Create a memory game with blueberry pancakes. Children can play this game together or alone. The game teaches number recognition and number matching. Cut out brown, pancake-size circles, then randomly add one to 10 blue dots to each circle. Write numerals one to 10 on another set of circles. Laminate the circles and give children spatulas. Place all the circles face down, then instruct children to flip the pancakes with the spatulas and match the numerals to the amount of blueberries on the pancakes.
Use this game to introduce pre-geometry skills. Place two craft sticks side by side. Draw a shape on the sticks, so half the shape is on each one, then color in the shapes. Make a dozen or so of these matching pairs: circles, squares, triangles or other images. Ask the children to match the sticks to make complete shapes. This activity will help children learn shapes and reinforce what happens when two halves are placed together.
Make creative cookies with the children. Making shaped cookies will reinforce shape learning and teach children new shapes, such as stars or crescents. Follow a simple chocolate chip recipe to create the dough, form a ball, refrigerate it and later roll out the chilled dough. Allow children to use an assortment of cookie cutters, making sure they name the shapes they are using. Bake and eat the shaped treats.
Use small manipulatives, or shaped objects, such as counting bears or blocks, for this activity. Write different numbers on paper plates and allow the children to count out their favorite manipulative onto each plate. While this activity seems simple, it is essential for children to learn to count out concrete items before they attempt abstract math facts. This pre-math activity encourages counting, number recognition and hands-on learning.