A collection of our many ideas for kindergarten math activities and the thinking that takes place in kindergarten. For young children exploring activities, thinking, and math games can be a healthy part of children’s first experiences with math. Here are the many resources we have on our website.
Kindergarten Math
Series: Book Ideas
4 Playful Counting Books That Bring Numbers to Life
September 28, 2022
Counting books that offer children opportunities to participate bring play into math learning. These books engage children physically, cognitively, and emotionally—making them favorites that children will ask to read again and again.
- Topic: Number Sense
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade
- Tags Family Math
Series: Ideas at Work June 6, 2022
How to Use Digital Photos to Build a Mathematical Language Routine for Kids
It turns out that mathematical thinking is developed in conversation with others; asking students “how do you know that?” will reveal a child’s mathematical reasoning skills. The ability to explain one’s thinking is a cognitive…
- Topic: Sets, Number Sense
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
- Tags English Language Learner, Number Talks
Series: Focus on the Child March 22, 2022
Benchmarks of 5 and 10 with Child 39
This child uses the visual arrangement of a ten frame to conceptually subitize quantities into the teen numbers. He recognizes a full row as a unit of 5 and uses that to derive larger numbers…
- Topic: Number Operations
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
- Tags Child 39
Series: Focus on the Child March 22, 2022
Solving a Problem with Both Parts Unknown with Child 39
This child encounters a new type of problem situation: a part-part-whole story where both parts are unknown. He is uncertain how to model the problem at first but has some success with adult support. Focus…
- Topic: Number Operations
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
- Tags Child 39
Series: Focus on the Child March 22, 2022
Solving a Part-Part-Whole Problem with Child 39
This child uses cubes to model a part-part-whole problem where the whole is unknown. He uses a counting all strategy. He counts out each part and then counts them altogether, starting from one. Focus on…
- Topic: Number Operations
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
- Tags Child 39
Series: Focus on the Child May 19, 2021
Why Cardinality is the Goal of Counting
What is cardinality? And how is it related to counting? The common definition of cardinality states that it’s the understanding that the last number word said when counting tells how many in all.
- Topic: Sets, Number Sense, Counting
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
- Tags Cardinality
Series: Book Ideas May 5, 2021
Early Childhood Data Collection Activities Are for the Birds
Children are naturally interested in birds, so springtime is the perfect opportunity for early childhood data collection activities. Here are some favorites, along with book recommendations.
- Topic: Data Analysis
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade
- Tags Family Math, Birds, Kevin Henkes, Animals, Asia Citro, Susan Edwards Richmond
Series: Ideas at Work April 14, 2021
DIY Rekenrek Ideas for Home and School
To encourage teachers and other adults to use rekenreks, it's important to not only go over ways to use a rekenrek, but also we thought we would make sure everyone has opportunities to have them,…
- Topic: Number Sense, Counting
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
- Tags Rekenrek, Subitizing
Series: Focus on the Lesson April 13, 2021
Rekenrek Chart for Voting in the Classroom
Looking for new rekenrek activity ideas? Try voting with a rekenrek chart. In this video, we see a rekenrek chart used to solve a dilemma common to early childhood classrooms: choosing between two favorite books…
- Topic: Number Sense, Data Analysis
- Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade
- Tags Rekenrek, Subitizing
Series: Focus on the Lesson March 17, 2021
Making the Number Ten on a Rekenrek
A good sense of the number ten is critical for building young children’s reasoning strategies. Here we see kindergarteners making the number ten on a rekenrek, a tool with red and white beads in groups…
- Topic: Number Sense
- Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten, 1st Grade
- Tags Subitizing, Rekenrek
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