Dinosaurs Counting Mats for Preschoolers
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Dinosaurs fascinate almost all children, and they can be a good motivator for different types of activities, like these FREE Dinosaur Counting Mats.
Preschoolers need to practice number recognition and counting with hands-on activities to use this knowledge later, when they start learning more complex mathematical concepts, such as addition and subtraction.
These Dinosaurs Counting Mats pack combines math and literacy. It includes the numbers 1 to 12, and five different types of activities. This pack is free to my subscribers, and you can get it at the end of this post.
Dinosaurs Counting Mats
To prepare these activities, print all the pages on white cardstock. Cut out and laminate everything to keep them available for years to come. If you don’t want to laminate the mats, you can always use dry-erase protectors. When you are done using the activities, store them in sheet protectors placed in a binder to keep them safe.
I always recommend printing out multiple copies and placing them in different centers. That way, you will entice and encourage more preschoolers to use them when they rotate to the different centers, such as the small group table, Math center, Writing center, and Quiet area, or even use them as a take-home activity.
This printable includes:
- Two different mat versions.
- Number tiles from 1 to 12.
- 12 dinosaur tiles.
- 12 written number tiles.
- 12 written number phrases.
- 12 dotted written number tiles.
- 12 dotted written phrases.
I’ve created five versions of the activities to accommodate your preschoolers’ different developmental stages. That way, you can decide which activity is best for each of them.
We never want to stress them out or create frustration, because we want them to use the activity so they can learn, and if the activity creates a negative impact on them, is not going to be effective, and they will not want to use it.
Activity #1
This is a simple activity. In this activity, your preschoolers will select a number tile, place it on the big square, then pick the number of dinosaur tiles needed to match it and place them on the little squares.
Activity #2
In this version, in addition to what they have to do in activity #1, your preschoolers will select a tile labeled “1”.
Activity #3
In this activity, instead of using the written number word, preschoolers will use the written number phrase.
Activity #4
This activity is a little more complex. Preschoolers select the dotted written number word and trace it.
Activity #5
This last activity is the most complex. Not only will preschoolers perform the previously mentioned tasks, but they will also select a tile with the dotted phrase and trace it.
Benefits of the Dinosaurs Counting Mats
These activities will allow preschoolers to practice their:
- Number recognition (identifying the number on the tile).
- Counting abilities (counting the dinosaurs to match the number).
- Fine motor, hand-eye coordination, and control (placing the tiles in the squares).
- Concentration skills (focusing on the different tasks).
- One-to-one correspondence (counting the dinosaur tiles to be added).
- Language development (counting out loud a number sequence).
- Pre-reading (identify the correct written number or phrase to be placed on the mat).
Dinosaurs Storybooks
Fill your library and the different centers with many books about dinosaurs. If you don’t have many available, you can always find a lot at your local library or used bookstore. Of course, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the titles below.
- How to Catch a Dinosaur by Adam Wallace is a picture book that blends STEAM concepts with hilarity and clever chaos.
- KC and the Dinosaurs Who Built a Red Barn by Nicole McKinney is the story of a T. rex named Big T, who decides to start a chicken farm instead of hunting, leading to wild, silly, and unforgettable events.
- How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Jolen is a brilliantly illustrated book packed with rhymes, laugh-aloud illustrations, and playful text, showing children that “playing nice” can be easy and fun.
- Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur? by Bonnie Worth is part of the The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library series and combines beloved characters, engaging rhymes, and Seussian illustrations to introduce children to real-world non-fiction topics!
- Dinos Love Donuts by Ben Okon is packed with song-like rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, and vocabulary, perfect for developing phonological awareness skills, including making predictions, comparing, and contracting.
Have You Seen My Dinosaur? Jon Surgal’s is a fun, funny, and early-reader series that motivates children to read independently by using simple words and cheerful illustrations that provide clues to their meaning.- How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen is a funny book that teaches that no matter what children do, they are always loved.
- Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Show Me How to Roar by Barbara Pinke is a beautifully illustrated, cartoon-style picture book that transforms story time into an interactive experience, inviting children to roar like dinosaurs, stomp their feet, and bring the prehistoric world to life!
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, pin this to one of your Pinterest boards for later.
Don’t forget to grab your FREE Dinosaurs Counting Mats pack by clicking on the link below!
I hope you enjoy these activities and help your preschoolers have a fun, educational time.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.D. Please let me know if you like any of these activities. My goal is to help you in any way I can, and I don’t like anything better than to post something that you might find useful.
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