Center/Small Group Math Activities

Explore math in centers and small groups using materials commonly found in early childhood settings.

Explore Activities

Using These Activities

  • Developed with teachers and for teachers of early childhood classrooms, these math center/small group activities are easy to set up, fun to do, and require low to moderate teacher involvement.
  • After teachers demonstrate the activity, students can do the activity independently or in groups. We offer suggestions for teachers to promote peer collaboration during group activities. Several of the activities also offer ideas for increasing peer collaboration specific to the activity.
  • Teachers can search for activities that align with their objectives for math content, and many activities provide prompts for teachers to make connections between different areas of math content.
  • These activities are suitable for use in any setting with children ages 3-6 years.

All activities use common classroom materials or printables, including:

  • Counters: counting bears, counting chips, other counters, or Unifix® cubes
  • Counting Tools: number lines or five and ten frames
  • Turn-Taking Tools: number die, spinners, or cards
  • Pattern Blocks: pattern blocks, attribute blocks, or square color tiles
  • Building Blocks: wooden blocks, foam blocks, sticky blocks, or Legos
  • Balance: measurement scale

Print and cut out these quarter-page photo labels to show children what materials are on shelves or in specific containers around the room.

  • Every activity includes ideas to make it easier and harder, and to differentiate based on students’ needs. Some have themes and all have conversation starters to deepen math learning.
  • The activities are designed to be used multiple times during the year. We include ideas on how to modify the activities to keep them interesting and challenging for students. You can also use these as ideas or examples for creating your own activities.

Using These Activities

  • Developed with teachers and for teachers of early childhood classrooms, these math center/small group activities are easy to set up, fun to do, and require low to moderate teacher involvement.
  • After teachers demonstrate the activity, students can do the activity independently or in groups. We offer suggestions for teachers to promote peer collaboration during group activities. Several of the activities also offer ideas for increasing peer collaboration specific to the activity.
  • Teachers can search for activities that align with their objectives for math content, and many activities provide prompts for teachers to make connections between different areas of math content.
  • These activities are suitable for use in any setting with children ages 3-6 years.

All activities use common classroom materials or printables, including:

  • Counters: counting bears, counting chips, other counters, or Unifix® cubes
  • Counting Tools: number lines or five and ten frames
  • Turn-Taking Tools: number die, spinners, or cards
  • Pattern Blocks: pattern blocks, attribute blocks, or square color tiles
  • Building Blocks: wooden blocks, foam blocks, sticky blocks, or Legos
  • Balance: measurement scale

Print and cut out these quarter-page photo labels to show children what materials are on shelves or in specific containers around the room.

  • Every activity includes ideas to make it easier and harder, and to differentiate based on students’ needs. Some have themes and all have conversation starters to deepen math learning.
  • The activities are designed to be used multiple times during the year. We include ideas on how to modify the activities to keep them interesting and challenging for students. You can also use these as ideas or examples for creating your own activities.

Activity Directory

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The Center/Small Group Math Activities were developed by the DREME Vanderbilt University team led by Kelley Durkin and Dale Farran and composed of Luke Rainey, Rachel Kasul, Katie Roland, and Danielle Davis. Eric Dearing, Lindsay Clements, Ariadne Nelson, Julie Kim, Alden Burnham, and Alexia Kovatsis at Boston College also contributed to the creation of these resources. The authors are grateful to their collaborating teachers in Nashville, Boston, and the greater Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan region.

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