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Dec 3, 2014
Christmas Theme· Math· PreK

Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool: 1-to-1 Correspondence

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Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool REINDEER THEME for PRESCHOOL!

Each Wednesday throughout the school year, we will share activities centered around various topics of interest to preschoolers.  This week, the #playfulpreschool blogging team has developed learning ideas with a REINDEER THEME!  Please take a moment to browse all the wonderful activity suggestions that are linked below for your convenience!

Reindeer Noses Playdough Counting MatsREINDEER NOSES PLAYDOUGH COUNTING MATS for PRESCHOOL!

 Reindeer Nose Playdough Counting Mats

Objective:  To offer opportunities to playfully practice 1-to-1 Correspondence in order to learn how a certain number relates to a specific quantity of objects.

The goal of 1-to-1 Correspondence is to help young children gain confidence not only with number recognition, but to help them move beyond basic recognition and toward the question: How many items make up any specific number?

Materials needed:  Red Playdough (to incorporate a sensory experience try the Peppermint or Apple Spice Playdough) and the printable files linked above.

Prior to the activity – laminate the counting mats (or cover with clear contact paper) for durability.

Place the playdough out on a table or a tray as an invitation to play.  Demonstrate for the children how to tear off a piece of playdough and roll it around in the palm of their hands to form a ball (a reindeer “nose”).  Younger kids may wish to only tear small pieces of  playdough to use on their mats.  Tearing and rolling playdough balls, while FUN, builds important fine motor strength and control for preschoolers!

Playdough Math for Preschool 002Set out the lower numbered playdough mats to begin.  Invite the children to count the number of circles in one of the boxes and then place the corresponding number of playdough balls (reindeer nose) in each of the boxes.  Remind the children to count out loud as they place the playdough balls on the mat. Preschoolers will often count ahead of physically placing the balls in the circles OR count slower than the number of balls placed on the mat.   Observe the children to find counting successes or where errors are made. Young children need a great deal of practice with the numbers 1-5.  Please don’t feel the need to move on too quickly.  The number 5 is an important math anchor; having substantial practice with the numbers 1-5 will help with all future math concepts.  As the children gain confidence in counting accurately, larger numbers can be introduced.

Reindeer Theme Math Mats for Preschool

 COLOR, COUNT, and CLIP – Reindeer Nose Math for Preschool!

Print the Reindeer Math Mats (linked above) to heavy paper and cut apart the reindeer number cards and the boxes with circles (see photo above).

Materials needed:  12 clothespins labeled with one number (1-12), crayons, and the reindeer cards/circle boxes from the printable.

To begin:  choose any 3 numbers that the children are familiar with and lay those reindeer cards/circle boxes out in random order on a tray or a table.  Invite the children to color the circles in boxes to resemble reindeer noses.   Encourage the children to count the number of circles as they color each one on the individual cards.

Count, Color, and Clip Reindeer Math Activity for PreschoolWhen the children are finished coloring the reindeer noses (circles), invite them to match the number of circles to the numbered reindeer card.  The children can then choose the corresponding numbered clothespin and clip the two cards together (see photo above). Again, begin with lower numbers until the children are very familiar with the numbers 1-5.

The REINDEER NOSES PLAYDOUGH MATS are a great way to encourage 1-to-1 Correspondence skills!  The children will play and not quite realize all the important skills under construction!

For MORE ways to encourage MATH through PLAY, see our MATH SERIES for Preschool and Kindergarten!

Intuitive Math:  1-to-1 Correspondence and Subitizing

Intuitive Math:  Subitizing and 5/10 Frames

Intuitive Math:  Part-Part=Whole

Intuitive Math:  Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

REINDEER THEME ACTIVITIES from THE #PLAYFULPRESCHOOL TEAM:

Swat the Letter: Reindeer Preschool Literacy Activity from Learning 2 Walk

Alphabet Activities: Reindeer Roll from Growing Book by Book

Reindeer Preschool Activities with Play Dough and Songs from Life Over C’s

Palm Print Reindeer Craft and Poem from Capri +3

Racing Reindeer Number Line Activity from Mom Inspired Life

Reindeer Christmas Snacks for Kids from Fun-A-Day

Reindeer Math Games for Preschool Learning from The Educators’ Spin On It

 

23 Comments

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Previous Post: « The Giving Tree – An Attitude of Gratitude in Preschool!
Next Post: Christmas Lights Activities for Preschool: Pony Bead Counting Sticks »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    December 3, 2014 at 5:04 am

    What a great resource for inspiring some hands-on math!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 3, 2014 at 7:10 am

      Amanda – thanks so much for visiting and your comment! Math can be FUN for kids!:)

      Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 3, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Amanda – thank you! Awesome Reindeer Theme Activities!

      Reply
  2. Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says

    December 3, 2014 at 7:29 am

    What a fun way to work on math skills. My boys will love it!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 3, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Jodie – thanks for stopping by! It’s a fun way to play with math!

      Reply
  3. Danielle @ Mom Inspired Life says

    December 3, 2014 at 8:26 am

    Great hands-on math activities! Thanks for the printable!

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 3, 2014 at 2:07 pm

      Danielle – thanks for visiting and your comment!

      Reply
  4. Natasha says

    December 3, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    Love this! Multiple learning experiences in one.

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 3, 2014 at 2:06 pm

      Natasha – thank you! Hope YOUR week is a great one!

      Reply
  5. Theresa says

    December 4, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Rolling play dough into balls is a fabulous fine motor skills activity. Then, they get to use them for math skills which has intrinsic rewards.

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 4, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      Theresa – the kids did great! It’s a fun seasonal activity to reinforce basic math concepts. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  6. Mary Catherine says

    December 15, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    Love the use of “noses” for this math activity! Fun, hands-on, and lots of learning – totally up my alley! 🙂

    Reply
    • pschooltoolbox says

      December 15, 2014 at 8:24 pm

      Mary – it’s fun for seasonal counting! Thanks for visiting and your comment!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Alphabet Activities: Reindeer Roll - Growing Book by Book says:
    December 3, 2014 at 5:45 am

    […] Learning 2 Walk Reindeer Preschool Activities with Play Dough and Songs from Life Over C’s Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool: 1-to-1 Correspondence from the Preschool Toolbox Blog Palm Print Reindeer Craft and Poem from Capri +3 Racing Reindeer […]

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  2. Racing Reindeer Number Line Activity - Mom Inspired Life says:
    December 3, 2014 at 7:56 am

    […] Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool: 1-to-1 Correspondence from the Preschool Toolbox Blog […]

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  3. Reindeer Preschool Activities with Songs and Play Dough says:
    December 3, 2014 at 8:06 am

    […] Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool: 1-to-1 Correspondence from the Preschool Toolbox Blog […]

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  4. Reindeer Preschool Lesson Plan says:
    December 3, 2014 at 9:00 am

    […] for walking with me. Reindeer Preschool Activities with Play Dough and Songs from Life Over C’s Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool: 1-to-1 Correspondence from the Preschool Toolbox Blog Palm Print Reindeer Craft and Poem from Capri +3 Racing Reindeer […]

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    December 3, 2014 at 7:44 pm

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    October 13, 2016 at 9:41 am

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