It’s December, which means Christmas is right around the corner! Preschoolers around the world are eagerly waiting for Santa to bring them presents. Have some fun counting gifts with these free Christmas tree counting cards!
4 Christmas Counting Activities Using One Printable
As the holidays approach, the holiday candy and decor has definitely overtaken the grocery store aisles. With this year being a little wonky, (er…um…a LOT wonky…) I’ve created a few new sets of printables to make the Christmas season feel extra special for my preschoolers.
These Christmas tree counting cards are a perfect addition to your holiday math centers! They’re a great way for kids to work on counting, one-to-one correspondence, comparing numbers, and even decomposing numbers!
Best of all – they’re Christmas themed!
FAQ About Teaching Counting in Preschool
The best way to teach counting to preschoolers is by offering a variety of counting activities. This can be done directly by setting up specific preschool counting activities, or it can easily be integrated throughout daily routines like getting dressed or setting the table for dinner. You can also teach counting to preschoolers by doing finger plays, reciting nursery rhymes, and playing classic childhood games like Hide and Seek.
It’s never too early to introduce counting to toddlers and preschoolers. When children are young (18-36 months), they will benefit most from counting activities that are naturally incorporated into their play. Preschoolers, on the other hand, can be directly taught how to count by using hands-on or printable counting activities.
One-to-one correspondence in counting starts to develop around age two, but might not be mastered until ages four or five. When children begin to recognize, match, and count objects, they are learning one-to-one correspondence. When a preschooler can count with one-to-one correspondence, he or she will be able to apply a number to each item in a set.
Free Christmas Counting Cards
These free printable counting cards are a festive way to have some holiday fun while teaching preschoolers in your home or classroom. They are easy to use for a variety of preschool math activities, including counting, one-to-one correspondence, and comparing numbers.
Materials
- free Christmas counting cards
- Christmas themed counting manipulative (or any other counting manipulative)
Add more Christmas to These Counting Cards
This is absolutely not necessary, but having some cute Christmas themed manipulatives to use with these counting cards makes them all the more fun! Here are some of my favorites.
How to Teach Counting Using Christmas Counting Cards
To teach counting using these free printable counting cards, first you’ll need to download the printable. Then print it out on white heavy card stock and cut out the cards to prepare them.
Next, gather the cards and your holiday manipulatives and arrange them on a table or in a math center. Then invite your preschooler over to explore the materials and begin the Christmas math activity.
Encourage your preschoolers to identify the number on the card and then count out that number using the manipulatives. It helps if your child points to each manipulative as they count out loud. This helps solidify the one-to-one correspondence skill, which is really important.
Remember that young children develop at their own pace and some preschoolers might have difficulties with this counting activity.
If your child is having a difficult time understanding this concept, work with them on the smaller numbers until they feel ready to work on their own.
More Ways to Use These Christmas Counting Cards
These free printable counting cards are so versatile for teaching preschoolers early math skills. Try some of these activities, too.
Sequencing Numbers
They can be used to show preschoolers how to sequence numbers in order from least to greatest or greatest to least.
Start by encouraging your preschooler to count out loud while placing the cards in order. Then they can place the correct number of manipulatives under each card to show how the numbers increase or decrease.
Comparing Numbers
Comparing numbers is another excellent math activity that can be done using these Christmas tree counting cards.
Have your child select two different counting cards. Then have them place the correct number of manipulatives under each card. Once they’ve finished counting, ask them, “Which tree has more presents under it and which tree has fewer presents under it?”
Adding Numbers
Preschoolers can also practice adding numbers with these free printable counting cards.
Have your student select two different cards and count out all the Christmas presents using the manipulatives and place them in one big pile. Then encourage them to count all the presents to see how many there are all together. Finally, have them identify that number out of the cards.
Don’t Forget Christmas Picture Books!
Get your Free Christmas Counting Cards Here
Think you need these free counting cards in your preschool Christmas lesson plans? Grab your free copy by clicking the image below.
More Free Christmas Printables for Preschoolers
Here are some more free Christmas printables for you! Just click the image and download each one from the post.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
