a math center activity with clear laminate below!

I hope these tips for how to prep a math center faster have been of help to you.

If you use any in your classroom, let me know which ones worked!

See more of my apple-themed math center activities for early grades below!

Apple Counting to Ten Math Center

August 10, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It’s back to school time!

In our area, students return in late summer so it’s still hot outside. But in many places, back to school time coincides perfectly with fall.

Which is why apples are still such a perfect back to school theme, especially in early grades.

Get some fun counting to ten practice and welcome kindergarten students to class with this hands-on apple counting to ten math center!

Fun Kindergarten Apple Counting to Ten Math Center

This resource is absolutely loaded with apple counting fun – in both English and Spanish!

Plus, it is versatile enough for use in small groups, at math centers, for independent work, or for take-home assignments.

Read on to see how to get your copy.

And, for more ways to practice counting with early grades, take a look at our collection of counting puzzles for kids!

Apple Count to Ten! Apple Counting to Ten Math Center

To use this kindergarten counting to ten math center, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are given below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Apple Themed Kindergarten Counting to Ten Math Center

Inside this kindergarten counting resource, you’ll find printable counting to ten puzzles and English and Spanish counting to ten learning cards.

There are also counting practice worksheets, a spin and color game, and a counting cut and paste sorting activity.

Fall Counting to Ten Math Center for Kids

There’s a blackline version of each activity included, if you need to save ink.

Apple Counting English and Spanish Practice

And all of the worksheets have answer keys for grading!

How to Use the Apple Counting to Ten Math Center with Kindergarten Students

There are several ways to use this counting math center with your students.

You can begin by introducing counting from zero to ten. Have the entire class count out loud with you.

Apple Counting to Ten Clip Cards in English and Spanish

Afterwards, show them how to count from zero to ten in Spanish and have them repeat each number word with you.

Then it’s time to head to the centers!

Divide the kids into small groups and let each group work on a different hands-on activity.

You can use the apple counting puzzles at one group, the apple count and clip cards with another, the apple number word matching cards at a third, and so on.

Here’s a tip: laminate the English and Spanish number word labels and attach hook and loop sticky dots to the back.

Voila! A reusable center activity!

Apple Themed Counting to Ten Puzzles for Kindergarten

By the way, the apple counting to ten puzzles are available as a standalone product as well.

Easy Apple Counting to Ten Math Center for Kindergarten

I like to cover my spinner games with clear laminate. That way, students can use dry erase crayons to complete them.

Then I can just wipe the game clean and start over with a new group.

Apple Counting Worksheets for Kindergarten

Finally, use the included worksheets for independent practice.

These are great for in-class work or for assignments the students can take home.

Apple Counting to Ten Math Center Activities

Of course, you could also laminate these and use them in small groups over and over again.

See an overview of this comprehensive counting resource in the video below!

Scroll down to get your copy of this Apple Counting to Ten Math Center!

Check out some of these other early math activities for kindergartners!

These apple seek shape sorting worksheets are such a fun way to help early learners practice shape recognition!

Pick up the printable or digital version of these ladybug number word puzzles to teach early counting skills!

To get your copy of this kindergarten apple-themed counting math center, click the image or the link below to get it from my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

>>> Apple Counting to Ten Center <<<

Spring into Counting! Spring Counting to Ten Math Center

April 6, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Teaching during spring is the best time of all, in my opinion.

Fall has the excitement of back to school, which I love. But springtime teaching is filled with bright and sunny themes, like birds and bees and flowers.

Plus, everyone (students and teachers) knows that the end of the school year is quickly approaching. Everyone just seems to be in a better mood.

During kindergarten, counting to ten is one of the most essential skills for students.

It’s generally taught early in the year, but reinforced later on, particularly if your district uses standardized testing before year’s end.

Which is where this Spring into Counting! Spring Counting to Ten Math Center can help!

Fun Spring Themed Counting to Ten Math Center

This counting to ten math center is filled with fun, hands-on activities for early learners.

It’s aligned to several standards for counting, and it can be used in several ways.

Read on to see how to get your copy. And how to score a sample of it – free!

For more ways to bring learning to life during spring, take a look at our list of 40 spring science ideas too!

This spring counting to ten math center is excellent for kindergartners to use during spring months!

Spring into Counting! Counting to Ten Math Center

This spring kindergarten math center is loaded with resources for reviewing counting objects from one to ten.

To use this resource, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Counting to Ten Math Center for Kindergarten

This spring math resource features several counting activities for kids.

Depending on your students, you might use some of the printables as one-time lessons (or for homework) and others as reusable activities at centers.

Each set of activities comes with a line art version and an answer key.

So if you’re trying to save on ink, use the line art version and let students color in the pictures themselves!

Spring Circle the Number Worksheet for Kindergarten

There are two count and circle the number of objects worksheets.

A count and write the number activity is included.

Two count and color the number worksheets are inside.

Spring Counting to Ten Cut and Paste Activity

Plus, students can use the cut and paste counting activity to boost fine motor skills!

If you’re using this at centers, laminate the pages and let students practice completing each one with dry erase markers.

For the cut and paste activity, simply laminate the page and then attach hook and loop sticky dots to the number boxes. Then students can match them up again and again.

See the cut and paste spring counting activity in action in the video below!

Printable Spring Count and Clip Cards

At the front of this spring math center resource, you’ll find two sets of count and clip cards with a fun spring theme!

