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Math Crafts to Teach in Kindergarten

Crafts and math don't naturally go hand-in-hand, but a wise educator will recognize the benefit of marrying mathematics and hands-on crafts. Crafts can be used to teach any subject in math, including counting, measurements, addition and other topics. Of course, the completed craft can be used as a manipulative to teach math, too, but the process of creating the craft can also help children learn as they write numbers, draw shapes or count objects.
  1. Counting Books

    • Kindergartners will benefit from a counting book that they can create on their own. Use construction paper to create the cover of the book and let children fill the pages with magazine cutouts, stickers and drawings that they can count. Or make a counting book by taking photos of number objects around the classroom and the school and printing and assembling these images into a book. For instance, take a picture of "Room 1" and the "2" on the classroom clock. The book can go to any number you choose, but should at least include the numbers 1 through 10.

    Dice

    • Dice can be used as a teaching tool, and making dice can be a learning experience, too. Cover a small, square box in white paper and have kindergartners draw small dots on the sides with markers until the box looks like a die, with the numbers 1 through 6 represented on the six sides. Another way to make dice is to have students make cubes out of clay and allow them to paint the cubes to look like dice.

    Rulers

    • By kindergarten, students are just beginning to learn about the concept of measuring and using rulers. Help students make their own rulers. They don't have to create a ruler based on a recognized unit of measurement. They can make up their own method of measuring, but each unit of measurement should be the same in order to teach them the concept of measuring an item. Cut cardboard into narrow rectangles or allow children to create a ruler with their own unit of measurement. For example, a child can use his little finger as a unit of measurement, or he may choose to use a small block, an eraser or a stick.

    Other

    • Ask children to make a collage poster that features a job that requires math skills, such as an astronaut, retail clerk or scientist. Have the kids cut pictures out of magazines that feature math-related jobs and paste them on one side of a piece of poster board. Then help the children write why they think each job represented requires good math skills.

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