Play very simple to set up bean math grid game with your toddlers and preschoolers! We have prepared for you blank math grid templates for counting from 1 – 10 for toddlers and preschoolers, and 1 – 20 for pre-K and older kids. We have also included a printable list of 50 either free or very inexpensive math manipulatives, but more about this later on.
Ever since my toddler played with beans in a sensory bin, we have beans all over the house. She’s always cooking beans, playing with them and recently, she began to count her beans. She’s just now in this age when she counts just about everything. Sometimes she misses the number but hey! Practice makes it perfect!
How to prepare the game?
We used:
- little bowl with dry beans for counters (at least 10 / 20 depending which math grid game template you will use)
- math grid game template (download on the bottom of this page)
- dice
We used game template with 10 fields to count from 1 – 10. Math grid games are awesome because you really don’t need much – template, dice, and manipulatives to use as counters.
How to play math grid game
Place everything on the table. Let the child roll the dice, count the number of dots on dice and place corresponding number of counters (beans), one per each field. Repeat rolling until all the fields are filled.
This game can be played as a board game with more children. In this case, prepare needed number of beans (number of kids x 10 for 10 field grid game or, number of kids x 20 for 20 field grid game) and print required number of math grid templates, one for each child.
Our experience with math grid game
My daughter loves counting dots on a dice and she became pretty good with it. Another thing that’s good about using a template with 10 fields is that the game doesn’t take too long. And you know toddlers! They fast lose attention unless they are truly interested in an activity.
So we played our game with 10 fields and when she requested to do it again, I showed her a grid with 20 fields and asked if she would like to play with that one. She did. And we repeated the process – throw a dice, count the dots, place as many beans in the fields. She won. Lucky little cutie!
50 MATH MANIPULATIVES TO USE AS COUNTERS IN MATH GAMES
As we mentioned in the introduction, we have collected a list of 50 math manipulatives you can keep on hand both at home or in a classroom and use them over and over with our math grid game printables. What’s common to all of these manipulatives is that all of them are free (things you already have at home) or very cheap to purchase.
Here is the list:
- coins
- pom poms
- beans
- shells
- mini erasers
- bottle caps
- counting sticks
- fish crackers
- buttons
- beads
- wooden blocks
- Lego blocks
- toy animals
- matchbox cars
- glass gem stones
- plastic links
- pattern blocks
- foam shapes
- dice
- rocks
- feathers
- sunflower seads
- pine cones
- cotton balls
- puzzle pieces
- dot-a-dot markers
- self-inking stamps
- nuts
- bolts
- M&M
- dry cereals
- stickers
- dry pasta
- googly eyes
- drinking straws cut in pieces
- gift bows
- felt embellishments
- jelly beans
- plastic jewels
- paper punches
- corn
- small jingle bells
- corks
- paper clips
- acorns
- mini craft sticks
- mini ornaments
- keys
- hair clips
- plastic rings
4-page free printable (math grid game templates + math manipulatives list)
You will find inside
- instruction how to play math grid game
- math grid game template with 1 – 10 fields
- math grid game template with 1 – 20 fields
- list of 50 math manipulatives to use as counters
For additional ideas to learn in a fun and engaging way with your toddlers and preschoolers, we would like to recommend you our book – Learn with Play (150+ Activities for Year-Round Fun and Learning)! You will find inside easy to prepare activities for everyday fun as well for all seasons and holidays! Here is a preview for you:
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