Preschoolers and toddlers will love these Party Balloon Counting Mats! This hands-on activity is fun and can be used multiple times. This activity focuses mainly on the numbers 1 – 20, though there are blank pages for you to increase their learning.
Materials Needed
- white paper
- printer
- laminator
- colouring pencils
- scissors
- lead pencils
- eraser
- play dough
This activity can be used in a multitude of ways:
- Print out the coloured counting mats and the coloured balloons. Laminate the mats and the individual balloons. Have your child count out the correct number of balloons and place them on the mat.
- Print out the coloured counting mats and laminate. Have your child create their own balloons out of playdough and place the correct number of balloons on each mat. They can also create their own numbers out of playdough and place them on the number.
- Print out the black and white counting mats and the black and white balloons. Have your child colour and decorate the mats and balloons with paints, crayons or markers before cutting out and laminating them. Have your child count out the correct number of balloons and place them on the mats.
- Print out the black and white counting mats and the black and white balloons. Have your child colour and decorate the mats and balloons with paints, crayons or markers before cutting out and laminating them. Have your child create their own balloons out of playdough and place the correct number of balloons on each mat. They can also create their own numbers out of playdough and place them on the number.
- Counters. Instead of using the balloons, children could use playdough to create their own balls or petals, or buttons, pompoms or any other counters or markers.
- There is a blank coloured and a blank black and white counting mat which can be used for counting numbers larger than 20. Use a dry erase marker or playdough to make a number for them and they can add the correct number of balloons on the mat.
- Extra learning with the blank mats. Once children have completed learning their numbers, they can use the blank coloured or black and white mats to work on simple addition and subtraction sums. They can use the balloons or create shapes out of play dough to use as counters. An example is – place two black and white balloons and then add three coloured balloons. Add the balloons together and you have five.
To download your copy of this printable pack, click on the link below:
*** Balloon Counting Mats ***