This Make a Sea Creature Playdough Activity is sure to cause waves in your preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classrooms. Students will have a whale of a time while strengthening the following skills:
– Counting
– One-to-one correspondence
– Number recognition
– Number quantity
– Set recognition
– Spatial relations
– More/less/same concept
– Language
– Social emotional
– Fine motor
– Following directions
Print these 10 activity cards out on cardstock. For heavy use, lamination is recommended. Supply students with playdough, googly eyes, acrylic jewels and/or sequins, cut pieces of pipe cleaners/fuzzy sticks, buttons, and seashells.
Learners will choose a card and make a sea creature using the “recipe”. Children will practice counting and one-to-one correspondence. You may wish for your older learners to practice their set recognition skills while choosing items.
Be sure to facilitate conversation during this activity. Ask your students to describe their creations and ask them which items they used more/less/same of.
Just a couple of ideas – the shells may be used as scales and fins, and the fuzzy sticks as legs and antennae. But, of course, all of the items should be used ANY way the children see fit.
Please note that these learning center activities are designed to be printed (on cardstock) and laminated. This will ensure their use and enjoyment for years to come.
ZOO ANIMAL MEASURING CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide pom poms, vase gems, math cubes, mini erasers or some other manipulative for children to measure (nonstandard) the length of the animals.
Students may use the Zoo Animals – Measure and Record worksheet to record their answers. Discuss which animals are longer, shorter, or the same. If you are not wanting your children to use worksheets, a color Measure and Record has also been included. Just laminate or place the sheet in a protective sleeve, so that it may be used with dry erase markers.
MEASURING WEIGHT TASK CARDS (COLOR 12/B&W 12)
Supply learners with a balance scale, math cubes, paperclips, crayons, buttons, markers, bear counters, erasers, pennies, clothespins, googly eyes, beads, and pop poms.
Students will follow the directions on the task cards to measure the weight of the items provided, and to determine which of those items weigh more and which weigh less.
LET’S IDENTIFY A PATTERN TASK CARDS (COLOR 4/B&W 4) – LETTER CARDS (B&W 11)
Children will work to identify the patterns, and label them by placing the appropriate letter cards onto the spaces (squares) provided.
LET’S EXTEND A PATTERN TASK CARDS (COLOR 4/B&W 4)
Provide children with counting bears. Learners will identify the patterns, and work to extend them.
SPY & GRAPH SHEETS (COLOR 2/B&W 2)
Supply pom poms, vase gems, mini erasers or some other small manipulative for children to use as markers. Prompt students to study the scenes at the top of the sheets. Children will then count the number of each item and mark the corresponding boxes. Discuss which items there are more of and which there are less of.
RACE BACK TO SCHOOL ROLL & GRAPH SHEET (COLOR 1/B&W 1) – POCKET CUBE/DIE CARDS (COLOR 6/B&W 16)
Cut out the cards and insert them into a pocket cube/die. Provide pom poms, vase gems, mini erasers or some other small manipulative for children to use as markers. For individual use, the child will roll the cube/die, identify the picture, and place a marker in the appropriate column. Repeat until a column is full to the top; that item “wins”. In small group, provide each child with his/her own sheet. Students will take turns rolling, marking their own roll. First person to fill a column to the top wins the race Back to School!
2D SHAPE CLIP CARDS (COLOR 11/B&W 11)
One card at a time, children will identify the featured shape, and study the pictures on the right side. Using a clothespin, learners will mark (clip) the shape matching real life object. Facilitate conversation about the number of sides on each shape, and why or why not an object matches it.
Students will identify the featured shape on each card. They will then sort through the real life object shapes, and place them on their appropriate spaces. Facilitate conversation about the number of sides on each shape, and why or why not an object matches it.
BUTTERFLY SYMMETRY SHEETS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Supply learners pattern blocks. Students will study the designs on the left hand sides of the butterflies, and work to replicate those designs on the right hand sides.
Depending on your students’ abilities, there are two versions of this activity: one with a pattern outline and one without.
Present your learners with a task card and a set of item cards. Children will then display their seriation skills by placing the items in order from smallest to largest. Be sure to discuss other words for large, medium, and small (big, huge, average, midsize, little, tiny, etc.)
CANDY STORE CLASSIFICATION TASK CARDS (COLOR 10) – CANDY JAR SORTING SHEET (COLOR 1)
Be sure to print out multiple jars and sheets of candy. Please be aware that because this center activity relies on color, a black and white version is not included.
Working with a small group, provide each child with 3 jar sheets and a stack of shuffled candy cards. Holding the task card up, so that learners can get a clear visual of the candy in the jars, slowly and clearly read the directions out loud. Students will then work to sort and classify their candy onto their jars according to the directions. This activity practices classification by both 1 and 2 attributes.
Working with a small group, give each student a task card and a set of bear cards.
You may then instruct them as to what bear to place in what position. For example, ”Please place the bear with the pink shirt in 3rd place.” Or something along the lines of, “I need you to place the bear with a star on his shirt in 1st place.” When using the black and white version, you will have to rely on the shapes for placement. Once all of the bears appear in the lineup, you may ask your children, “Which bear is in 2nd place?” And so forth…
ORDINAL NUMBERS WITH BEARS AND SHAPES TASK CARDS (COLOR5/B&W 5) – SHAPE CARDS (COLOR 5/B&W 5)
Working with a small group, give each student a set of bear task cards and a set of shape cards. Prompt your learners to line up their bears in front of them (order does not matter here).
