Make a set of number cards to place in your math center. Involve the whole class in the creation of the cards, and sneak in scissor skills practice at the same time. Give each child one, 4-inch square of white construction paper, folded into a triangle. Ask your preschoolers to cut notches from the folded edges of the triangles. Unfold the papers to reveal snowflake shapes. Glue these to the backs of 10, 5-inch by 8-inch, blue index cards. Write the numbers, one through 10, on the opposite side of the cards. Let the children work in pairs to use the cards in a counting and number recognition activity. Flash the cards in order for a counting activity. Flash in random order to practice number recognition.
Recycle a collection of leftover gift boxes for a winter math activity to teach the concepts of large and small. Wrap five boxes, each of a different size. Lay the boxes in a row in random order. Ask the children to identify the largest box. Place it away from the rest of the collection. Ask the children to choose the next largest, then place it beside the largest box. Continue the activity until the row of boxes is reassembled from the largest size to the smallest. Let the children take turns lining up or stacking the boxes in the math center after you have presented the group activity.
Before the math activity, cut 10 felt shapes so children can roll a die and count the shapes to construct a snowman. Place three, white 3-inch diameter felt circles into a shoebox. Add two, penny-size black felt circle eyes, a 1-inch orange felt triangle nose and a red, 2-inch long, crescent-shaped felt mouth. Place three brown, penny-size felt circles for the snowman's buttons, in the box. Children roll the die, then count out the matching number of snowman pieces to begin to assemble the snowman. Each subsequent roll involves counting the pieces that are left to determine if there are enough pieces to match the number on the die. If there are not, the child must roll and count again. Continue the activity the snowman is complete.
Place two plastic mugs, 10 cotton balls and a set of foam number shapes in the numbers one through 10, in a basket. Foam number shapes are available where crafts or teacher supplies are sold. Instruct children to place the number shapes into one of the mugs and place a hand on top of the mug. Give the mug a shake. Draw one number shape from the mug. Identify the numeral, then count out and place the corresponding number of cotton balls into the second mug. Pour out the cotton balls, replace the number shape, then repeat the activity.