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50 Preschool Math Manipulatives And Activities

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Math manipulatives and activities help build mathematical skills and mathematical thinking for preschoolers. List of 50 preschool math manipulatives.Preschoolers are concrete thinkers. How often have you said something only to realize that your child did EXACTLY what you told her to do?

When my daughter was four years old, a relative was visiting from out of town. We were discussing where we should go out to eat. When we suggested an Indian restaurant, he asked what kind of dishes they had. My daughter responded without missing a beat, “They are round and white.”

Concrete thinking at its best.

Because of this concrete thinking, preschoolers need to see, touch, and move objects around to understand mathematical concepts. Math manipulatives are beneficial for all ages, but are especially important for preschool aged children.

Math Manipulatives and Activities for Preschoolers

There are many math manipulatives and activities that help build mathematical skills and mathematical thinking for preschoolers. The following is a list of our favorites. You don’t need every item on this list and many you can make yourself.

  • Abacus (purchase one or make your own)
  • Activities with linking cubes
  • Art projects
  • Attribute blocks
  • Balance scale and weights
  • Building blocks
  • Body measurement ribbons
  • Body movement patterns
  • Box of real coins
  • Candyland
  • Checkers
  • Chopsticks
  • Chutes and Ladders
  • Clay or Playdough
  • Cooking
  • Counters (beans, bears, erasers, links, linking cubes)
  • Counting rope

  • Dominoes

  • Felt shapes (you can cut your own)
  • Geoboards
  • Guess Who
  • Hi-Ho Cherry-O
  • Imaginets
  • Jelly Beans from Muggins Math
  • 8 Ways to Use Kinetic Sand for Math
  • Lauri Fit-a-Space
  • Lauri puzzles
  • Lauri Shape and Color Sorter
  • Lauri Deluxe Tall-Stacker Pegs & Pegboard Set
  • LEGOs or Duplos
  • Lincoln Logs
  • Magna-Tiles
  • Mancala
  • Marble Run
  • Match It
  • Math games to play in the car
  • Mazes
  • Measuring tools—measuring cups, measuring spoons, funnel, eye droppers, turkey baster, ice cube trays, various containers, and sand/rice/water
  • Number Balance
  • Opposites word game—Say a word, ask your preschooler for the opposite word. For example, hot/cold, up/down.
  • Pattern blocks
  • Pick-up Sticks
  • Pictorial geography
  • Playing cards—regular playing cards or the Six Tens Cards

  • Preschool Finger Plays and Rhymes
  • Puzzles
  • Ruler, yard stick, measuring tape
  • Rush Hour, Jr.
  • Snack time math
  • Sorting and classifying walk
  • Spot It
  • Tenzi
  • Things that are… game—Decide on a category or characteristic and name everything you can that matches. For example, things that are green would include grass, leaves, mold, a shirt, broccolli, etc.
  • Things that don’t belong game—Name three items. Other players guess which one doesn’t belong. For example, if you name chair, couch, and ceiling, ceiling would not belong because you sit on a chair and couch.
  • Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Tinker Toys
  • Trains
  • Twenty Questions

Find more math manipulatives and game suggestions in the math manipulative post series.

Using math manipulatives and games is an easy way to add spice to your student's math education and enhance his understanding of mathematical concepts. Over 125 suggestions listed by category.

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    Learn more about early years, intentional math, math, math manipulatives, preschool, video

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    HI! I’m Crystal…


    I believe learning is not confined to a book or “school hours,” but is a lifestyle that positively impacts generations. That’s why I help homeschool parents simplify homeschool planning, make learning fun, and disciple their children. Learn More

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    • 1Denise

      I love your videos! I'm a new homeschool mom so it's great to get realistic ideas. We're an eclectic homeschool family and I'm always looking for ways to incorporate more Charlotte Mason. The resources that you provide are wonderful.

    • 1Jayne Michener

      Like a rich stock, Crystal takes Charlotte Mason’s ideas and simmers them down into an easily digestible form where they are easy to understand and implement. To listen to Crystal speak is to dip from the pot of her hours of research and insight for a very pleasant and practical meal.

    • 1Summer Seminar Attendee

      Crystal, thank you for continuing to inspire and lift my efforts to offer a broad feast of ideas to my precious children.

    • 1Laura K.

      I just wanted to say what a joy it was to be in your workshops and learn from your wisdom. You had some refreshing ideas that I plan to implement into my homeschool day.

    • 1Susan Chrismansusanchrisman.com

      Crystal Wagner is a delightful speaker with a relevant and inspiring message for parents. She has an engaging style and offers practical application to the ideas she presents.

    • 1Elizabeth

      I am enjoying reading what you send, and I regularly read the links you post on fb. Thanks for sharing!

    • 1Annette O.

      Just wanted to share that your website is the only one that I choose to be in my newsfeed. Love your site.

    • 1Jessie

      Your tips have been so helpful. I look forward to implementing them in the coming school year.

    • 1Sarah

      Thank you for your insight. I am constantly trying to pull back on this but all things around us say to increase our activity level. It’s good to hear encouragement about leaving margin.

    • 1Kelly

      I wasn’t sure what to expect – would it be too far beyond my reach? It wasn’t! Crystal does a good job of making an intentional math lifestyle possible for the average person through examples and her passion for the subject.

    • 1Loretta

      I have been scanning through your website and I absolutely love the content.

    • 1Ashley

      This is really a great resource, thank you SO much!

    • 1Brieanna

      You had so many great tips and ideas I'm going to have to watch this a few times and take notes! I love it, thank you for sharing!!

    • 1

      There is so much good information on your site, the book lists alone are a treasure for CM Mama!!

    • 1Christy

      These are great ideas, thank you! I just printed your list to keep them at hand for the next time we are struggling to figure out what to do.

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