When teaching new math concepts in kindergarten, it is so important that students get hands on practice and experience! Their brains need to actually see and experience something before they can think more abstract. These are some of my favorite math tools and manipulatives for teaching number sense in kindergarten!
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Math Tools & Manipulatives to Build Number Sense
These are some of my favorite math tools and manipulatives to use when we are building number sense!
Double Sided Counters
We use these as counters, of course, but they are also perfect for practicing decomposing numbers!
Colorful Dice
Do my dice need to be rainbow colors? No. But it makes me happy! We use dice for everything!
Foam Dice
These foam dice are slightly over-sized and, most important, quiet! That makes them perfect for math centers.
Ten Frame Dice
I often need ten frame dice for math centers, so I love that these are ready to go!
Number Sense Dice
These dice are similar to the ten frame dice, but they also include numbers, tally marks, and base ten blocks!
100 Chart Pocket Chart
This 100 chart pocket chart is a must have! We use it to practice counting as a class or I take out all the numbers and let students put them back during centers.
Connecting Cubes
We use these snap cubes to practice counting, decomposing numbers, building shapes…. basically everything! Plus, they’re just plain fun to play with!
Student Rekenreks
I LOVE rekenreks to build number sense, especially when practicing addition and subtraction. This student set is easy to prep (or send home with a parent volunteer) and you’ll have back ups just in case.
Wooden Rekenreks
Don’t want to make your own? Grab a couple sets of these small wooden rekenreks and let students share.
Giant Ten Frames
We use giant ten frames for so many lessons and math games! This set comes with two ten frames so that you can build numbers up to 20.
Base Ten Blocks
These are a must have as students begin to learn about place value towards the end of the year.
Addition Machine
This is a great way for students to “see” addition! They get to combine the balls in the plus sign container and watch them roll together.
Monkey Balance
This monkey scale uses weighted numbers to help students see the equivalency between the numbers and the amounts. This would be a great number sense center!
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