Use blocks, colored sticks or colored pasta for counting activities. Lay the chosen items on the table. Ask the children to count out five of the manipulatives. This beginning activity teaches young children to name numbers and put a value on what the named number means. In other words, the number five stops being a word and begins to represent five objects.
Display a pattern of blocks, pegs or colored Popsicle sticks in a pattern that the students can repeat. One idea is to laminate a large piece of construction paper, about 18 inches in length. The children can place objects on the construction paper to make repeating patterns. The construction paper serves two purposes: It shows the length of the pattern and offers a contrast to the materials used for patterning.
Use colored wooden blocks to measure objects. Ask students how many blocks in length is a desk, book, chair and other objects. Allow the children to measure objects found in the classroom with blocks. This activity lays the foundation for advanced counting skills and measuring objects.
Alphabet tiles are available at parent-teacher stores and some big-box retailers. These offer several activities for hands-on learning for kindergartners. For one, the children can look at an alphabet chart, and the teacher can ask them to repeat the pattern. As the children progress in learning the alphabet, they can begin putting together combinations to spell words or letter combination sounds.