Count the suns is a preschool math project involving flash cards. It will reinforce a preschooler's counting skills, while using the child's creative skills. You will need card stock paper, scissors, markers and a template to draw circles. Your child will use the template to draw any number of suns on one side of the card and then write the number on the opposite side. Encourage your child to be creative when drawing the suns. To use the flash cards, ask the child to count the sun(s) on one side, and then show the corresponding number to the child.
The bottle cap project prepares preschoolers for kindergarten. This project requires about 200 bottle caps (they can be from plastic water bottles, plastic soda bottles, etc.), which you will probably have to collect over time. You will also need two small poster boards, glue and a marker. Once you have collected the bottle caps, write numbers, letters and symbols on the caps. Also set aside a set of different-colored caps so the child can practice learning colors. Glue the colored caps to the poster board, and write the color's name next to it. For the other caps, have your child identify the letters or numbers and put them in alphabetical or numerical order. There are many games and activities to do with these caps; you and your child just simply have to use your imaginations.
Creating a cereal abacus is another way to keep your preschool child interested in counting. This project will also allow you to introduce the concepts of addition and subtraction in a fun way. You will need several materials, including a small shoebox, O-shaped cereal in various colors, floral cloth wire, wire cutter, hot glue gun, tape and some optional decorating items. Install five rows of floral cloth wire with 10 pieces of O-shaped cereal on each wire inside of the shoebox. Make sure these rows are parallel and evenly spaced. Your preschooler can practice counting skills with the abacus, as well as identifying patterns and addition and subtraction concepts.
The grab bag numbers game helps preschoolers connect numbers to a group of objects. This is an important skill in early math development. To create this project, you will need index cards, a brown paper bag, scissors, markers and 20 to 30 small objects, such as pennies, blocks or buttons. Write a number from 1 to 10 on an index card. Then fold each card in half, and put it in the paper bag. Ask your child to grab a card from the bag, and then have him count out the number of small objects that matches the number on the card and place them next to the card. This game really helps to reinforce the concept of associating a number to actual items in the world.