Numeracy encompasses a much wider notion than numbers – it can be understood as the suite of knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need in order to use mathematics in a wide range of situations. The following provides a list of numeracy activities for children that can be incorporated into an emerging numeracy environment.
Just Explore Math Manipulative
- Pattern blocks
- Chains Snap cubes
- Counters
- Garboards
- Colour tiles
- Dominos
- Buttons
- Dog bones
- Gems
- Mini erasers
- Seeds
- Manipulative with trays
- Manipulative with a dice
- Manipulative with 2 dice (addition)
Tray Options
- Ice cube trays
- Mini ice cubes trays
- Circle sorting trays
- Muffin pans
Egg cartons
Sorting Trays With
- Shapes Rocks
- Shells
- Pom poms
- Mini erasers
Button
Make Numbers With
- With gems
- With mini erasers
- With play dough
- With buttons
- With any small manipulative you have
- Cut into pieces to create name puzzles
- Sand writing trays
- Sensory bags
- Fun paper
- Chalkboards
- Dry erase boards
- Dry erase pockets
Play Themed Math Games
- Counting games
- Pattern games
- Sorting games
- Addition or subtraction games
- Graphing games
- Shape/geometry games
- Measurement games
Puzzles
- Floor puzzle (students work as a team)
- Individual puzzles
Measure Items (Length Width)
- With connecting tubes
- With chains
- With counters
- Put out small clipboards so students can record the measurements
Make Patterns
- With chains
- With cubes
- With counters
- With candles
- With glass gems
- With dog bones
- With buttons
- With pom poms
- With pattern blocks
- With mini erasers
- With feathers
- With any themed manipulative
Create Graphs
- With cereal, beads, candy, pasta, or counters
Further Reading
Children's Learning Through Numeracy
Preschool Indicators Of Literacy and Numeracy
Number Printables