Spring Count to Ten Math Center for Kindergarten

Again, a full line art version is included.

Using Count to Ten Clip Cards with Kindergartners

There are also answer key sets of each spring count and clip card.

You can place these in morning tubs or let students practice matching up their cards to the answer cards.

And – if you’d like, you can get the first page of these Spring Count and Clip cards sent to your inbox free! (With the line art version!) Keep reading for details.

See the count and clip cards in action in the video below!

Scroll down to get your copy of this Spring into Counting math center!

Take a look at these other early learning ideas for spring!

This butterfly life cycle activity is such a fun way to help kids learn how butterflies grow! Great for science during spring and summer!

This spring flower themed size sorting activity is so much fun for early learners! Students can use it to practice separating big and small flowers during spring!

To get your free sample of our Spring Count and Clip Cards, click the image or the link below to have them sent to your inbox!

You’ll also receive our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday night!

>>> Spring Count and Clip Cards <<<

To take a look at the complete Spring into Counting! Counting to Ten Math Center, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Spring into Counting Math Center for Kindergarten

>>> Spring into Counting! Math Center – Teachers Pay Teachers <<<

Bee Buzz and Spin! Bee Counting Math Center

March 5, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Math concepts + hands-on activities = meaningful learning.

It’s science, y’all.

Well, not really, but I have noticed that when students get to use manipulatives or games to reinforce math lessons, they remember them so much better.

And that’s why I’ve come to love math centers. They’re just adorable and awesome, especially for early grades.

To welcome spring, I thought it would be fun to share a bee-themed counting math center that helps students learn how to count one more and one less!

This is a wonderful resource for kindergarten and first grade students who are working on counting fluency.

Read on to see how to get your set! And, for more spring math fun, don’t miss our Flower Repeated Addition Worksheets!

Pick up this bee themed counting one more and one less math center to help early learners practice counting on during spring!

Bee Buzz and Spin! Bee Themed Counting Math Center

To use these bee themed counting math center activities, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Pencils
Laminator (optional)
Dry erase markers (optional)
Transparent spinners (optional)

This product includes:

Four bee-themed spin and cover one more or one less worksheets
Four bee-themed spin and cover find the number mats
Four bee-themed spin and cover count one more game boards
And four bee-themed spin and cover count one less game boards

Bee Spin and Count One More and One Less Activity

You can use these as a one-time practice activity or you can laminate them for reuse at centers or in morning tubs.

To play the spin & cover one more or one less games, students can spin the numbers on the bee and find the number that is one more or one less than the numeral they land on.

Cross them out with dry erase markers (if the pages are laminated) or pencils until they’re all gone!

Printable Bee Counting Math Center for Early Grades

If you want to make a simple spinner, just use a paper clip and a pencil point.

Students can hold the pencil upright and spin the clip to see which number it lands on.

If you prefer to use game spinners, though, these transparent spinners are perfect!

And they’re sturdy enough to stand up to multiple uses.

Scroll down to get your copy of this Bee Buzz & Spin Spring Math Center!

Don’t miss these other spring math activities!

This printable rainbow tally marks lesson for early learners is a great way to teach students how to count with tally marks!

Use these flower repeated addition worksheets to help early grade students practice adding and basic multiplying!

These no prep fall counting worksheets for preschoolers feature a fun farm theme! Use them for classwork or at math centers!

To get your copy of this spring-themed Bee Counting Math Center, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

>>> Bee Buzz & Spin! Math Center – Teachers Pay Teachers <<<

This cute bee themed counting math center is excellent for helping early students learn how to count one more and one less! Perfect for spring math centers!

Share A Donut! Making Equal Shares Activity for Early Grades

February 3, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When I was in school…ahem…several years ago…we learned about equal parts when we got to fractions.

There wasn’t an introductory lesson about it in early grades.

So I think it’s good that students get to learn about making equal shares in first and second grade – before they get to the concept of fractions. It makes the concept much clearer later on.

I wanted to make a hands on math activity that would help first and second graders to learn this geometry concept – this Share A Donut! Making Equal Shares Activity!

I feel pretty confident that I’m not the only donut lover on Earth, so I thought this would be a fun math center activity for early grades!

Read on to see how to get your copy. And, for more fun with donuts, take a look at our Donut Colors! Sentence Writing Activity!

Share A Donut! Making Equal Shares Activity

To use this making equal shares activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

This product includes:

Two pages of unlabeled color donut pieces
Two pages of labeled color donut pieces
Eight line art fill in the blank donut cards
A full answer key
And a set of instructions!

You can use this as a one-time cut and paste lesson.

Just print the pages, let students cut out the parts, and then glue them into the donut cards to fill in the donut with the correct number of equal shares.

Be sure to have students label the number of shares and use the unlabeled donut pieces to name each part as a fraction (if you like).

You can also make this into a reusable math center!

Laminate the pages and cut out the donut shares. Then add hook and loop sticky dots to the back of the donut parts and the donut cards.

Students can use them over and over again!

Scroll down to get this Donut Making Equal Shares Activity!

Don’t miss these other hands-on math ideas for early grades!

$Pick up these pumpkin pie fraction clip cards to help students practice fraction skills during fall! So fun for fall morning tubs and math centers!$

And see more ways to teach math on my Math Mania! Pinterest board!

To get your copy of this Share A Donut! Making Equal Shares Activity, click the image or the link below to grab it from my Teachers Pay Teachers store!