Children between the age of 2 and 4 learn one-to-one correspondence as the first stage in learning number concepts. Using one-to-one correspondence, preschoolers match unlike objects that belong together, such as a spoon and bowl or a plate and napkin. Strengthen this skill by asking children to set the lunch table or pass out items to their classmates. Use grid games, such as bingo, to guide children in placing one object per square, to further their understanding of this concept.
Preschool students build their mathematical awareness by learning to classify objects based on distinguishing attributes. By grouping items into sets, children practice this skill and learn to sort using their own criteria. Stock various toys and manipulatives for sorting in the classroom and engage children in informal classification activities as well. Ask students to separate the blocks into piles based on their shapes, or invite them to line up based on shirt colors. Children who first classify objects by one attribute can move on to using two or three attributes when sorting. They would then separate blocks into piles based on shape, size and color.
By placing objects and events in order, preschool children enhance their capabilities of reasoning and sharpen their math skills. Challenge them to sequence toys from smallest to largest, or have them stand in a line from shortest to tallest. These activities blend right into the daily routine and allow children to learn math in natural and casual ways. By asking students to order paint colors from light to dark or listen to sounds from low to high, they integrate sequencing activities throughout other areas of study as well.
When introducing the concept of measurement in a preschool classroom, teachers and students can brainstorm the various types of measurements. By learning to measure time, volume, space, sound and temperature, preschoolers will have a better understanding of the broad notion of measurement. Students can measure ingredients while cooking, keep track of time on a class calendar or judge the level of intensity different sounds make. For an activity on measuring space, invite the children to trace and measure shadows on the playground. They can guess about the length of the shadow and compare it to their real height.