Preschool Apple Themed Math and Free Printable Apple Counting Cards
Fall is my favorite time of the year! One of my favorite activities in early fall is apple picking. Plus, I just love the apple theme for preschool and kindergarten. So far, my kids seem to love it too. There are some really fun lessons you can do with apples. Plus, they’re perfect for teaching using the Montessori method, because they provide a tangible object for children to explore. Enjoy these Preschool Apple Themed Math Activities and free printable apple counting cards this fall.
Preschool Apple Themed Math and Free Printable Apple Counting Cards
If you’re planning an apple themed lesson for your toddlers, preschoolers or kindergarteners this year, you won’t want to miss these Free Printable Apple Counting Cards.
They’re a fun and easy way to incorporate Montessori style math practice into your apple preschool theme or unit study this Fall. Keep reading for more fun apple related math activities. Then, download your apple counting printable cards today.
Apples are the perfect Fall theme for preschool and kindergarten
It’s no surprise that apples are a popular preschool theme. Using objects kids can interact with allows them to make connections through hands-on learning that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to explore. Interacting with an object repeatedly improves recall. Apples are available all over the United States, so they’re the perfect tool for object lessons.
Also, there are tons of sensory activities to be explored with an apple theme, including taste: a big hit with little kids!
I’ve decided to offer these free printable apple counting cards this Fall because apples are widely available at this time of year, so you can get some real apples for your children to explore and count while they practice early math skills with these adorable counting cards.
Why is it important to practice early math skills with preschoolers?
Math is important. Math teaches us to think analytically, by using reason. Thinking this way is essential for problem-solving and the world needs more problem solvers. Practicing early math skills in a fun and engaging way will help your preschool and kindergarten learners to develop better mathematical thinking skills.
Did you know that a child’s mathematical knowledge at the beginning of kindergarten predicts later academic achievement more accurately than other early skills like reading and concentration?
That’s why it’s important to take every opportunity to get our young learners engaged in and excited about math.
Montessori Apple Counting Cards
Hands-on Early Math Practice with Apples
These free printable apple counting cards are a must have for an apple themed math lesson this Fall. The apple math card printables are perfect for teaching your preschool and kindergarten learners using the Montessori method.
When teaching with the Montessori method, early math lessons are used to show children how the concrete world and abstract world are connected. We can do this by using practical methods that engage the senses to draw comparisons between abstract ideas like numbers and the amounts they represent.
Apple counting printables show children what the numbers look like on paper, allow them to explore putting numbers in order, trace numbers with a finger, and practice counting skills.
You can reinforce the counting skills your preschool and kindergarten children learn with these counting cards using real apples for another concrete learning experience.
For more apple themed math activities and printables, check out my Apple Playdough Mats for sensory math play to help children learn numbers and practice early counting skills in a way that incorporates their sense of smell, touch, and sight.
You can also explore more Montessori math activities with these mini apple counters from Learning Resources.
Apple Counting Books
Counting books and number stories can help bring math to life for young children, especially children who struggle to grasp mathematical concepts. Counting books help young children remember number order and memorize important counting techniques. Math story problems can help older children understand how we use math in the real world and begin to make sense of number relationships.
In preschool and kindergarten, you can explore counting books with your young learners to help introduce important early math skills while building a love of reading too.
Here are a few fun apple themed counting books you can read while exploring your Montessori apple counting cards together:
- Ten Apples Up On Top: In this funny classic by Dr. Seuss, children will giggle as they read about the silly apple balancing antics of a lion, a tiger, and a dog. After reading the story together, play a fun game with your little learners. As the animals add apples to their heads, have your child find the appropriate apple counting card and hold it up for you to see. You can speed the game up for quick learners, and slow it down if your child needs extra time. This game will help your preschooler build number recognition skills while having fun.
- Ten Red Apples: In this adorable tale from Pat Hutchins, your preschool and kindergarten learners can explore early subtraction skills as the animals eat apples from the farmer’s tree. This page-turner will keep even the most ardent math-haters engaged in the story as they practice counting backward. For extra math practice, have your child arrange the apple counting cards in descending order as if they were counting backwards. Practice counting backward out loud with the free printable cards. You can use counters if your preschoolers need something concrete to help as they count backwards.
- Apple Countdown: There’s a lot of counting fun to be found in this busy apple book! Unlike many early counting books, Joan Holub’s story doesn’t stop at counting to 10. Children can practice counting all the way to 20 and counting backward too with this book. It’s the perfect way to explore larger numbers and practice early addition and subtraction principles with your preschool and kindergarten kids this Fall.
More Apple Themed Math Toys to Explore
Maria Montessori believed that play is a child’s work. That’s why her method focuses on self paced learning driven by the child’s interests and abilities. Montessori math activities work best when paired with play or hands on activities.
Children learn and develop primarily through play. Play helps children to explore their own abilities, experience being good at something which builds their sense of self, and build focus as they become absorbed in activities.
Since play is a really important part of learning, you can incorporate learning toys into your preschool and kindergarten math lessons too.
Check out these apple themed math toys for extra learning fun this Fall:
- Skoolzy Apple Game: You can use these apples for creative dramatic play, a matching game, counting and number recognition practice, one to one correspondence, sensory exploration, sequencing, and patterning.
- Danni Montessori Wooden Apple Tree: Children can practice counting the apples, build fine motor skills as they grip apples with the corresponding tweezers to remove them from the tree, practice one to one correspondence skills, use the included dice to turn this apple tree into a game that can help children begin to explore addition and subtraction.
- Biubee Felt Apple Tree Toys: Help young learners practice counting, number recognition, and one to one correspondence with these felt trees that provide sensory input and concrete counting tools to help children make connections and build important early math skills.
CLICK BELOW FOR YOUR APPLE CARDS
FREE PRINTABLE APPLE COUNTING CARDS
Subscribe here for over 200 FREE Printables and Lesson Plans
Apple Counting Printables
If your kids are having fun learning with the free printable apple counting cards, you might want to check out some of the other themed counting cards I’ve created.
Montessori Apple Counting Cards
Be sure to check out my ladybug counting cards, duck counting cards, and turkey counting cards too.
Studies have shown that you will also love the following ideas if you like them. I have pulled them together for you right here!
Apple Theme Lesson Plan and Activities
Pumpkin Theme Lesson Plan and Activities
