Do you know you want your kindergarten students to have more practice with hands on math application activities but are unsure how to start? Table centers are the heart of an interactive guided math block. While students learn new content at the teacher table with direct instruction, and work on individual pathways during technology center, table group is where they really get to practice what they are learning and collaborate through these ideas for kindergarten math centers!
Why Hands-on Kindergarten Math Centers Matter
Hands-on ideas for kindergarten math centers sound great, but what are they? They can be as simple as putting out index cards with numbers on them and a box of blocks and showing how students can build towers with the corresponding number of blocks. They could also be more precise such as fun printable math games that are standards aligned where students pick the concept they need to practice and play independently or with a partner. Do you already do this in your classroom when teaching kindergarten guided math or want to try it out?
How to Set up These Ideas for Kindergarten Math Centers
Schedule and Routine
During my daily math block I have table center, teacher center, and technology center. My hands-on ideas for kindergarten math centers are part of table centers. Students know they can pick any options that we have been taught and I only allow 2 students per center. This allows for small groups to help with on task behavior and allows students to do a variety of centers during the week. I do 3 20 minute centers a day, so students switch table centers at the mid-way point, or when the timer says 10 minutes left. I explicitly teach them how to clean up their center before moving and they get the hang of this quickly.
File Folders
File folders are an easy way to expose students to lots of concept practice. I have monthly file folders that I only have to swap out once a month and these have over 50 different skills. Students can choose to practice counting, number writing, shapes, sorting, and more. File folders are one of the most first ideas for kindergarten math centers I teach because it is simple for my students to understand that the center is complete when all of the pieces that they took off at the beginning are back on and in the correct spots.
Manipulatives
Manipulatives are probably the easiest ideas for kindergarten math centers to start with. You can switch up the manipulatives alone to completely change the center, such as dinosaurs, mini erasers, legos, unfix cubes, and more. You can also change the concept to match what you are learning! For example, in the beginning I often have students sorting blocks by color, building towers with legos to match numbers 1 to 5, and sorting objects by category. We move to filling in partially filled ten frames with manipulatives to practice adding, working with base ten blocks for teen numbers, and more. What manipulatives do you have in your classroom that you can already use for these ideas for kindergarten math centers?
Puzzles
Puzzles are simple and fun ways for students to match different concepts such as counting objects to numbers, numbers to number words, and more. You can print and laminate puzzles to use or even pick them up at your local department stores. I like to challenge my students by starting out the year with simple two-piece puzzles and then starting to incorporate more three-piece puzzles. Using puzzles that are not self-correcting makes it more of a challenge for students to try and get the answers right without just matching pieces together.
Independent Math
I have lots of options out in my independent math bin. Students can choose monthly themed math printables that include mystery pictures, color by codes, or cut and paste activities. They can choose non-monthly themed but standards aligned morning math that corresponds with the math concept we are currently working on. I have leveled binder games where students pick the standard they want to practice and the level they are working at and can practice their skills in a fun way. Finally, I always have clipboards and recording sheets for the math around the room that is posted weekly covering a math concept from the previous week for a review.
Ideas for Kindergarten Math Centers Takeaways
Kindergarten math centers are where your students will have so much fun playing that they don’t even realize they are working hard. The best days of teaching are when your students will say “when are we doing math today?” because they don’t even realize you’ve been teaching it the past hour!
Try this Free Kindergarten Math Center Today!
Print and go with this free kindergarten math center color by code activity today. These engaging color by code pictures will have students practicing fine motor skills and math concepts at the same time. Drop them in with your independent math and watch students succeed with their ability to choose using these ideas for kindergarten math centers!
