This preschool math activity could not come at a better time! Here we are somewhere between holidays looking for a bit of balance by mixing in easy preschool activities. Well, here it is! This preschool counting bear graph is a classic math activity.
The best part of this easy idea is the bears. You know the ones I am talking about. – That bin of colorful bears you had no idea would bring you so much joy. Don’t have the bears yet? Find the bears in my supply list. They give us life.
Before graphing comes sorting
Let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we? Before we graph, we must give our preschoolers opportunities to sort and classify. Objects can be sorted by color, size, shape, and more!
It’s possible! It is also possible that your preschooler needs a little more time with sorting.
Preschool sorting activities:
After your toddler and preschooler successfully sort, it is time to introduce graphing!
How to let children take the lead in learning
As my child plays, I pay attention to his cues. This graphing activity aims to sort the colors into each graph section. What my preschooler wanted to do first was create patterns.
This independence puts me at a crossroads. I can either:
- Redirect and ask him to put the bears on the graph and how they go.
- Allow my preschooler to take the lead and watch where he heads.
So which direction will I go to make the most of our time together?
How I lead my child back to the graph
If you’ve been here a while, you know we went with option two. As facilitators, we are much more likely to go further when we allow our children to explore thier ideas first. My online course, WONDER, is a self-guided parenting course that takes the mystery out of how to help your child learn.
So rather than fight it, I allowed my preschooler to think about his patterns, and as he worked, I shared some points about the graph.
Take a look here; there is a section for each color.
This is called a graph.
When we graph, we keep the same colors in the same column.
Let’s make patterns first and see if we can work on this graph.
Using this conversation reminds him that his ideas are important (which they are) and that we have the next step. I found this article interesting if you are wondering why math is important in life.
Supplies
We only need three supplies. Wowza!
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White Paper Roll
This paper is a staple in our home. Place it on the table or a verticle surface. So many uses!
Washable Markers
Share these markers with your kids, or keep them for yourself. I am not one to judge; I like my own pack too.
Counting Bears
You know we love these counting bears! Use these counting bears for imaginary play, color sorting, counting, patterns, and more. These were necessary for my classroom and continue to be so at home.
Setting up a counting bear graph
- First, place the paper on the table and add columns and rows.
- Next, count out a few counting bears that will be used with the graph.
- Put the bears on the left of the paper.
- Finally, number the graph on the left and add the colors to the bottom of the chart.
- Invite your child to come to play!
We call these simple toddler and preschool activities Breakfast Invitations. They are fun and easy to set up learning activities for kids.
Conversations about graphing
I especially love graphing the conversations that come out of each one. We can discuss which color has the most, the least, and EQUAL amounts.
To take this one step further, we chat about HOW MANY more or HOW MANY less. We can do that by seeing how many match side by side.
Use language such as, “Look at this! I notice TWO more yellows than blue. Let’s count them together.”
More preschool graphing ideas
Have the itch to keep graphing? I get it! Here are four more graphing activities for kids:
Who has time to search for ideas?
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FAQ
Keep learning intentional (know WHY your actions are important), and be playful. Think about what your child enjoys and create fun math games using your favorite toys. If your child loves race cars, use them to color, sort, and count. If your child enjoys blocks, use the blocks to measure, sort, stack, and graph. Here is a list of my favorite preschool math activities.
First, introduce and practice color sorting.
Next, make a simple graph using large white paper and markers, allowing the preschooler to graph three colors.
Show the child the graph. Ask, what do you notice?
Point to the bottom row on the graph. Ask the preschooler what do think these colored blocks mean.
Point to the rows and columns in the graph and show how one object fits in each section.
Invite the preschooler to begin sorting the toys onto the graph. Use phrases such as how many more, how many less, and total amounts.
Stem toys focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. These are the best STEM and math toys for kids ages 5-9.
