You can make math interesting and meaningful for children with fun materials, games and activities. Math for preschoolers goes beyond counting. Other math concepts include patterns, sorting and sets, estimate recognition, shapes, comparisons, measurements, time, money, increasing and subtraction.
Throughout the day children use these concepts and learn math in ways that are natural for them. Simply playing with blocks introduces them to shapes. When they remind you that the big hand is on the 12 and therefore it is time for lunch; they are telling time. Most of what preschoolers learn about math does not come from dittos and worksheets. It comes from activities.
Kindergarten Homeschool Worksheets
One action that is a extraordinary math lesson for preschoolers is called "A New Kind of 'Basket' Ball". For this activity, line up five baskets or bins in front of the children and label them with the numbers one through five. These estimate labels should not only have the written estimate digit, it should also have dots that relate the corresponding number. Place fifteen balls in front of the children as well. Ask them to put the right estimate of balls into each basket; one ball should be in the basket with the estimate one on it and so on. This action teaches math appropriately to preschoolers. Children not only need to feel math with concrete objects but also visually and symbolically through abstract activities. The concrete objects in this action are the balls. The balls relate materials that the children can see and touch and use to visualize and enounce their thoughts. The estimate labels on the baskets relate visualization. The children should be given illustrations or pictures that relate the concept you are teaching them. The dot on the estimate one card, two dots on the estimate two card, and so on, illustrates each estimate for the children. The dots also relate the emblem of the numbers they are working with.
Math concepts can also be reinforced for the children throughout the day on a regular basis. Try placing an enlarged estimate 12 above the 12 on the clock and label it "lunch time". Label your clock with as many of these types of labels that you can. This will help the children to recognize the way the clock looks when it is on the hour. Make sure to point out the clock when it is time for lunch by saying, "Look at the clock, it is time for lunch. See the little hand is on the 12".
You can also couple math through songs. If you are studying about monkeys, make it a point to sing, "Five little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". The same concept can also be used when you are reading books to preschoolers. There are plenty of books that couple counting into their story and will follow the theme you are teaching.
Math is a concept that children will have to use for the rest of their lives and that will be continuously taught in school. By starting off their instruction with fun math activities, you can get them started with math the right way.
Math lesson Plans for Preschoolers