These 10-frame Play Dough Write and Wipe Number Mats are a beautiful and calming way for preschool, kindergarten and first grade/grade one kids to practice number formation and recognition. Use as a whole group activity or independent extra practice at math centers tubs bins.
How to use Number Mats:
PREP: Print and laminate (or simply use a dry erase pocket or page protector).
These number mats (1-10 and 11-20) offer a lot of versatility! Use them independently, arrange them in number order, or extend the activity for older learners by using two colors of play dough/counters/etc. to create addition problems on the image and in the ten-frame (e.g. 2 water drop + 3 water drops = 5 water drops). The child might also complete two number mats to discuss greater than/less than—this offers a great visual representation to help young learners understand the concept of quantity.
There are three main “activity” sections on every mat:
the numeral – like all three sections, get creative with what you use! The child can simply use a dry erase marker to write the numeral within the numeral (upper right corner). In the image above, play dough has been used to ”fill in” the numeral. You could also use beads, pompoms, pipe cleaners, stones, beans…anything!
10-frame representation – fill in the 10-frame (lower right corner) to represent the numeral using bingo chips (pictured above), bits of play dough, glass vase fillers, gems, nuts/washers…anything!
1:1 counting section – in this section (left side of mat), the child can “water the plants” with the appropriate number of “water drops.” In the image above, water drops were made using play dough, but again, you can use anything from buttons to beads! Also, instead of “watering the plants” your child might imagine ”bugs” crawling on the plants, or even “rays of sun” on the leaves. On the 11-20 pages, the child can add “fruit,” “blossoms,” “birds,” etc. to the tree!
FYI: There are TWO different designs included: numbers 1 through 10 are the potted plant design, and numbers 11 through 20 are the tree design.
