Preschool-Kindergarten Math - Numbers

One of the biggest challenges in teaching Preschool and Kindergarten math is a child's ability to understand cardinality. Cardinality is a child's ability to attach meaning to a number. A young child may be able to count by rote and even use one-to-one correspondence but may not understand that the set represents a specific number. They may not understand that the last number counted represents the total amount. For example, ask a child to count a set and ask them how many there are. Can they confidently relay the total amount (understand the last number counted represents the total)? If you rearrange the set, will they still understand it represents the same number? According to research this is a challenging concept for children and requires them to be actively involved in activities and games that help them develop this. Games and activities that involve counting and comparing are great for developing this. It is a key concept for children because it is the framework for developing other math concepts.
Kinderplans.com has developed a Math program which addresses many of the Kindergarten curriculum outcomes. The video above demonstrates activities that are found in the "Number Sense" strand from the curriculum. It provides ideas of how specific numbers can be introduced and follow-up games and activities can be used to develop the concept of cardinality.
Note: Numbers to 20 are introduced in the program to address the different school jurisdictions curriculum outcomes.

More Preschool-Kindergarten Math Ideas

Preschool-Kindergarten Writing

Children are best encouraged to engage in an activity when they
see others participating in it. This is why it is important for
educators of young children to model the writing process.
Outlined below are a few ways in which this can be
accomplished.

1. Many teachers like to begin each class with writing a short
morning message. This message outlines what activities are
planned for the day. As the teacher is writing she models the
writing process. She might focus on how words make a sentence,
stretching sounds to determine how they are spelled or the use
of capitals and periods. This modeling is a very important
component in a child's learning process as it demonstrates to
them that writing is an important means of communication.

2. Within a learning environment should be a safe and encouraging
place where the children can develop this skill which would be the
"Writing Center". The "Writing Center" would consist of a table,
chairs, paper, envelopes, pencils, crayons, felts, tracers, rulers,
whiteboard, chalkboard and clipboard. The alphabet, in upper and
lower case letters should be posted nearby at the child's level.
Plenty of print should be displayed within the classroom for the
children to use as models for reading and writing. As a member
of the Kinderplans website you will have access to hundreds of
picture cards related to specific themes. Each of the cards have
the words printed on them. These were designed to use for this
purpose.

3. Writing develops at different rates. For many children in the
younger years they draw pictures to convey their ideas. This
begins with scribbling to something that resembles a picture.
The educator (teacher) may ask the child to dictate what the
picture conveys and print this in words and read it back to the
child. This is another means of modeling the writing process.

4. Large classroom books can be made for the children to read.
These books were designed around each child's conveyed message.
for example, if you are working on a "Colors Theme", each child
would dictate a sentence telling what their favorite color is.
After, they would would draw a picture displaying the color. The
teacher would include the printed text of what each child said
below the picture drawn. This would be bound together to make a
classroom book.

WRITING PROCESS
It is important to understand that writing is a process and each
child develops at their own pace. The more support and
encouragement provided the greater the success!

WRITING/CRAFT ACTIVITIES
In the link below you will find some suggested craft/writing
activities that can be done together as a class.

Preschool-Kindergarten Writing Activities

Preschool-Kindergarten Lesson Plans for Community Helpers Theme

Click on the video to view a demonstration of Preschool-Kindergarten lesson plan activities that can be used in your Community Helpers theme. The readers are great to use to teach beginning reading skills. The matching game can be added to your Literacy Center. These are resources that have been added to the "Community Helpers" theme found our sister site Kinderplans.com.

More Lesson Plan Ideas for Community Helpers Click Here

Nutrition Lesson Plans

Click on Video to View on YouTube or Click Here

View on SchoolTube or Click Here

The video on the left demonstrates how literacy and games can be integrated into your Nutrition lesson plans. You can find more videos and ideas in the link below:

Nutrition Lesson Plans

Preschool and Kindergarten Math

MATH WORKSHEETS
Free Math Worksheets
Our philosophy has been more focused on providing hands-on learning experiences but sometimes worksheets do come in handy. In the link below you will find free math worksheets that you can use in your classroom.

Free Math Worksheets

MATH CURRICULUM BEING DEVELOPED
Currently at kinderplans.com we are working on completing a full math program that can be used in conjunction with current themes or used on its own. It will cover all the math strands outlined below:

Pre Kindergarten Math

Matching, Sorting and Classifying
1. Identify, sort and classify objects by a specific attribute.
2. Patterning

Number Sense
1. Compare sets of objects if equal, more than, or less than (up to 10).
2. Print numbers 1-10
3. Count, recognize, represent, name, and order a number of objects (up to 30)
4. Use concrete objects to describe simple addition and subtraction to 10.

Measuring and Comparing
Geometry(Shapes)
1. Compare the length, weight and capacity of objects (e.g., longer, shorter, taller, lighter, heavier or holds more).
2. Demonstrate and understanding of time (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening, today, yesterday, tomorrow, week, year).
3. Identify time to the nearest hour.
4. Identify and describe common geometric objects (e.g. circle, triangle, square, rectangle, cube, sphere and cone).

Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
Activities for graphing, collecting data and probability will be spread throughout the lessons.

Preschool and Kindergarten Math Activities

Click on Video to View Activities to Meet the Curriculum Outlines



MATH OUTCOMES
Outlined below are math outcomes for Kindergarten, however, this does differ according to the country or state. It does cover a broad spectrum so this can be adjusted to your situation. Also below is a link to free activities that cover these various strands. The video outlines these activities.

Matching, Sorting and Classifying 1. Identify, sort and classify objects by a specific attribute. 2. Patterning Number Sense 1. Compare sets of objects if equal, more than, or less than (up to 10). 2. Print numbers 1-10 3. Count, recognize, represent, name, and order a number of objects (up to 30) 4. Use concrete objects describe simple addition and subtraction to 10. Measuring and Comparing Geometry(Shapes) 1. Compare the length, weight and capacity of objects (e.g., longer, shorter, taller, lighter, heavier or holds more). 2. Demonstrate and understanding of time (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening, today, yesterday, tomorrow, week, year). 3. Identify time to the nearest hour. 4. Identify and describe common geometric objects (e.g. circle, triangle, square, rectangle, cube, sphere and cone). Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability Activities for graphing, collecting data and probability will be spread throughout the lessons. Preschool and Kindergarten Math Activities

Learning Centers

CENTER SUGGESTIONS FOR A PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM
Listed below are center suggestions:
1. Literacy
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Listening
5. Math
6. Science
7. Social Studies
8. Computer
9. Crafts
10. Playdough
11. Easel
12. Blocks
13. Puzzles
14. Puppets
15. Housekeeping
16. Dressup

In the link below you will find signs that can be used to identify these centers.

Sign for the Learning Centers