Math & 123s
Move & Learn
ThinkingPreschoolers21 Comments
Counting blocks on their corresponding numbers. We always have a lot of fun with counting. And a lot of fun with blocks.
Have you checked out the 44 activities using blocks for preschoolers?
How do you get a preschooler boy excited about learning? Bring in the big machines.
By bringing in Henry’s everyday love of farming into activities, especially learning activities, he’s excited to do it!
That, and Henry is excited about counting lately, too. So this was especially fun for him! (Until his little brother woke from his nap and all the towers came tumbling down…)
I had Henry first put together the ABC Mat numbers in a straight row, counting to put them in the correct order.
We used our ABC Mat, if you don’t have one (get one! – affiliate link) you could use just pieces of paper with numbers written on them.
To really get him into the activity, Henry loaded up the blocks in a semi to haul them to the number mats.
Block towers were stacked on their corresponding number.
The number 0 got 0 blocks. The 1 got a 1 block tower. The 2 got a 2 block tower… and so on, all the way up to a tower that’s 9 blocks high!
Henry made a few mistakes, but did double check his work and found his errors.
He even argued with me a little, until he counted them himself.
I can’t believe what a success this activity was.
Counting blocks has never been so much fun!
And it has so much learning potential for a preschooler.
… And then George woke up from nap… and that was the end of counting the block towers…
We’ve had lots of fun counting blocks in activities:
- One to One Correspondence Practice with Dice & Blocks
- Making Block Patters!
- Shape Activity: Sorting Blocks as a Graph
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Bette Mroz says
I like to recommend your website in my column — SUPPORTING SUPER STUDENTS and on my website when it fits the theme of my weekly article. With your fun and educational activities you make me want to be a parent or a grandparent (not so far away).
Keep up the great work and wonderful sharing with others!
Bette Mroz
Mari says
Hi! Nice activities. I wanted to ask what is the brand of the Abc mat ? Can you build boxes and forts with it ? Are they sturdy or do they fall apart ? Thanks.
Rachel says
Here is a link to a similar mat that is included in the post: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FKAMLA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002FKAMLA&linkCode=as2&tag=thereimhous-20&linkId=LCUWXPLAQQTNOPUR
I haven’t used this exact one, but most mats like this are relatively sturdy. I hope it works for you!
Jamie says
Thanks! It was a huge hit at our house – I’m glad you guys had some fun with it too! By the way – love your version.
tricia says
Jamie- This is a great way to tailor learning according to the interests of a child- My son is all about trucks!
Having Fun says
I was going to say that this would be a awesome activity to do with my daughter, but then she'd have to complete with her 2 year old sister. Then I noticed you said at the end that his brother was napping. I'll have to do it with my daughter when sister is napping. Cool. Very hands on and I'm sure what he loves. Trucks.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
I love the way you are using Henry's interests to help him learn!
Thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory at Mama Smiles =)
Glimmering Girl says
Seems like a fun activity to do with my preschool girl.