Math Center in Preschool

Preschool Math Center

Let’s face it, no little kid wakes up in the morning and shouts, “I can’t wait to play in the math center!” That’s why it’s important that we, as teachers, create an organized and inviting space where our little learners can count, compare, sort and build a strong number sense foundation using 3-D objects they can touch and manipulate with their hands.
How to Set Up a Math Center

How to Set Up a Preschool Math Center

When you stock your math center with inviting and intriguing materials, your kids will start building those critical math skills without even realizing that they’re doing anything other than having fun!

Math Center Labels for Preschool

Label Everything

It’s important to label everything in your early childhood classroom. Labels help young children connect the written word with spoken language. Labels can also help children organize their world, learn classification skills, and facilitate a quick and easy clean-up.

Best Math Tools and Toys for Preschool

Math Manipulatives and Tools

When it comes to stocking your center, it’s important to keep in mind how much wear and tear the materials you choose will have to withstand. When you have lots of little children touching and playing with the materials they’ll need to be very sturdy to survive daily use.

Center Essentials Cover 400

Here are some of the items that have withstood the tests of time in my own classroom:

Math Center Tubs on Shelf in Preschool

Center Set-Up Tips

Each tub in the center is open on top and labeled with a picture of the materials along with the words. It’s important to place labels on each end of your tubs, as well as a matching picture on the shelf.

Using open tubs and picture labels will facilitate a quick and easy clean-up. The words on the labels will help create a print-rich environment in your classroom and pique the interest and curiosity of your little learners.

Pre-K Math Center Set Up
The Math Center Sign provides a picture icon to help your students identify and locate your math center. These signs are also intended to help the adults in the classroom learn the benefits of hands-on learning in centers with “we are” statements.

Math Center Labels

What to Put Out and When

Teachers always ask how many of these materials they should put out on the first day of school. In order to have a successful and functional center, each tub or item that is placed on the shelf is introduced to the children during large or small group time. When the children have learned how to use materials, and demonstrated that they can use them successfully, then and only then, will they be placed on the shelf in the center for free exploration.

Books in Every Center

Books in the Math Center

You’ll also want to include a tub or basket of math picture books in your center. Choose books with bright, bold pictures that your students are familiar with or books that don’t require that you read them aloud for your students to understand. Books about numbers, counting, sorting, patterning or similar topics are perfect.

Measurement in the Dramatic Play Center

Math in the Dramatic Play Center

Learning math skills doesn’t happen only in the math center. You students can use the materials from your math center in other areas of the classroom to practice math skills too!

Teaching Trailblazers

Having a well-stocked math center is awesome! But let’s face it, a math center can’t make you a better teacher. The best place to discuss teaching best practices and get the support you need is in the Teaching Trailblazers. We have many printable lessons and on-demand video trainings to help you become the best teacher you can be! If you want to get on the waiting list for the Teaching Trailblazers, do it soon so you don’t miss the next open enrollment period!

What goes in a math center

19 thoughts on “Math Center in Preschool”

  1. Hi Vanessa. Thank you for the math center set-up tips. These are really great ideas. I like your tub labels, and how you used badge holders. Do you have these tub labels for sale for all the centers? Would like to purchase some.

      1. Hi Vanessa,
        I’m an NQT and LOVING your website ! I’m not on facebook and would love a copy of the tub labels, is there any other way I can get them?

        Thanks !

    1. Vanessa, I appreciate the wealth of information presented here and the Soar to the Summit this summer! I have completely re-evaluated my classroom due to the information I have learned! Thank you!

  2. Elizabeth Gunther

    Hi, Vanessa! I love all your ideas, and so does my class! You’ve thought of a lot of things I hadn’t yet, which is really helping me out. The kids have had so much fun this year, and I think that’s largely due to your ideas! Thanks so much!

  3. I have fell in love with your labels and center signs and can not wait to put them up in my classroom to get ready for assessment! Thank you so much!!!

  4. This is my first year teaching ESE preschool. After a hard, frustrating day with centers, the amazing Para in my room actually went home and texted me about some great ideas she had found. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your wonderful website and can’t wait to try your ideas. Thank you for sharing your creative, practical, and well-thought out learning system! Gina

  5. How do you manage the center activities? Does the students just pick whatever they want and explore or is there a set activity they do?? How many in students are allowed in each center?? Do you have a separate time for time for learning centers (math, writing, literacy) and separate time for social centers (art, housekeeping, blocks)???

    1. Yes, in our full-day program we have time for literacy centers, math centers, and developmental centers (housekeeping, blocks etc). The math center time starts with a table activity, I usually have 4 groups so there are 4 activities. Each group has a different activity. One group works with me on a new concept, the other three groups are working on reinforcing concepts. After a group has completed their table activity (these are usually hands on games) then they can choose from a list of designated “math” related centers. You may find these other pages helpful https://www.pre-kpages.com/centertime/ https://www.pre-kpages.com/class_schedule/ and https://www.pre-kpages.com/literacy-manage/

  6. Can you put the ice try idea in a center. If so, does each student get their own ice try? How can this activity be considered completed so that they can move onto the next activity.

    1. Hi Kimberly, Yes, I use this in my math center often. Each child does get their own ice cube tray. The children continue playing independently until they lose interest. If done as a small group activity I consider them “done” when I notice they are losing interest.

  7. Where do you get the clear bins? Or what size or they? Trying to find something similiar. I don’t have clear bins currently, but love the concept.

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