Books are an essential tool for teachers and students. There is plenty of pre-K literature that teaches concepts like counting, shapes, patterns and numbers. Every pre-K math center should include a selection of age-appropriate books that children can look through even if they are not able to read yet. Consult a librarian at the public or school library for popular examples, or find appropriate books through online retailers and publishers.
Children do not all learn the same way. Some may take to books while others require a hands-on approach to learning. One way to stimulate children's minds is to have the learning based in music. A variety of math-related musical choices exists and can be purchased as tapes or CDs. Devote a special place in the math center for music that can be played in the classroom. Musical selections can also be loaded on an MP3 player or played on a classroom computer.
Numbers are the basis of mathematics, and children need exposure to the appearance of numbers as early as possible. Not only can numbers be printed on paper or cards, but plastic numerals should be included in a math center to stimulate children as they handle them and examine them. These numbers can also be used for games and activities that teach students to count.
Even though children won't take a geometry course for years, the exposure to the different types of shapes is essential to building a good mathematical background. Blocks, cards, pictures and toys should be included in a math center to expose children to the different shapes they'll find in the world. Some games, such as dominoes or Tangrams, teach children to manipulate shapes in a three-dimensional context.
Children in the pre-K ages do not sit still very long for lessons, but they can be stimulated with games and other activities. Store-bought board games can teach various math concepts, but homemade games are also an option. For this age group, games can be relatively general, such as just having kids roll a die to see how far they can travel on a path or having them count the number of images on a card. Large dice are good for teaching kids the basic numbers, and puzzles teach valuable problem solving skills and spatial relations.
One key element to teaching early math is to have the students begin to recognize patterns. Pre-printed cards can be purchased, or patterns can be drawn on cards, to help children recognize a sequence of colors or shapes. Small toys, like blocks or small cars, should be added to the math center for kids to develop their own patterns. Another way to teach kids patterns is to include craft materials, like beads or buttons, which children can use to design a necklace or glue on a piece of paper.
One of the early difficult concept for grade-school students is the understanding of money. Including an assortment of coins in a math center exposes children to their sizes, shapes and colors. These coins can be used in lessons to count different amounts as well as compare to each other. Counting pennies in a cup, for example, teaches children basic numbers and also exposes them to currency in general.