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Preschool STEM Activity: Math Challenge

STEM with the creative addition of art is essential for our young learners.  The FREE STEM E-Course, challenges parents, teachers, and care-givers to include more science, technology, engineering, art, and math into every day. Join in today, with our playdough math-smash challenge!

Preschool Math Activity | Learn to count, simple addition, 3 dimensional shapes, hands-on math activities for preschoolers



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This activity has been re-printed with permission from STEAM: Preschool Activities for STEM Enrichment

Preschool STEM Activity MATH SMASH


Learning Objective
Count and add numbers 1-5
Materials Needed
Play Dough
Directions for Activity
1. Allow time for material exploration.  Encourage squishing, pinching, and rolling.  Demonstrate how to roll a snake and spheres with play dough.
Playdough snakes

2. Make the numbers one through five with the play dough snakes.
3. Have the child roll the number of spheres needed to match the written number.  
4. Count the spheres and let her smash them to make play dough pancakes as they count.
Playdough math-smash game for preschoolers

Activity Extensions
Need a challenge?  Bring addition into the activity and make a + and = sign out of your play dough snakes. Have the child pick two numbers and put them between the signs.  Encourage her to roll enough spheres to match the number.  Then, let her smash and count the numbers.  Count how many are there all-together.
Early Learning, mathematics addition activity with playdough

Additional Preschool Math Resources

The Everything Kids’ Math Puzzles Book: Brain Teasers, Games, and Activities for Hours of Fun 
Read more about the book here

STEAM: Preschool Activities for STEM Enrichment
Read more about the book here

Shoe Box Learning Centers: Math: 40 Instant Centers With Reproducible Templates and Activities That Help Kids Practice Important Math Skills-Independently!
Read more about the book here

Hooked on Math Kindergarten Math Activities Workbook
Read more about the book here

More Than Counting: Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten, Standards EditionRead more about the book here

Preschool Math
Read more about the book here

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About Amanda Boyarshinov

K - 12 masters reading teacher, author and mom to 3. Amanda is a National Board Certified teacher with oodles of experience in early childhood education.

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