Summer Number Identification Worksheets for Preschoolers

Summertime is the perfect time for preschoolers and kindergarteners to practice number identification and counting. The extra practice will surely give them an advantage upon entering kindergarten in the fall. This searching for sunglasses worksheet is versatile and perfect for kids who love to color!

This post includes a free printable for summer, so be sure to download it at the end of this post…and check out all my free summer printables while you’re at it!

Sunglasses Number Identification Worksheets for Summer

Who else struggles with teaching number identification to preschoolers?

I am so raising my hand right now. Of all the math skills to teach preschoolers, I feel like teaching number names–and having my preschoolers automatically recognize them–is definitely the hardest.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve spent what felt like weeks focusing on just a handful of numbers only to become frustrated when my preschoolers still didn’t recognize them. Still…still…come on!…right?? Have you felt that way too?

Reflecting back (as we should always be doing as teachers), I realized that one reason we were struggling was because of the lack of connection. It’s like teaching phonics to preschoolers; it has to be meaningful. (Read this post if you’re interested in seeing how I make phonics meaningful to preschoolers, and read here about how my phonics curriculum does just that!)

But numbers and quantities are the same way! Preschoolers need to play around with numbers and their quantities in various situations so they can become meaningful to them.

It’s one of the reasons I created this product: 12 Number Identification and Counting Games for Preschoolers. And also this one, which is all about summer themes: 20 Summer Number Identification Activities for Preschoolers. It has 20 activities, because number identification is that important when entering kindergarten!

Are you still doubting how important number recognition skills are? Probably not. And I know you want your preschoolers to be super prepared for kindergarten, which is why I’ve created these searching for sunglasses worksheets! They’re fun freebie summer number identification worksheets that will keep your preschoolers interested in learning.

Searching for Sunglasses Number Identification Activity

This is such a fun educational printable for summer! It’s perfect for little learners who love coloring, and the sunglasses look so cool! It also teaches preschoolers how to use finger counting and tally marks to count.

Materials

• Free Searching for Sunglasses Printable Worksheets (found at the end of this post)
• Crayons, Markers, or Colored Pencils in a variety of colors

The Set-Up

To prepare this activity, print the sun cards on cardstock and the worksheets on regular paper. Then cut out the sun cards along the lines.

Arrange the sun cards in a pile on the table and supply your student or students with a worksheet and some crayons.

How to Do the Number Recognition Activity

The concept is really simple: just draw a card from the pile, find the corresponding number on the worksheet, and then color in those sunglasses. You can have the finger counting cards and tally cards in separate piles or you can mix them up.

The two sets of cards provide young learners with a variety of ways to visualize numbers, and they can be used in many different math activities, too. Be sure to check out all my ideas at the end of the post.

If you have younger preschoolers, you may want to start with the finger counting cards. Older preschoolers who have already be introduced to tally marks and have good one-to-one correspondence skills will enjoy the added challenge of reading the tally mark cards.

And of course you can mix up the sun cards, too.

Help for Struggling Learners

If you have a preschooler who’s struggling, work with them one-on-one or in a small group and provide scaffolding when needed. You might have the child count on their own fingers or use popsicle sticks for hands-on tally counting.

In fact, doing this will create double the practice. Have your preschooler draw a card and count the fingers or tallies on the card. Then have them create and recount the same number using their own fingers or some popsicle sticks. Twice the practice!

Another Fun Idea

Another fun option is to have two children work together to complete the same worksheet. They can work collaboratively or make it a counting game in which each student uses only one color to see who colors in more sunglasses. My preschoolers always love the opportunity to work together, and it’s helpful for them to learn how to check their work, or each other’s. For this reason, it’s best to pair up children who are at similar skill levels. And as always, an adult should supervise and be available to help out.

Other Ways to Learn with These Counting Cards

The sun cards that come with this free download can be used like counting cards, and can be used for loads of summer number identification activities. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

1. Students can use one color for odd numbers and another color for even numbers.
2. Use them to teach the concepts of “more” and “less.” Draw a card and color the sunglasses as normal; then ask your preschooler to find the sunglasses that are one more or one less.
3. Use snap cubes to build towers over the sunglasses for a tactile and hands-on approach. This also adds one more element of counting practice, too.
4. Have your preschooler copy the tally cards to make their own number cards that can then be stapled together in a book.
5. Or, have them name number cards that feature ten frames! Preschoolers can draw a sun card and then make the ten frame equivalent.
6. Use the sun cards to practice counting all sorts of things in the classroom. Make it into a circle time activity by sharing a card and then asking your preschoolers to all count something in the classroom that is the same number. Crayons, blocks, buttons, shoes…you name it. Have them bring their counted supplies back to the circle time rug for discussion.

Benefits of Coloring Activities

Before I take you to your free summer worksheet download, I had to stop and say something about coloring activities.

They are good for kids! But not all preschoolers love coloring, and that’s okay.

Coloring is a great way for preschoolers to practice fine motor and prewriting skills. Using any type of writing utensil allows kids to practice the pincer grasp, strengthen the fine motor muscles in the hands, and work on their pencil grip. Coloring also challenges preschoolers to work on pencil control, which will help develop good handwriting skills.

It’s important not to stress too much about “coloring inside the lines.” Preschoolers who lack pencil control or who still have a developing pencil grasp might find coloring frustrating. They might scribble. Instead, I just say something like, “Work slowly so you can do your best coloring!” And then pair that with praise when you see a preschooler trying to control the scribble.

Get Your Free Summer Number Identification Worksheets Here!

Think you want to add these worksheets and counting activities to your summer theme preschool lesson plans? They’re a fun way for kids to learn numbers before kindergarten…and an easy way to teach kids, too! Go ahead and fill out the form below and the PDF will be emailed to you.

Looking for More?

You might also be interested in these writing activities and fine motor task boxes for preschoolers.