Apple Tree Counting Mats for Preschoolers
Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using those links.”
Hands-on activities are beneficial for preschoolers, especially if they are attractive and engaging, which inspired me to create these free Apple Tree Counting Mats to provide your preschoolers with a unique, hands-on, and fun counting activity. They would be the perfect addition to your math center!
This 19-page Apple Tree Counting Mats pack offers two types of activities: one to count 0–12 apples and match a number 0–15 to the same amount of apples. It is available at the end of this post.
Importance of Counting, One-to-One Correspondence, and Writing Skills
Preschoolers must understand math concepts to set the foundation for developing their number and math skills in the future. When children develop a strong foundation in number sense, they will be able to build their problem-solving skills, which are extremely important for their future.
Now, counting involves memorizing numbers in the correct order. Many preschoolers can count to five, some up to 10, and a few can count to 20 or higher, but they must match their counting abilities with their one-to-one correspondence skills.
One-to-one correspondence refers to the ability to match objects with their corresponding numbers. This means that children must understand that they need to say “one” when counting one object, “two” when counting two objects, and so forth.
When both skills, counting and one-to-one correspondence, work together, children have a better opportunity to develop the essential skills needed to establish a strong foundation for more complex mathematical operations in the future.
Additionally, there is an opportunity to connect these skills to writing. In this case, children can trace the numbers, while those with more advanced skills can copy or write the corresponding number words next to them. That way, they can also practice their writing skills.
Apple Tree Counting Mats
This activity is effortless to put together, and you will only need a handful of materials, which are:
- FREE Apple Tree Counting Mats (found at the end of this post).
- Printer
- White paper or cardstock.
- Laminator, and laminator pouches, or
- Dry-erase pockets.
- Miniapples, erasers, or red buttons.
- Pencils, markers, colored pencils, crayons, or dry-erase markers.
If you want to use the activities for one-time use, you only need to print the selected page on regular printer paper. If you use the pages multiple times, consider printing them out on white cardstock, laminating them, or placing them in dry-erase pockets.
How to Use The Apple Tree Counting Mats
These Apple Tree Counting Mats can be used in many ways, such as:
- Small group activity
- Math center option
- Writing center
- Take-home game
- Quiet area option
Before placing the mats in the various centers, it is recommended that you introduce them to your preschoolers first. Circle time might be the perfect time to do this. There is no point in placing them in centers if they don’t know how to use them first.
An excellent way to do this is by:
- Introduce the mats to the children and discuss each number, highlighting its unique characteristics, such as its shape.
- Talk about small and large numbers, such as number 2, which has fewer pictures than number 5 because it is smaller.
- Explain what they have to do.
- Place the activities in different centers to encourage them to use the mats.
This pack includes two types of activities:
- First activity: Counting and Tracing – Children will count the apples on the tree, write the number on the square, and trace the number word on the rectangle using a dry-erase marker if the page is laminated, or a pencil, marker, colored pencil, or crayon if the page is not laminated.
- Second activity: Counting and Matching – Children will select a number, place it on the corresponding square on the mat, and add red buttons, mini apples, or other small manipulatives to the tree to match the number.
Benefits of The Apple Tree Counting Mats
This activity will allow preschoolers to practice these skills:
- Number recognition (identifying the number on the mat before counting).
- Counting abilities (counting the apples).
- Fine motor development (tracing and writing numbers and number words).
- Hand-eye coordination and control (placing the manipulatives in the tree).
- Concentration skills (focusing on the different tasks).
- One-to-one correspondence (counting the manipulatives to be added and matching them with the correct number).
- Language development (counting out loud a number sequence).
- Tracing and Writing abilities (tracing the numbers and copying or writing the number words).
Books About Counting Apples
Read apple-related counting books with your children. This activity will encourage them to see, hear, and say numbers aloud, as well as count objects together. Below are some of my favorites. You can find them at your local library, a used bookstore, or on Amazon. For your convenience, I added my direct Amazon links to the titles. If you like any, click it to go directly to the site.
- Ten Happy Apples by Artin Action is a rhyme about an apple and its friends who have fun playing and adventuring. It is designed to help small children count from one to ten with straightforward text that utilizes sight words to promote early reading habits.
- Five Little Apples by Yusuke Yunezu features basic math concepts, friendly, smiling animals, and a bold, bright, kid-friendly design.
- Apple Pie Time by D. D. Glover incorporates visualizing through all the senses and practices counting through meaningful, beautiful illustrations.
- Mr. Bear’s Apple Tree: A Magical Counting Book by A. J. Wood tells the story of Mr. Bear, who counts the apples on his tree as some hungry bees eat them, one by one.
- Aria Picks Ten Apples by Crystal L. Gantt is an interactive counting book that teaches both number and number name recognition through visual imagery, set against the beautiful backdrop of an apple orchard.
- Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins teaches how to count from 1 to 10 using pretty apples.
- Apple Tree, Apple Tree, What Do You See? by Sharon Reyford helps preschoolers count from 1 to 10 and includes a few activity pages to reinforce number learning and handwriting.
- Apple Countdown by Joan Holub: This creative countdown, from 20 to 1, includes grouping and simple addition. The inside cover of this cheerful book is filled with apple facts.
- Ten Apples Up on Top! by Dr. Seuss teaches kids to count to ten with a dose of signature Seuss charm.
Pin It for Later
If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable, but want to save it for later, pin it to one of your Pinterest boards so it’s available when needed.
By the way, if you are thinking about changing the décor in your classroom this fall but don’t want to spend a lot of money, I invite you to check out the sets I offer in my store HERE.
I hope you enjoy these mats and use them to help your preschoolers practice their counting skills. Grab your printable by clicking on the link below, and type your information. Don’t worry. You won’t be subscribed twice if you are already a friend.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.D. Please let me know if you want me to create anything special. I aim to help you in any way I can, and I hope you’ll find something useful on my site.
Other Posts You Might Like:
