Understanding and identifying numbers is an important skill that all kids will learn as they move through preschool. Make learning early math skills fun with a Valentine’s Day theme this winter!
Included in this free printable is both a full color and black and white option that are a perfect way for your preschooler to practice and enhance their beginning math skills.
Each page includes a cupcake with several number dots, students can roll up to three dice at a time, count the dots, and then cover the number on the cupcake.
These Valentine Roll and cover printables would be great for center use as well as during standard math lessons. I would suggest leaving them in a center station with some counters, pennies, or other manipulatives and dice.
You can encourage your students to roll the dice, count the dots, and cover the correct number on the printable with pennies, counters, or other manipulatives.
How to Use the Free Printable Roll and Cover
Whether you choose to print the full cover or the black and white option, you can laminate to use them multiple times. For single use, you could print out and allow your little one to color (particularly the black and white option), and get started!
Follow the included instructions and have your students (or child) roll up to three dice, count the dots, and place a counter or other manipulative on the correct number.
Some ideas for counters include:
- Stickers
- Tiny Pom Poms
- M&Ms
- Skittles
- Conversation Hearts
- Counters
- Mini Marshmallows
- dot markers
Teaching Counting to Toddlers and Preschoolers
Learning numbers and counting is a skill that can start to emerge around 18 months old. Your child may first learn to count from the repetition of hearing you counting. However, they won’t have any understanding of what those numbers actually mean.
Around 2, they can begin to associate numbers with counting objects. This is a skill that you will be able to teach them by consistently counting and introducing numbers to them during everyday life.
Once you start showing your toddler or preschooler how and what to count, you’ll see how quickly they’ll catch on. Talking to your child about how many cars are in the driveway, how many carrots are on his plate, or how many cups are on the table are easy ways to make numbers part of daily conversation.
Read this post for more ideas on 16 Simple Activities to Teach Counting and Math to a Toddler or Preschooler.
What You will need:
- Free Printable Valentine’s Day Roll + Cover (download below)
- Pennies, Conversation hearts, or other manipulatives
- Cardstock or laminator (optional)
Skills Addressed:
This activity will work on a few different skills that toddlers and preschoolers will soon be proficient in. Exposure is key to learning new concepts and strengthening skills and it’s never too early to start teaching your children math, numbers, and learning how to count.
The following skills will be strengthened with this activity:
- One to one correspondence – counting dots one at a time using their fingers
- Number recognition – seeing and identifying numbers
- Fine motor skills – hand and finger strengthening by picking up the manipulatives and marking the correct number
- Visual motor skills – hand eye coordination as they place the counters on the correct number
Other Ideas for Valentine’s Day
Are you looking for other ways to celebrate this fun holiday with your kids? Here are some more suggestions from my shop and website!
- Fun and Unique Valentine’s Day Activities for Toddlers
- Fun and Unique Valentine’s Day Activities for Preschoolers
- Easy & Simple Valentine’s Day Crafts for Toddlers
- Valentine Pathway Game
- Valentine Puzzle with Letters and Numbers
I hope you and your students or children enjoyed this free printable Valentine’s Day activity, teaching them new math concepts of how to count and one-to-one correspondence while also strengthening fine motor skills and hand strength.
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