Give your students a piece of paper that has pictures of two or three objects they can find at home, such as chairs, windows or doors. Instruct your students to go home and count how many of each object they can find in their house. Have them write the number next to each picture. Consider making a booklet of these papers by sending home new pictures for three or four nights in a row. Reinforce the concept in the classroom by counting desks, pencils or bottles of glue as a group.
Have your students make number books by sending home one number per week or per night. Instruct the students to take the number home and cut out that number of pictures from a magazine. Alternatively, the students may draw the corresponding number of pictures. Start with one through five and work up to ten. When every page has been completed, staple or bind the pages together to form books. Send the finished books home with your students so they can practice counting with their parents.
Patterns are an important beginning math concept, and pattern cards are an engaging way to teach students this skill. Use index cards to draw different shapes and then color them with a variety of colors. Make at least three or four of each shape in the same color so that students are able to form repeating patterns. Include several blank cards when you send the activity home. Instruct your students to make patterns with the prepared cards. Once they have made a pattern, they should draw what would come next in the pattern on one of the blank cards. Have students show you their patterns so that you can assess their understanding of the concept. Send the cards home several times, if necessary.
Measuring is another beginning math skill that preschoolers need in order to understand more complex math concepts as they get older. Prepare a piece of paper that has pictures of two or three household objects on it. Include smaller items, such as a television, a chair or a plate rather than larger objects like beds, walls or doors. Send a ruler or fabric measuring tape home with each child and ask them to measure how long each item is. Parents can assist with this activity, if necessary. The understanding that different objects are different lengths is more important than measuring each item exactly.