Kindergarten Math Centers, Activities, and a freebie file too! These ideas will engage your class all year long.
Why do math centers?
Why do we even do math centers? First of all… they are fun! The bonus is the learning and practice that takes place. We, as teachers, also need moments in the day when students work independently so we can work with small groups.
Let me show you 12 kindergarten math center activities that will engage your class all year. By keeping these tasks the same (but switching up the materials they are working with) you can truly help your students work independently. You won’t need to explain these activities over and over, because they will already know them! Easy!
Kindergarten Math Centers #1: Roll and Color
We start this math center early in the year by using a simple die. Then as the year progresses we add an addition or subtraction twist to it! Because the theme is always changing, my class always gets excited when they see this activity in the math center tub.
Kindergarten Math Centers #2: BUMP
This is a class favorite. Once they learn how to play (in early September) we are ready to rock those math skills! This is a game that we introduce as a whole group activity. I divide the class into teams and we have a quick game of BUMP. After a few days of playing this math center, my students are eager to see it in a math center tub. We use it for subitizing, addition, and composing/decomposing teen numbers.
Kindergarten Math Centers #3: Roll and Trace Games
Again… we start with a single die, then move up to adding 3 dice together! Sidenote: This student did not have a partner to play with, so she played with my dog, Dexter (who has never actually been to school…EVER!).
Kindergarten Math Centers #4: Sorting Cards
Students put these cards in numerical order. At the beginning of the year, we start with numbers within 6, then move up to 20! TIP: Using frosting tubs help keep the cards together and students do not have to spend time getting the cards ready to play.
Kindergarten Math Centers #5: Comparing numbers
We use the same cards to play a comparing numbers game!
Kindergarten Math Centers #6: Measurement
In this math center activity, students practice measuring, counting, and recording the lengths of thematic images.
Kindergarten Math Centers #7: Data
Students spin the spinner and record the data in this math center! Simple… FUN!
Kindergarten Math Centers #8: Skip Counting
This activity is called coin collector. We start working with pennies, then work our way up to nickels and dimes!
Math Centers 1-8 are all part of my Math Work Station files. You can see that HERE.
Kindergarten Math Centers #9: Dough Center
Lots of different skills are practiced at this center! As you can see, we can start these kindergarten math center activities very early in the year with working with numbers 1 to 5. Then we build upon that! You can read more about this center and find a few dough recipes in my blog post: Playdough Recipe Roundup
You can find these activities in my Dough Center Packet.
Kindergarten Math Centers # 10: Puzzles
Puzzles are so easy to add to stations or centers because students already know how to work with puzzles. I organize the puzzles into binders which helps to keep things from becoming a nightmare fast. These kindergarten math center activities are well-loved and they are easy to differentiate! You can read more about how I have them organized by clicking on this blog post: Centers Organizing Classroom Puzzles
You can find these activities as part of my Puzzles Center Packet.
Kindergarten Math Centers #11: Math Fluency Game
Again, once they know how to play this game, the beg to play it again and again. We start with simple subitizing type cards and move up to addition and subtraction as the year continues. This is a game where students of different ability levels can play at the same time together. You simply offer two different stacks of cards.
You can find all of these game variations in my Math Fluency Packet.
Kindergarten Math Centers #12: Roll, Say, Keep!
My students play this game for letters and sounds… why not add a math version!
You can find this more Roll, Say, Keep games for math by clicking HERE.
There you have it! 12 kindergarten math center activities that will keep your kiddos happy (and you sane)!
You may be interested in these center related posts:
- 15 Fun Ideas to Teach Sight Words (with a free file)
- 10 Simple Literacy Stations that Will Last You ALL Year!
- Top Tips for Center and Station Management
FREE File
Super simple… just add your email to the box below. The file will be sent to your email inbox! NOTE: School emails are often blocked by school-wide firewalls.
14 Responses
I can’t find instructions for Bump. Can you help?
Hi Jenny,
The directions for BUMP are on the “I Can” cards in the units. Which unit do you have? Why don’t you email me and I will see if I can clarify it for you.
[email protected]
Found it! I couldn’t see it online, but had it printed and filed. Thanks a bunch!
You are welcome!
Hello! I just got the email for subscribing that gave the Roll, Say, Keep activity. I thought that the free file was the 12 math center activities that say “free file” next to it. Did I miss the link for it?
Hi Alyssa,
I’m not sure if I understand your question, sorry. The free file that is listed at the bottom of the blog post shows the Roll, Say, Keep Math Game. Let me know if you got something different. I just checked the file and it seems to be working okay… but you know… technology…LOL
I think that this is a scam to get teachers and parents to view your teacher pay teacher items.
If you are not sharing 12 free centers then you should NOT write that they are free. I now will make
sure I don’t buy anything from you on teacher pay teacher.
Bless your heart! The title of this blog post is 12 Math Activities That Will Engage Your Class ALL YEAR (Free File) Not 12 FREE FILES! I wish you the best, but I do hope you do not walk around the world accusing other well-meaning individuals of scamming you because they don’t give you everything for free.
I just downloaded your free file to use with kindergartners in a summer camp. Can you help me with the directions? Do the children roll the dice and then pick up a card to say what it is? Then roll 5 more times or do they choose 6 cards to put on their mat and then roll the dice to say what is next to the number on the dice.
Thanks for sharing. Your site looks wonderful.
Thank you!
Each time the student rolls, they read the word/number that is on that space on the work board. Once they read it, they get to keep it. THEN they replace the card they took from the draw pile.
If they get the “Special” card, then all of THEIR cards are forfeited and they go back in the draw pile. BUT their partner’s cards do not go back in the draw pile. The game just continues on and on and on… which is the point…LOL
Hi, I love all of your ideas! Is there a separate file on your tpt store for the “bump” game? Thank you!
Thank you so much!!!
Here is a link to the BUMP category in my TpT store:
BUMP FILES
I LOVE the “Roll and Color” station, but I’m having trouble finding it in your store! Can I get those separately outside of the bundles?
Do you want to email me?
[email protected]