These rainbow ten frame counting mats are a perfect and engaging math activity for preschool. These counting mats help children develop counting and number sense while infusing hands-on fun! Perfect for use with mini erasers or any other favorite manipulatives because hands-on math is the best kind of math!
Related: Rainbow Activities for Preschool
Rainbow Ten Frame Counting Mats
Our rainbow ten frame counting mats are a big hit with preschoolers and kindergarteners alike! There is something magical about rainbows and kids absolutely adore them. Teachers love that these rainbow counting mats focus on developing critical number sense skills. Kids love that they get to use fun manipulatives. It’s a win-win!
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How to Use the Rainbow Counting Mats
- Print out our free rainbow ten frame counting mats.
- Laminate them for durability or put them in a pocket/ sheet protector.
- Start with numbers 1-5 with the items in them. Once children master these, then move up to 10!
- Move to the blank ten frames for children to fill in. Again, start with numbers 1-5 first, then move up to 10.
How to Teach Counting with Ten Frames
Learning to count may seem like an easy skill, but it’s actually like learning a whole new language! There are 9 developmental stages of math learning that children go through before they develop advanced math skills that will guide them through kindergarten and beyond.
The magic of these ten frame mats is that children are learning one to one correspondence as they touch each item on the ten frame mat. This helps solidify counting and connections between numbers and values. Not to mention, it’s fun to use various manipulatives and counters, including food items, mini erasers, or even loose parts.
When children add an item to the ten frame, have them start with the upper left box and move in each object next to it so that it’s going from left to right. Then, move to the second row and do the same.
After some practice, your preschoolers or kindergarteners will be able to tell if the ten frame has 5 objects, 7 objects, or 10 objects — all without counting or seeing the numeral. That’s subitizing, which means counting by sight, which our brain can do after much repetition and practice! You know how you don’t have to count how many fingers you see or how many dots on a dice? That’s subitizing at work!
Subitizing, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality can all be easily taught with ten frames. It’s also great to incorporate with dominoes and dice. Young children need lots of repetition and practice with early counting skills and these ten frame counting mats do just the trick!
Your students will reap the benefits for years to come by learning these math skills in preschool. It is simply amazing to know we are preparing them for a successful math journey throughout their years of schooling.
Rainbow Ten Frame Counting Mats for Preschool
Your freebie will have two sets of rainbow counting mats. The first set is for children who are just learning to count. The rainbows will be already filled inside each square of the ten frame with the corresponding number.
First, model for the child how to count to that number by slowly touching each rainbow. Then, have the child count the rainbows after you so that you can evaluate any areas that they might need help with, whether it’s counting or following their finger. It’s very common for young children to count too quickly. Invite them to slow down and make sure that after they say each number, they move their finger to the next rainbow.
There is also a number line on the counting mats where the correct number has been marked. This is a great way to reinforce that this number has significance. It’s not just a number… it has a special spot on the number line, and there is a value assigned to it. It stands for that many rainbows. Ask the child, “How many rainbows did you count?” “That’s right there are nine rainbows here…”
Rainbow Ten Frames for Pre-K or Kindergarten
The alternate version of these rainbow counting mats is slightly more difficult. If a child breezes through the first set, then they’re ready for the next set. This is really more about their counting and numeracy skills than it is about their age!
Many may need to practice lower numbers for a while, while other children may be ready to move into the teen numbers. Every child is in a different place in their math journey and these ten frame mats make it easy to differentiate for each child, while using the same materials.
The pre-k ten frames are left open for your student or child to fill in with any manipulative that you have around. These are perfect for mini erasers, gems, pom poms, and the like. I personally love something that I can grab real fast that’s already in the classroom or house.
The second set of ten frame counting mats are also more advanced on the number line. Have your little learner circle the correct number or place a manipulative on it. I make these into a dry erase surface by laminating them or putting them in a dry erase pocket. This is a number sense tool that will help get your preschoolers ready for kindergarten math.
Using Manipulatives with Rainbow Counting Mats
In the build-it section, use any type of math manipulative you prefer. It could be mini erasers, LEGO Duplos/bricks, links, snap cubes, counting bears, pom poms, etc. Whatever you have on hand or anything your little learner loves will do just fine! Have the child build vertically or horizontally to create that number. Feel free to let them use sets or to make patterns. Whatever makes their heart happy to learn about math.
A great teaching tool is to have your little learners slide those manipulatives off the ten frame(s) and into the build it/make it section. This helps to build conservation of number – understanding that there is no need to recount the manipulatives. That number stayed the same since I did not add more or less to the amount. Modeling this skill and thinking aloud is a great way to help children recognize this skill.
On the “Make it or Write it” section, this is a great way to make the number with dice or dominoes. If your little learner already loves writing numbers, feel free to have him or her write it in. If the child needs extra support in handwriting, it would probably be best to wait on this. We want to focus on number sense, not handwriting. It’s important not to introduce too many skills at once because that can quickly overwhelm or frustrate a child.
And there you have it — preschool math that’s full of colorful fun! Your kiddos will build confidence and essential math skills with these rainbow ten frame counting mats. Don’t miss grabbing your free printable by filling out the form below!
Loving these rainbow ten frames but your kids are ready for teen numbers? Check out the 11-20 frames in our store!
Rainbow Lesson Plans & Additional Activities
If you are planning a rainbow preschool theme, don’t miss these easy, done-for-you lesson plans from Preschool Teacher 101! And check out the rest of our rainbow-themed activities below.
Infuse some name and literacy practice with this rainbow name tracing activity or rainbow sight word lacing busy bag.
Don’t forget the sensory bottles – check out our rainbow bear bottle, a layered rainbow sensory bottle, or rainbow discovery bottles.
Plus, add in some rainbow songs and colorful art rainbow activities, including this rainbow button collage, rainbow rolling pin art, or rainbow marble painting. Or check out this mess free rainbow craft with pipe cleaners.
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