Ladybug Math

Ladybug Math

 I found an activity on Pinterest recently that looked a little like this, (found here: http://www.love-and-lollipops.blogspot.com/2010/09/colour-fun-6-bottle-top-ladybugs.html) but I have added my own twist to it.  Reusing milk bottle caps and a peanut butter jar I now have one activity that all 4 of my kiddos can play with.

K, my one year old, is fascinated with putting things into a container and taking them out.  The jar is large enough that her hands aren't going to get stuck.  Oh, and she also enjoys dumping them out!

K likes to put the ladybugs into the jar...

...and take them out...

...and put the lid on.

L, my 5 year old/soon to be kindergartner, can match the dots to the correct number, and put them in numerical order.

L is matching ladybug dots to the correct number.

 N, my 2/almost 3 year old works on naming the numbers and counting the dots.

N likes to mix them up!

All lined up!

Such a simple, FREE activity you can make at home!  Just save those bottle caps and jars!

Activities for my almost 7 year old and older students:
~ make one bottle cap with a plus sign, one with a minus sign, and one with an equal sign, and create number problems. (extra:  have them write them out on paper or in their workbook!)
~ make one bottle cap (slightly larger) with a greater than sign (>) or a less than sign (<) and have him draw bottle caps out of the jar and compare the numbers

Other Pre-K to Kindergarten activities:
~ draw out a bottle cap and use another object (little erasers, pom-poms, straws, popcicle sticks, etc.) to count out that number

Eraser Math

This activity reinforces lots of different skills.  Once you have your eggs (or whatever object you choose), put the eggs in a basket/bucket. 

Materials:  lots of little erasers, something to stuff them in (we used Easter eggs)

 Little Learners Activities:
1.  Sort erasers into groups
2.  Count each group
3.  State which has more or less
4.  Use erasers to make lines or shapes

Be creative with how little hands and minds can use these little erasers.

 PreK Eraser Activity:
1.  Pick one egg
2.  Sort/group/count erasers
3. Add each group for a total number
4. Repeat with another egg
5.  Now add the two total numbers together

This activity reinforces:
counting, sorting, addition, one-to-one correspondence

Sorting and Counting

 This activity has several steps.  But it keeps L busy!

Materials:  Pom poms, dice, sorting cups, pickle tongs or tweezers of some kind.

I made this activity sheet and then made copies of it.  You can make one that fits your child's skill level. (I used my do-a-dot paints, a sharpie, and a straight edge to make this sheet.  You could probably make something on your computer, too.) 

L rolled the two dice and then put that number of pom poms into each cup.  He did this only once but you could have your child roll the dice more than that to get a larger number. 

Next he started filling out his chart.  Sort the colors in each cup.  Write the number in the correct box. 

Counting

I then had him add the two columns together.  Cup 1 + Cup 2 for each color.  Then I had him add all the  pom poms together 

There may be lots of steps to this activity, but they all keep L's mind busy.  I like to have some activities that are more involved.

You could also use beads instead of pom poms.

This activity reinforces counting, sorting, one-to-one correspondence, number formation, addition, and fine motor skills.

Addition Subtraction Card Game

A is filling in for L and doing an addition/subtraction game.

Materials:  Deck of cards (minus the face cards), dry erase marker, chart of numbers (as high as you want-mine is copied from a book I already had, but can easily be made in Word or handwritten), plastic sheet protector

Play:  Flip two cards over and add or subtract them.  Mark out the answer. 

Goal:  Mark off all the numbers before you run out of cards.

This activity can be adjusted for any age level.  Use as many numbers as you want and as many cards as you want.  Pull out the smaller numbers to use for a younger child. You can use only addition or only subtraction, or both, depending on what you are working on with  your child.  You can also have two players and use two different colors of dry erase markers or two different number charts.  Be the first to mark out all your numbers.  What if you have already marked out a number and get the same answer?  Be creative! Try subtracting for a different answer. Or place them back in the deck in different spots.  If you are playing with someone else when this happens, this could be your "lose a turn" or "skip a turn".

This activity reinforces counting, addition and subtraction skills, and number recognition.

Domino Addition Game

L is working on his addition skills, number formation, and counting.

We started off this activity by using a game board L made with his Grandma (thanks Grandma!). The game board is made from a file folder, stickers, and window decals. Pick a starting point and ending point, and then make a trail of stickers from one to the other. Laminate for durability.


We also used a set of dominoes to play this game. I store mine in a translucent wipes container that I am no longer using.

To play the game:

1) Turn over all the dominoes.
2) L picks a domino and turns it over.
3) L adds the dots together and moves his marker (he has some Cars character erasers to use as his markers, but they have been played with elsewhere...so he is using a carrot eraser).


Add To It:

1) L turns over the domino.
2) L writes the # from each side of the domino in the boxes I drew on his paper.
3) L adds the #'s together and writes the answer in the last box.
4) L moves his marker.


This activity reinforces counting, number formation, one-to-one correspondence, and addition.

Color Sorting and Addition Activity

L is sorting beads and adding the numbers together.

Materials:

1) different colors of beads (buttons, erasers, crayons, pom-poms, etc.)
2) sorting cups (I made mine from yogurt cups-I'll post a tutorial; egg cartons work great, too)
3) do-a-dot paints
4) paper
5) marker


Using the do-a-dot paints that correspond with your bead colors (or whatever your object is), make a color page like the one above. After sorting the colors L writes down the number of each color.



So far this activity reinforces the ability to sort/categorize and it also reinforces number recognition and writing.


I took the activity one step further. I made an addition page like the one pictured above. Using the same colors of do-a-dot paints I made up random addition problems.


L puts the two colors of beads that he needs to add together into the tray, counts all of them (adding them together), and then writes down the total number.


This activity is reinforcing addition skills and writing numbers. L loves when he gets to write certain numbers because he knows how to write them...others are more difficult and he needs me to show him first.

Number Punching

L is working on his addition skills.

Materials: 1 or 2 dice (depending on your child), paper, marker, and hole puncher (I found this easy-to-squeeze one at Office Max-I love that store!)

To Play:
1) roll the dice
2) count the dots
3) write each number in a box
4) add the two numbers together
5) punch the total number of holes