Beginning Math Concepts Which Button Shapes?

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To start introducing math concepts to the girls I came up with Beginning Math Concepts Which Button Shapes? These activities are a fun way to help kids start conceptualizing the math concepts colors, shapes, counting, quantities, patterns, graphing, and greater than, less than, or equal to. Beginning Math Concepts Which button Shapes? also helps them to start thinking critically and problem solving. I included some questions to ask before, during, or after each activity.

Terms to define to the kids:

• Most/Least
• Total
• Smallest/Largest
• Greater than/Less than/ Equal to
• Pattern

Beginning Math Concepts Which Button Shapes?

Supplies Needed:

• 20 or more assorted colored and shaped buttons
• Bowl/plate
• Index cards
• Poster board
• Small Chalkboard or dry erase board
• Chalk or dry erase markers
• Paper and pencils

Activity 1: Color Sort and Count

1. Fill a bowl with the assorted buttons.
2. Label an index cards for each color of buttons using.
3. Have the kids sort the buttons into groups by color.
4. Then have them count each group of buttons.

Questions to ask:

1. Which color has the most buttons?
2. Which color has the least buttons?
3. How many buttons total?

Activity 2: Count and Simple Graph

1. On a poster board or the table have the kids assemble the buttons in columns by colors like a bar graph.

Questions to ask:

1. Which color of buttons have the most?
2. Which color of buttons have the least?

Activity 3: Shape Sort and Count

1. Fill a bowl with the assorted buttons.
2. Label an index cards for each shape of buttons using.
3. Have the kids sort the buttons into groups by shape.
4. Then have them count each group of buttons.

Questions to ask:

1. Which shape has the most buttons?
2. Which shape has the least buttons?
3. How many buttons total?

Activity 4: Bar Graph

1. On a chalkboard or dry erase board have the kids draw a simple bar graph.
2. Next have them sort the buttons by shape and count the buttons.
3. Then have them fill in the graph for each shape of buttons.

Questions to ask

1. Which shape has the most buttons?
2. Which shape has the least buttons?
3. How many more buttons does the smallest group need to equal the largest group? They can use the bar graph to count up.
4. How many buttons do you need to remove from the middle group to equal the smallest group? They can use the bar graph to count down.

Activity 5: Greater Than, Less Than, or Equal To

1. On a sheet of paper, compare each group of buttons.
2. Write down the total number of circle of buttons and the total number of square buttons. Then write weather the circles are >, <, or = to squares.
3. Compare each shape of buttons to each other.

Questions to ask

1. Which shape has the most buttons?
2. Which shape has the least buttons?
3. How many more buttons does the smallest group need to equal the largest group?
4. How many buttons do you need to remove from the middle group to equal the smallest group?

Activity 6: Patterns

1. Create a pattern with a few buttons.
2. Have your child finish the pattern.
3. Have your child create their own pattern.

Be sure to stop by my Math and Science page where I will be linking all our math and science resources. And if you are looking for more homeschool activities, make sure you check out my Homeschool page which contains links to our sensory bins, crafts, and book lists.

What’s your favorite beginning math concept from the activities above? Share them in the comments below!

Have a blessed day!

Brandi

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