Need ideas for kindergarten math? Below you will find an assortment of math activities for kindergarten students along with other resources to teach kindergarten math skills.
Math skills that teachers often work on in kindergarten:
- Counting to 100
- Counting forwards and backwards
- Basic addition and subtraction concepts (such as being able to do addition or subtraction problems using counting beans or fingers)
- Estimation concepts
- Measuring
- Counting by multiples
- Understanding basic subtraction
- Double digit number recognition
Kindergarten math activities
Dice Addition & Subtraction
Dice are a great prop to help teach kids addition and subtraction concepts. First off, cut some scrap paper into little note card sized pieces. Provide each child with a writing utensil and 2 dice. Have them roll the dice, then write the numbers they roll on a piece of paper in the form of an addition or subtraction problem. Use the dice as a prop to help solve the problem, counting the dots and writing the answer on the paper. With younger kids, do this activity without the writing cards and just work on adding or subtracting with the dice.
Kindergarten Number & Counting Skills
Most children will pick up basic counting skills in preschool, so that by kindergarten, kids should begin to work on double digit number recognition, counting by multiples (2, 4, 6, 8, etc.) and other number skills. Here are some activities to work on these concepts:
Counting By Multiples with Imagination (Group Time)
Tell your kids to use their imagination and pretend there is a big pile of something on the floor next to them . . . maybe a pile of candy or a bunch of slithering snakes. Then use your imagination to count by multiples as you grab these imaginary items.
Tell the kids: “We’re going to reach down with our hands, pick up 5 pieces of candy, then stuff them into our mouths.” Then count by multiples with them as you perform this imaginary action: “5 . . . Chomp, Chomp, Chomp. 10 . . . Chomp, Chomp, Chomp. 15 . . . Chomp, Chomp, Chomp.” Or you might reach down, pick up 10 slithering imaginary snakes, and toss them over your shoulder while counting 10, 20, 30, and so on.
Let the kids take turns picking different imaginary items (dirty socks, hot dogs, fish, etc.) and deciding on different things to do with them; toss them over the shoulder, put them in your mouth, stuff them down your shirt, through them on your neighbor, and so on. Get silly about it, and not only will they consider this tons of fun, but they’ll be counting by multiples in no time at all.
Playing Card Math
Playing cards make a great tool for teaching addition or subtraction. Just remove the Jacks, Queens, and Kings, and deal each child 2 cards. Have them add or subtract the numbers using the symbols on the card for a reference. For example, an 8 of spades will have 8 spades on it, the 4 of diamonds 4 diamonds, etc. Add them together by counting the spades and diamonds, or subtract them in the same manner.