My Top 5 Small Group Counting Activities for Preschool

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Elevating Early Childhood!

Before we start, let me ask you a quick question: Do your preschool or pre-k students need help learning how to count and develop number sense?

If your answer is “YES!” then you’ve come to the right place, because that’s exactly what I’m discussing today.

As you know, math doesn’t come easily to everyone. Some children have real difficulties with it, while others find it super fun and easy, almost like solving a puzzle game.

However, the counting activities I’m sharing with you today are an exception, because all your preschool students will love them. They’re fun and engaging, and they make math as simple as it can be!

So, are you ready?

Let’s dive in!

Small Group Counting Activities for Preschool 

Have you ever tried doing a small group activity with your students but they just weren’t feeling it? Instead, they’re talking, fidgeting, or looking at their classmates to see what they’re doing. 

Every good preschool teacher knows that the way to get children to pay attention is to capture it with fun and playful methods. For example, if your students are not listening at circle time, all you have to do is bust out the puppets and some songs. But if they’re not listening and paying attention during small group time, you’ve got a big problem. So what can you do about it? 

Well, the first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that your small groups aren’t competing with your free choice centers. If they are, then you’re fighting a losing battle, and you have to change that.

Something else you can do is make sure your small group activities are fun and engaging. And that’s exactly what we’re talking about today!

Want to find out what my super easy small group counting activities are? Keep reading!

Activity #1

One of my favorite counting activities ever, this one is very easy to set up and super fun for the children. All you need is six small rubber ducks (I got mine from the dollar section at Target), a small bowl with a half inch of water in it, and foam dice.

Once you have all these things in a tray in front of you, you can start the activity. Gather your students in a small group around the bowls and the ducks. The children will take turns rolling the dice, counting the corresponding number of ducks, and placing them into the water bowl to “swim”. 

Activity #2

The second game in my counting activities is also super easy to set up. It requires very little prep. 

All you need is a basket of mini-erasers, foam dice, cups (I use small clear shot glasses from Target or Dixie cups), and gator grabbers.

Here’s how the activity goes: After each of your students has gotten their own cup, ask them to roll the dice. Let’s say one of the children rolled a four; they get to put four mini-erasers in their cup! After that, they can keep rolling and counting and putting the mini-erasers in the cup until it’s full. Once the cup is full ,they dump it out and start again!

This might sound a bit too simple, but believe me, children love it!

Activity #3

This third activity is an ice cube tray game. All you need for it is ice cube trays (I get mine from Walmart), foam dice, gator grabbers, and pom poms.

Each child in your small group gets their own ice cube tray. To start, they roll the dice. If a student rolls a three, for example, they have to fill the same number of slots in their ice cube tray with pom poms. Once everyone has filled their tray, they can dump everything out and start again. And if the pom poms get too boring, you can bring out your colorful mini-erasers. 

Activity #4

Counting activities can be exciting, and this game shows you just that! When I play it, my students come flocking to small group, asking when they can have a turn. 

For this activity, you’ll need an empty tissue box with an animal mouth on it (I use a monkey mouth), banana counters (if you don’t have them, you can use yellow pom poms), foam dice, and gator grabbers.

Your students will take turns rolling the dice and feeding the monkey the same number of bananas that’s on the dice. You can also use a chant during the game. My personal favorite is, “Monkey wants a treat, how many bananas can he eat?”

Students love this game and it really helps them with developing number sense, counting one to one, and fine motor skills.

Activity #5

Almost every early childhood classroom I’ve ever been in, or visited, or seen online has teddy bear counters. Usually they’re in the math center. However, you can also use them for small group counting activities!

Here’s everything you need: A little tub of teddy bears, paper bowls with a hole on the side (they’re going to be our bear caves), and foam dice.

You can pair the game up with a book about bears of hibernation for a little extra fun. But before you do that, let me explain how to play it!

The students in your small group will take turns to roll the dice. Let’s say one of them rolled a two, that means two teddy bears go inside the cave. You can play until all the bears are in the caves.

I explain all of this in more detail (plus I share one more bonus activity) in the video above, so make sure to watch it!