Kindergarten math centers are a great way to add more engagement to math practice in your classroom. In fact, with the right activities, you can create meaningful and fun math centers for your students that will keep them engaged all year long!
Why do we even do math centers in kindergarten? First of all… they are fun! The bonus is the learning and practice that take place. We, as teachers, also need moments in the day when students work independently so we can work with small groups.
I used math stations as a way to reinforce skills and give my students a way to over-learn math concepts in a fun and engaging way. YES! It is academic, but the students don’t know they are learning. If we had to skip math stations for the day, my students complained. It was a highly motivating time of the day.
I had 10 “new” math centers each week. Students worked with a partner at their math station. Now… there is NO WAY I could have 10 new math stations a week that were TOTALLY different. I would have had the life sucked out of me and I would have had to spend the entire time explaining the stations. Therefore, a few years ago I created some highly predictable math center activities. I kept many of the activities the same but switched out the clip art to match our themes.
Now, I’m going to share them with YOU!
Here are 16 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!
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.
This is a class favorite. Once they learn how to play (in early September) we are ready to rock those math skills! I like to introduce these BUMP games 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 practicing SO MANY math skills… subitizing, addition, and composing/decomposing teen numbers, and even colors!
Again… we start with a single die, then move up to adding 3 dice together! TIP: Print and laminate the pages and add a dry erase marker to the center tub! You can save paper and kids loves using dry-erase markers!
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.
The set of cards you use for sorting can also be used for comparing numbers! A great way to easily differentiate for your students.
In this math center activity, students practice measuring, counting, and recording the lengths of thematic images.
Students spin the spinner and record the data in this math center! Simple… FUN!
This activity is called coin collector. We start working with pennies, then work our way up to nickels and dimes!
Lots of different skills are practiced at this center! You can start these kindergarten dough math center activities very early in the year with working with shapes and 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.
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 in this blog post: Centers Organizing Classroom Puzzles
Again, once students know how to play this math fluency game, they 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.
My students play this game for letters and sounds… why not add a math version! These Roll, Say, Keep games are a hit!
Students practice various math skills with these domino games! Shapes, number identification, addition, subtraction… the list goes on!
Students have fun practicing beginning number operations, addition and subtraction, and making 10! Plus, this math stamping center is editable. When the your sweeties are ready, you can make your own addition, subtraction, and mixed operation pages. Score!
All of the above centers are printable, but I had to throw in one digital option! You know kindergarteners loves using devices… so add some technology to your kindergarten math centers. These Hidden Picture Boom Cards are super predicable and tons of fun!
This 100s chart puzzle activity is packed with different options, so you can easily target specific skills throughout the year. However, the goal is the same: Fill in a 100s chart to reveal a mystery picture.
Students can fill in a printable 100 chart and color it according to the key. It’s also perfect as a pocket chart puzzle! This is a simple way to keep this activity fresh, especially since it includes 48 seasonal puzzles with differentiated response sheets to practice diffferent counting skills.
There you have it: 16 kindergarten math center activities that will keep your kiddos happy (and you sane)!
If you could use even more center ideas to keep your students engaged all year, be sure to check out these blog posts:
Here are a few blog articles you may be interested in.
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My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
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23 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.
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
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?
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
I entered my email two different times to receive the free math centers file and have not received a response? I tried last Friday and again today. 🙂 Can you help?
You bet! It looks like the email was sent to you (did you check your spam filter?) According to my software, the link was clicked to be opened, but inside the email, there is a place where you need to click to download the file. Sometimes school emails are wonky. If you don’t see the email I mention, will you either try a non-school email or send me an email so I can assist you.
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
It was in my junk email! So sorry I bothered you, I didnt even think to look there! Happy Valentines Day, and thanks for the download!
Absolutely no need to apologize! I’m so glad you found it and you are ready to roll!!!
Math centers are learning stations within your classroom that help students to practice the math skills that they have learned in a hands-on, practical way.
Combining learning and gaming is the best way to attract children.
The information you share is great, please continue to write about this topic regularly
Hi, trying to purchase the 15 math center bundle but not finding it in the shop. Can you help please?
Hi there!
All of the math centers shown in the blog post are not included in 1 bundle however, this bundle has several of the activities listed: https://mrswillskindergarten.com/product/math-work-stations/