Two very simple to set up bean math grid games. We have prepared for you blank math grid templates for counting from 1 – 10 for toddlers and preschoolers, and 1 – 20 for pre-K and older kids. We have also included a printable list of 50 either free or very inexpensive math manipulatives, but more about this later on.
Ever since my toddler played with beans in a sensory bin, we have beans all over the house. She’s always cooking beans, playing with it and recently, she began to count her beans. She’s just now in this age when she counts just about everything. Sometimes she misses the number but hey! Practice makes it perfect!
We used math grid game template with 10 fields to count from 1 – 10. Math grid games are awesome because you really don’t need much – template, dice, and manipulatives to use as counters.
My daughter loves counting dots on a dice and she became pretty good with it. Another thing that’s good about using a template with 10 fields is that the game doesn’t take too long. And you know toddlers! They fast lose attention unless they are truly interested in an activity.
So we played our game with 10 fields and when she requested to do it again, I showed her a grid with 20 fields and asked if she would like to play with that one. She did. And we repeated the process – throw a dice, count the dots, place as many beans in the fields. She won. Lucky little cutie!
50 MATH MANIPULATIVES TO USE AS COUNTERS IN MATH GRID GAME
As we mentioned in the introduction, we have collected a list of 50 math manipulatives you can keep on hand both at home or in a classroom and use them over and over with our math grid game printables. What’s common to all of these manipulatives is that all of them are free (things you already have at home) or very cheap to purchase.
4-page printable consists of:
- instruction how to play
- math grid game template with 1 – 10 fields
- math grid game template with 1 – 20 fields
- list of 50 math manipulatives to use as counters
Today’s post is a part of Math Made Fun with Everyday Manipulatives and if you click on the image, you will be taken to a page where you can see additional 21 idea to have fun with math both at home or at school.
For additional ideas to learn in a fun and engaging way with your toddlers and preschoolers, we would like to recommend you our new book – Learn with Play (150+ Activities for Year-Round Fun and Learning)! You will find inside easy to prepare activities for everyday fun as well for all seasons and holidays! Here is a preview for you:
Book is available as:
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Click here to download and save MATH GRIDS & LIST OF 50 MATH MANIPULATIVES TO USE!