Thanksgiving Counting Cards

One thing that is sure to get a preschooler excited about counting is a theme. So for your Thanksgiving preschool theme, try these free Thanksgiving counting cards!

This time of year, our lessons and activities are still full of acorns and leaves in earthy colors. We transition from our favorite fall activities, to turkeys, dried corn, and cornucopias.

We teach our children what it means to be happy and thankful.

How to Teach Your Preschoolers to be Grateful

Children, by nature, are kinda’ self-absorbed. It’s ok; it’s normal. Getting a child to think beyond their own wants and needs is difficult, and part of their development. That’s why Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers can be so important to their development. The season provides some amazing opportunities for helping preschoolers learn how to be thankful.

But, gratitude is a pretty abstract idea for children. We tend to explain gratitude by using words like “thankful” or “appreciation”, which are just as abstract to a child whose language skills are still developing.

Instead, I invite the children to think about the things that make them happy.

It makes sense. The things that make us happy tend to be the things we are most thankful for, and preschoolers can then relate to that. They know what things make them happy; the things that make them smile.

Then, it’s easy to use phrases like, “You must be so thankful,” or “I’m so grateful you…” and your preschoolers will begin to associate the two.

FREE Thanksgiving Counting Cards

If you’re a teacher, you know that your preschool class comes to you with a wide range of abilities, which can be challenging. If you’re a parent, you also know that every child develops at his or her own rate. That’s why these free Thanksgiving counting cards come with two levels.

Thanksgiving counting cards are the perfect addition to your preschool math centers.

Materials

• Thanksgiving counting cards (free printable at end of this post)
• fun fall counters, like pumpkin or acorn table scatter, but buttons or traditional math counters are fine, too

The Set-Up

Print the free printable at the end of this post on heavy card stock, cut out and laminate for durability. Separate the two sets, selecting which set is most appropriate for the level of your preschool class.

Place counters in a bowl or small basket, and then set them out on a tray with a set of the Thanksgiving counting cards. Invite your preschoolers to enjoy!

Thanksgiving Counting Activities

These counting cards come with two sets so you can choose which set is more appropriate for your students.

One set has the identified number already filled in on the ten frame. This set is best for children who need practice matching number to quantity and have not yet mastered one to one correspondence. The preschooler simply places a counter over each ten frame square that is filled in, counting as she goes, thus using the card as a guide to learn how quantity relates to number names.

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The second and more challenging set do not have ten frames that are already filled in, so children cannot self-check. This set is more appropriate for preschoolers who have already mastered one to one correspondence and do not need to guidance of the card, but rather just need practice solidifying the counting skills they already have.

And, if you’re  a kindergarten teacher, you may also notice that even numbered cards have an orange border and odd numbers have brown.

Get Your FREE Thanksgiving Cards Printable

Think your preschooler might enjoy these counting cards? You can download them by clicking the button below.

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Catch the Turkey Number Identification Game
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