Number Dot Cards

Activity Overview

Counting is an essential building block of children’s developing numeracy skills. There is so much to count in our world, and the act helps us to identify, sequence, categorize, and differentiate objects. When a child counts and combines objects together, they are developing their foundational understanding of the operation of addition. They learn that when objects or groups are combined together, the count gets bigger, and when objects or groups are separated, the count gets smaller.

What You Need

• Number Dot Cards printed onto durable paper and cut so that each card contains a numeral and the corresponding dots.

• 10 small manipulative items (counting bears, tokens, cubes, coins)

• Scissors

• Coloring utensils or small stickers

• (Optional) Laminating machine and paper or clear packaging tape

Steps

1. Listen to the song “10 Little Dinosaurs” together. Practice counting to 10 while singing along.

2. Place up to 10 items in front of the student and guide them to touch each item with their finger as they count. When finished, ask the student, “How many?” to reiterate that the last number they said is the total quantity of items counted. Repeat this step several times with various quantities of items.

3. Show the student the Number Dot Card with “1” represented and ask, “How many?” Guide the student to identify the represented number by touching and counting out loud each dot. When finished counting, ask, “How many?” to reiterate that the last number they said is the total quantity of items counted. Direct the student to the numeral written next to the quantity of dots. Say the numeral and if interested and examine the way it is written.

4. Allow the student to color in the dots or place a sticker over each dot, encouraging them to count as they work. Repeat until all Number Dot Cards have been colored or have received stickers.

When you’re done, place the Number Dot Cards in a safe location that is readily accessible for games and activities. Since we will use these Number Dot Cards in subsequent activities, you can also laminate them for increased durability. If you don’t have access to a laminator, you can use clear packaging tape as an alternative. Help the student to return the cards to the same spot after they are finished using the cards to practice organization and avoid losing the cards.

Guiding Questions

• What do you know about numbers?

• What do numbers look like?

• How are numbers similar to letters? How are they different?

• How high can you count?

• What is your favorite number? Why?

Extensions

• Go on a counting walk and count trees, windows, mailboxes, blue cars, birds - anything that’s exciting for your student.

• If your student is able to identify the shapes of numbers, go on a number walk and look for numbers on houses, apartment buildings, license plates, billboards, newspapers, street signs, and more.