You may then instruct them to place a shape on a certain bear. For example, ”Place the circle on the 4th bear.” Once all of the bears have their shapes, you may ask your students, “Which bear is the star on?” And so forth…
Let’s count on having sum fun with numbers! This Mathematics – Number Sense 1-10 Math Center Activities pack contains 13 printable hands-on activities. This fun-filled product helps to build number sense by strengthening the following skills:
– Counting
– One-to-one correspondence
– Number recognition
– Number quantity
– Number order
– Addition to 10
– Subitizing/Set recognition
– Number formation
– Concept of more and less
– Fine motor
– Following directions
Please note that these learning center activities are designed to be printed (on cardstock) and laminated. This will ensure their use and enjoyment for years to come.
A DAY AT THE ZOO NUMBER PUZZLES (COLOR 3/B&W 3)
Cut the puzzles into strips. Students will complete the puzzles by placing the pieces in numerical order.
Younger children will use one-to-one correspondence to count the sprinkles, touching each one with their finger as they say its number name. Older children may practice their set recognition skills to identify the correct amount. Students will then demonstrate number recognition by placing the correct number cards under the donuts.
COUNTING MATH CUBES 1-5 & 6-10 (COLOR 1/B&W 1) – NUMBER CARDS (COLOR 18/B&W 18)
Younger children will use one-to-one correspondence to count the cubes, touching each one with their finger as they say its number name. Older children may practice their set recognition skills to identify the correct amount. Students will then demonstrate number recognition by placing the cube cards on their corresponding numbers.
NUMBER QUANTITY WITH APPLES TASK CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide students with mini apple erasers, red pom poms or red counting chips. Learners will place a numbered group of apples on its corresponding tree. Encourage younger children to use one-to-one correspondence while counting. Older children can use this activity to practice set recognition.
Students will identify the number on each pirate card and place the corresponding sets of items onto their appropriate spaces. Encourage younger children to use one-to-one correspondence while counting the items. Older children will demonstrate their set recognition skills.
DECORATE A CUPCAKE PLAYDOUGH ACTIVITY CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Supply students with playdough, buttons, pom poms, acrylic jewels and/or sequins, birthday candles, and small straw pieces. Students will choose a card and follow the “recipe” to decorate their cupcakes.
COUNTING BALLOONS – MORE AND LESS TASK CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide children with clothespins or a small manipulative to use as markers. Learners will display one-to-one correspondence and/or set recognition to identify the number of balloons in each picture. Students will then determine which girl has more or fewer (less), and clip or mark the card accordingly.
COUNTING CRAYONS – MORE AND LESS TASK CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide children with clothespins or a small manipulative to use as markers. Learners will display one-to-one correspondence and/or set recognition to identify the number of crayons in each picture. Students will then determine which box has more or fewer (less), and clip or mark the card accordingly.
TOY STORE COUNT THE ROOM TOY CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10) – RECORDING SHEETS (COLOR 3/B&W 3)
Three different recording sheets are provided to keep this activity developmentally appropriate. If desired, these may also be laminated or placed in protective sleeves, so that they may be used with dry erase markers and dot markers.
Place the 10 cards (tape, clip, prop, etc.) around the room. Working with a small group, give each child a recording sheet and a writing utensil. Clipboards are optional. As students discover each card, they will count its items and record the number on their sheets.
KIDS TEN FRAME CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide mini erasers, counting chips, pom poms, vase gems, or some other small manipulative for students to use. Young learners will place a numbered group of items on its corresponding card. As children pick up and place each item, encourage them to say its number name (one, two, etc.).
TRAIN DOT TEN FRAME CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10) – NUMBER CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Students will display one-to-one correspondence and/or set recognition to identify the number of dots in the frame. They will then place the correct number card on the adjacent box.
IN MY GARDEN SPIN & ADD SHEET (COLOR 1/B&W 1) – SPINNER (COLOR 1/B&W 1) – NUMBER CARDS (COLOR 15/B&W 15)
Cut out the spinner card and attach a paperclip spinner with a round head fastener (brad). Cut out the number cards.
Provide each child with a game sheet and a stack of number cards. Students will be adding numbers 1-5, so the stack should include 2 sets of 1-5 and then 6,7,8, 9 & 10, equaling 14 cards.
Learners will compose a number sentence by spinning the spinner. The matching number card of the 1st spin, will be placed on the 1st gray space on the 1st line. The matching number card of the 2nd spin will be placed on the 2nd gray space on the same line. Children will add the 2 numbers together, placing the total number card on the last spot to solve the problem.
On the second line, students will replicate the equation using a small manipulative (build sets to match the numbers). Alternatively, the number sentence can be copied/written with a dry erase marker if laminated or placed in a sheet protector.
FAIRY TALE DRAW & COVER SHEETS (COLOR 4/B&W 4) – NUMBER DRAW CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide acrylic jewels, vase gems, mini erasers or some other small manipulative for students to use as markers. Dot markers may be used for the black and white sheets. Young learners will identify the numbers on the draw cards, and cover them on their sheets. They will continue until their sheets are completely covered. When using this activity in small group, the first player to cover his/her sheet wins. Trade cards and play again!
We're Gigi and Zoey. We teach a two-year program (preschool and pre-k), and we're passionate about Early Childhood Education and the philosophy that children learn through play. Our goal is to prepare children for kindergarten while making learning fun.
We hope that our resources inspire you, and that you will share them with your little ones.
GET THIS MAKE A SEA CREATURE PLAYDOUGH ACTIVITY HERE.
- Arts and Crafts, Early Literacy, Fine Motor Skills, Language, Mathematics, Sensory Porcessing, Social Emotional Development, Teachers Pay Teachers, Under the Sea
- centers, counting, following directions, more less same, number quantity, number recognition, number sense, one-to-one correspondence, playdough, set recognition, spatial relations
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