This golf ball number count-up is great for hands-on preschool math!
Recently, my mother-in-law brought us this large box of golf balls. And the truth is, this golf ball number count-up for preschool didn’t instantly come to mind.
Initially, I stared at this giant bin of golf balls. I thought either she is reading my blog and understands the importance of hands-on learning, or she forgot what it was like to have two toddlers and 50 golf balls roaming around kitchen floors as she tries to cook dinner.
Okay, I am kidding! Actually, these golf balls are a terrific way to help to count come alive for my preschooler to understand number sense, and I am thrilled to have them passed along to me!
RELATED: Looking for simple, powerful ideas to keep at home? Check out our activity cards.
Table of Contents:
Why is it important to touch and count?
What is so important about holding a physical object as your preschooler counts?
By Kindergarten, children must demonstrate when counting objects, they say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.
This is called rational counting. Rational counting is when objects or events are matched up with a number name. This helps build the concept of quantity.
Touching each object as it is counted helps the quantity of how many sticks. Simply put, children learn by doing.
Let’s set up this golf ball number count-up
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Begin by gathering golf balls or any loose part objects and numbering 1-20. Remember to choose the number range that your preschooler is ready for. For us, my fourn-year-old has mastered 1-12 and is working on 13-20. I knew that if I began with 1-12, he would gain momentum for 13-20.
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Number your egg cartons with the same sequence as the golf balls.
- Another variation is to keep the egg carton numbers 1-10 to make a ten frame. Please take a look at what is a ten frame and why it is important.
PRO TIP: I did not show my preschooler 13-20 until after we finished 1-12. Again, I wanted to begin where he can gain confidence and understand the hands-on math activity.
RELATED: From toddler to preschool, here are our collection of hands-on math activities.
To play, touch the golf balls and place them in numerical order into the egg crate.
Try to encourage your preschooler to count in order from one up to twelve before moving on.
When finished, touch and count out loud each golf ball.
Play this golf ball number count-up again and again!
Even when the golf balls are mixed up, it is a great way to continue number recognition when the numbers are out of sequence.
Are you ready to play this hands-on math game with your preschoolers?
