Lemonade More and Less Activities for Preschoolers
If you’re looking for more and less activities for preschoolers, this lemonade-themed game is a total winner! It’s hands-on, super simple to set up, and packed with playful math learning. Whether you’re at home or in the classroom, this printable is one of those preschool math activities that gets kids smiling while they learn. Using strawberry-filled lemonade cards, your child will explore counting, comparing numbers, and the fun of figuring out “one more” and “one less.”
This printable is so easy to use—you’ll have it prepped in minutes and your kids will be engaged for much longer. Let’s dig into how this lemonade counting mat turns a classic summer treat into a fun learning tool.
If you’re searching for preschool math activities that make learning feel like play, this lemonade counting mat is just what you need, and it’s the perfect addition to your summer theme for preschool.
It’s a simple yet highly effective way to help children understand what numbers really mean. They’ll count strawberries on a lemonade card, then figure out which number comes before and which comes after. The visual and tactile experience makes learning “more” and “less” easier to grasp.
This activity is perfect for math centers, small group time, or a fun at-home learning moment. It fits seamlessly into summer themes or anytime you want to add a little extra zest to your math routine. It’s also super versatile—you can pair it with real or pretend play lemonade stands, storybooks, or sensory bins to extend the fun.
Keep reading to find out how this printable supports important early math skills and how to make the most of it in your daily routine.
What are More and Less Activities for Preschoolers?
Simply put, more and less activities are simple addition and subtraction activities for preschoolers.
It’s excited to start teaching addition and subtraction to preschoolers, but how do you know when they are ready? Before introducing these skills to preschoolers, it’s best that they have mastered the following math skills first:
- rote counting to 20
- quantification
- one to one correspondence
- cardinality (number order)
- conservation of numbers
- subitizing
It’s also helpful if children have mastered number recognition through ten, but it’s not always necessary.
Read this: Guide to Teaching Number Sense to Preschoolers
What Kids Learn with Lemonade More and Less Counting Mats
This activity supports key early math concepts in a way that feels like play. Kids build confidence and foundational skills through visual and hands-on practice.
SKILL #1: Counting with One-to-One Correspondence
Each strawberry on the card gets one button, pom-pom, or counter, helping children practice one-to-one counting. This ensures accurate number matching and strengthens their understanding of quantity. This foundational skill is critical for more complex math concepts.
SKILL #2: Comparing Quantities
Preschoolers compare the number on their card to one more and one less, helping them learn basic comparison. They begin to understand which numbers are bigger or smaller and why. It also encourages critical thinking and conversation about number order.
Shop our Summer Math Activities
Add a splash of learning to summer with our hands-on summer math activities!
Preschool Math Activities with a Sweet Lemonade Twist
There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, like fresh squeezed lemonade. It’s the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. And it is oh-so refreshing.
Just like this printable. It’s the perfect combination of number sense skills and learning how to add and subtract, all tied up in a free math printable. Now that is refreshing to my teaching!
What’s Included
- 10 lemonade cards with strawberries to count
- “One Less,” “My Number,” and “One More” mat
- Clear and simple instructions for play
Additional Materials Needed
But really, all you need are some red buttons.
Read this: Summer Preschool Math Bundle
How to Teach Comparison Using Lemonade More and Less Counting Mats
Want to make the most of this activity? Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the printable for teaching more and less. (Don’t worry, these instructions are on the counting mats, too).
- Draw a lemonade card and count the number of strawberries on that card.
- Place the card in the center column on the counting mat.
- Now, use the buttons to count one less strawberry in the left column, and one more strawberry in the right column.
This is certainly a multi-step activity, so it’s important that you model for your preschooler a few times and then do it with your preschooler before expecting them to do it independently.
I do, we do, you do.
Tips for Teaching More and Less Concepts
Sometimes, even if your preschooler has strong number sense skills, they might struggle with this activity at first. Try these tips:
- Pick out the lemonade cards with fewer strawberries.
- Use a number line to help your preschooler visualize and count what number comes before and after.
- Use strawberry manipulatives for extra counting practice.
- Line up each set of strawberries and count and compare the number of objects.
- Spend additional time working in small groups or individually with the student.
Read this: More or Less: a Ten Frame Comparison Activity
Lemonade Activities for Preschoolers
These mats are the perfect addition to your preschool math centers while doing a lemonade or summer preschool theme. Here are some other lemonade activities for kindergarten and preschool that will pair nicely, too.
- Super Fresh Lemon Playdough Recipe
- Easy Lemonade Craft for Kids
- Summer Theme Preschool Lesson Plans
- Lemon Sensory Water Bin
- How to Make Playdough with Lemon Juice
- Make a Splash With These Summer Lesson Plans for Preschoolers
Preschool More and Less Activities
More and less activities are great for introducing basic addition and subtraction concepts to preschoolers. Try some of these activities:
- Summer More and Less Concepts Activities
- Daily Lessons in Addition & Subtraction Preschool Math Unit
- Collecting Bugs and Other Preschool Addition Games
- Adding Up the Fun: Teach Your Preschooler Addition
- Addition and Subtraction Lesson Plans for Preschoolers
- Introducing Your Preschooler to Addition and Subtraction
- How to Teach More and Less Concepts
- No Prep More and Less Activity for Preschoolers
- Easy More and Less Games
Get Your Free Lemonade More and Less Activity Here
Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching More and Less
These mats visually show the relationship between numbers using strawberries, making the idea of “one more” and “one less” concrete and easy to understand. Kids physically add or remove counters, which strengthens their understanding of how numbers grow and shrink. This hands-on approach is especially helpful for children who learn best by doing. It also encourages mental math and number sequencing in a playful way.
Start by focusing on counting the strawberries rather than identifying the numeral. Ask your child to count out loud and match counters to each strawberry to build confidence. As they get more comfortable, you can begin introducing the number names. Use the terms “one more” and “one less” in conversation to help them build vocabulary as they work.
“One less” can be tricky at first because it involves subtraction, which isn’t always intuitive. Help your child by using physical counters to demonstrate what happens when you take one away. You can also use a number line alongside the mat to show how the number gets smaller. Keep it light and playful—mistakes are just part of learning!
Yes! It’s a great way to tie in real-world play with math learning. Add the cards and mats to a pretend lemonade stand setup and ask children to make lemonade orders with a certain number of strawberries. Then have them find out what one more or one less would be. It’s a fun way to mix imaginative play with skill-building.
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.
It’s great ,Thank you!
may i ask how do you know when they are ready for one more one less?
What a great question! Really, it depends on the individual student. I know my preschoolers are ready when they have an understanding of number order and when they are very familiar with concepts of quantity, specifically being able to identify same quantities. For example, when a preschooler can identify that three is more than one, then they are ready for some basic more and less activities.