Hands On Preschool Activities For Math Literacy And Science

Leo Migdal

-Dec 14, 2025, 8:55 AM

hands on preschool activities for math literacy and science

Learning is more fun when it’s hands-on. Ditch the worksheets and engage your young learners with this collection of over 100 hands on preschool activities! I had one child who loved workbooks, lapbooks, and printables of all kinds. My other two, however, would whine and cry anytime I put a sheet of paper in front of them. So, I was always on the hunt for hands on activities for preschoolers to introduce and reinforce learning skills. If you’ve got a hands-on kid like mine, this amazing collection of preschool activities is just what you need to homeschool your preschoolers without worksheets and tears.

Scroll down to explore this growing collection of hands-on ideas for teaching math, science, and literacy. Campaign Math & 123s ScienceGrade SchoolKindergartnersPreschoolersExperiment Resources511 Comments Get your preschoolers learning, and have a total blast, with 10 super simple hands-on science and math activities! These are perfect ways to inspire preschoolers and toddlers with science fun. Remember that homemade bubble solution I shared? Super simple, easy to do, and using supplies you already have at home.

My kind of activity. I got the opportunity to check out a copy of the Gryphon House book Hands-On Science and Math by Beth R. Davis, ES, NBCT. Introduce science concepts to your preschool classroom with these activities and experiments. Preschoolers may not fully understand science concepts yet, but doing science experiments is an excellent way to lay a foundation for future learning and exploration. Experimentation helps young children build a good relationship with science by making concepts fun and hands-on.

In this article, we’ve featured simple experiments to teach preschoolers basic science concepts. But before getting into our list, let's discuss why science activities are important and what concepts children need to learn at this stage. There are seven basic preschool science concepts. They include: When children conduct experiments, they learn to observe, predict, and question the world around them, laying the foundation for analytical thinking. These hands-on activities also provide invaluable opportunities for children to experience the thrill of discovery firsthand, encouraging them to be active participants in their own learning process.

Here we discuss more benefits of introducing science in preschool: Outdoor STEM Activities for Preschoolers ABCmouse STEM Activities for Preschoolers When you’re very young, the whole world is new and waiting to be explored, making the preschool years a great time to try STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities. Did You Know? STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that focuses on integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through hands-on, problem-based learning.

It aims to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students while preparing them for future careers in STEM fields. Give your little one lots of opportunities to investigate, examine, and learn about the world around them with these simple and engaging STEM activities for preschoolers. In my experience, introducing math concepts to children can either be incredibly frustrating or inspiring. Math is everywhere in our daily lives, and inviting children into learning in a natural and organic way is the best first step to life-long journey of understanding and appreciating mathematics. I feel math can be especially enriching when the concepts are integrated with real life experiences. In my family, we have one child who has been particularly interested in math from a young age, but I wanted to respect his development and did not want to jump the gun on...

I wanted to incorporate numbers and math practices, but in a gentle and inviting way. For young children interested in math, what can we offer for learning while still keeping it gentle and interactive? During the early years, such as preschool or kindergarten, my focus is to develop a love for literature, give lots of time for unstructured play, and develop the habit of attention. These are the elements I nurture during these years, not academics. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure for more information.

Strong preschool math centers give students daily chances to count, sort, build patterns, and solve simple problems. With real materials and easy games, children practice preschool math skills as they work with numbers, shapes, and early concepts. These hands-on preschool math centers offer engaging ways to help every child participate during center time. A well-designed math station makes it easy for preschoolers to explore math concepts in meaningful ways. Choosing quality furniture and thoughtful organization helps create a welcoming space for hands-on learning with preschool math centers. The featured math center station from Constructive Playthings is crafted from solid 5/8-inch birch wood, offers everything preschool teachers need for successful preschool math centers.

The sturdy build ensures durability, even with daily use by energetic preschoolers. Key features include: Posting visual signs in the math center can make a big difference for young learners. Simple prompts like “I can make patterns” or “I can count” let children know exactly what they’re working on. These free printable signs are a helpful way to display objectives and give students visual reminders for each activity, making it easier for everyone to stay on track and build confidence. <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2414cef1155d2ebfff8a107984620243743b3a10ebbda7a98de0e55b240460d1?s=90&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2414cef1155d2ebfff8a107984620243743b3a10ebbda7a98de0e55b240460d1?s=180&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-90 photo' height='90' width='90' decoding='async'/> Author: Beth Updated: 06/02/2024 Published: 09/17/2022

Play-based, hands-on math activities for preschoolers are simple to set up and will keep your kids busy learning while having fun! Although it may sound overwhelming, teaching your little one math at home is SO EASY to do. Check out all of my favorite easy ideas to help teach your preschooler how to count, graph, measure, learn shapes, and sort through play! RELATED: Looking for more math inspiration at home? Here are my favorite math and STEM toys for young children. Teaching your kids math is one of the most fun and useful skill sets you can teach right at home because it is part of their every day.

Toddlers and preschoolers absorb information through hands-on learning, not through worksheets. And since math is all around us, you can incorporate it into things you are already doing together at home. Little ones have fun and enjoy learning through movement, play, and using their hands…and we know this type of exploration helps them learn better too! If you are looking for fun hands-on preschool activities, look no further! This collection of preschool activities will keep any little one engaged and learning a range of skills. It includes hand-on games, basic skills for letter and number identification, visual motor skills, and more.

All of which are developmentally appropriate for preschoolers. All you need for this activity if some wax sticks and a laminated letter matter. Children will manipulate the wax sticks to mimic the shape of each letter. The activity helps with learning letter formation and builds hand strength. This activity teaches math skills. It has children matching different number scenes – dominoes, word form numbers, linking cubes, counters, tallies, and more – to the digit.

A nice way for kids to see the many ways numbers can be represented. These cover pattern block mats are great for learning patterns. Using solo cups and dot stickers, create different patterns on the mats – aba, abc, abba, etc. The students will them ned to cover them while correctly matching different patterns. Color sorting activities are great for pre-k students. For this activity, all you need is a color mat and some colored items – in this case they use bears.

Mix the small colored items in a pile and have students organize by color. When planning learning activities for preschoolers, it isn’t one size fits all! Preschool teachers and parents like yourself need to have preschool activities for lesson plans that are easy for young students to understand, many who are not yet reading, and are FUN! Here are some simple and playful preschool activities your preschoolers will love! Your time is limited, so your preschool activities for the school year and beyond must be easy to set up and provide valuable learning experiences for the youngest students. Create a lifelong love of learning with these simple preschool learning activities!

We have made it easy for you and divided the activities into STEM, including science and math, art, and literacy. Plus, you’ll find plenty of sensory-rich experiences. Making preschool fun for kids involves engaging their curiosity, creativity, and natural desire to learn through play and exploration. Here are some easy tips to make preschool a delightful and enjoyable experience for young children: Use bright and cheerful colors in the classroom. Decorate walls with educational posters, art, and children’s work to create an inviting atmosphere.

Hands On Preschool Activities For Math Literacy And Science

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