I know from my Facebook question a few weeks ago that many (many!) of you are preschool and Kindergarten teachers. While I am loving being home with my own little ones right now, I still get the itch to be in the classroom. To plan centers, and add neat things to encourage little ones to look at things differently and explore deeper.
While I have been setting up some ways for my Sam to explore math creatively, I realized that so many of these ideas would be fantastic in math centers. So, my preschool teachers, here are some awesome things to add to your preschool math centers!
Amazing Additions to Preschool Math Centers
The Incredible Measuring Mirror. Pop this simple DIY measuring mirror up on a wall behind your preschool math center and watch the natural learning grow (Ha! grow)
Mirror Box. The Imagination Tree. These mirror boxes are very simple to make from dollar store mirrors, and amazing learning tools for kids. Use loose parts with these mirrors to learn about patterning, symmetry, and a lot more too. Check out all the ideas!
Sand and Spoons. An Idea on Tuesday. What about adding sand to your math center. Messy? Quite possibly, but think of the learning! Scooping, tracing and drawing through it on cookie sheets, patterning …. the mess … well, maybe.
Add a Level. Teach Preschool. What a neat way to let kids explore and play with balance. I love all of the loose parts with this idea as well.
White Line Pebble Math. I’m a Teacher, Get me OUTSIDE Here! Take those rocks you have for loose part exploration to a whole new level by adding some simple white lines and angles. A beautiful introduction to geometry.
Sticky Easel. Playfully Learning. What about putting some sticky contact paper on an easel in your math center? Let little ones explore shapes with string, patterns with loose parts, weight and it’s effect on sticking …
Ramp. Pre-Kinders. I am not sure why I had never thought to add this to my math centers, but I hadn’t! Totally simple, but rather brilliant.
I love how simple it is to help little ones explore ideas. We can take the same idea, say patterning for example, and look at in literally dozens of different ways. Each time we do, new connections are forming and deeper learning is happening. All by adding in one little prompt.
I think I will start with adding a level and a ramp tomorrow to our little math center. I will save the sand for you to try …
Thank you for reading!
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