This week in our curious learners class, it was all about pumpkins in our class and this pumpkin seed printable counting mat was a favorite for the kids.
Download this free pumpkin seed counting activity and choose the best format for you.
Materials Needed:
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Numbers – either magnet numbers or rocks are my favorite!
- Pumpkin Seeds Counting Mat
Download Pumpkin Seed Counting Activity Mat
Counting using sensory materials
You can write the number on each box but I have noticed that when kids can actually hold the numbers rather than just see them they learn faster and engage with the activity longer.
Using acrylic markers, I wrote numbers 1-5 in pebbles. These numbers are part of our nature box and we used them for counting opportunities during our nature walks.
If you are not a DIY person, you can also use magnet numbers available on Amazon.
How To set up the activity
Print out the Pumpkin Seed Counting Activity Mat either in color or one of the black and white templates. For the class, we used the half-page black and white formats.
Place the pumpkin seeds in a cup and the rocks on a try.
Let your child pick a rock and place it over the square. Then match the number of pumpkin seeds as the number on the rock .
Expand the activity
Allow for plenty of free play with the rocks and the pumpkins after, this is where most kids will make this activity their own and reap the benefits of counting with the materials at hand.