The pandemic has required educators to become increasingly flexible and creative curriculum planners, as they create new ways to maintain high-quality learning in socially distanced and remote classrooms.
One critically important part of early learning for kindergarten readiness is the introduction of foundational math skills that will set children up for success when they transition into elementary school. In this article, we share a few fun early math activities that allow for social distancing to keep children healthy and learning at the same time! We also offer ideas for adapting the activities so they can be enjoyed with children remotely.
Image and activity from Happy Tot Shelf
An activity in which children can practice measurements in an easy-to-set-up activity. Click here for detailed instructions.
Skills: measurement, fine motor skills
Materials Required:
Paper
Tape (optional, to hold the paper down)
Connecting cubes for measurement (paperclips could also be used)
Setting up the Activity (COVID-19 precautions):
This activity requires a bit of teacher prep, since the worms will be drawn on paper ahead of time. If you have a copier available, you can draw one page of worms and copy it to speed up the process. To ensure social distancing and to avoid sharing materials, you might consider using individual trays so each child can have her own workspace.
Image and activity from School Time Snippets
This is a simple activity using natural materials in which children will have a chance to practice creating their own patterns. Click here for detailed instructions.
Skills: creating patterns (early geometry skills)
Materials Required:
Natural materials (leaves, sticks, pinecones, flowers, etc.)
Trays and bowls/baskets to set up
Setting up the Activity (COVID-19 precautions):
This activity requires minimal set-up and uses materials that you likely have available in your yard. To help children maintain social distancing, you might consider setting this up on individual trays, so children can work individually on their own patterns. Children can also work on this activity outdoors.
Remote Learning:
If your program is still remote, this activity can also be done over a screen. To set this up, you can work with children to build patterns as a group. Ask children what item should come next, and let them lead the way as you set up the pattern so that they can see it over the camera.
Image and activity from Nurture Store
This is a simple activity using natural materials in which children will have a chance to practice creating their own patterns. Click here for detailed instructions.
Skills: creating patterns (early geometry skills)
Materials Required:
Natural materials (leaves, sticks, pinecones, flowers, etc.)
Trays and bowls/baskets to set up
Setting up the Activity (COVID-19 precautions):
This activity requires minimal set-up and uses materials that you likely have available in your yard. To help children maintain social distancing, you might consider setting this up on individual trays, so children can work individually on their own patterns. Children can also work on this activity outdoors.
Remote Learning:
If your program is still remote, this activity can also be done over a screen. To set this up, you can work with children to build patterns as a group. Ask children what item should come next, and let them lead the way as you set up the pattern so that they can see it over the camera.
