Early Math Worksheets & Teaching Guides for Preschool and Kindergarten

Early math skills help children make sense of numbers, shapes, patterns, and everyday problem-solving. When children count objects, recognize numbers, and compare amounts, they’re developing the foundation for later arithmetic and logical thinking. Math learning in preschool supports memory, reasoning, and vocabulary, helping children confidently explore the world around them.

How to Use These Guides in the Classroom

Use these guides during circle time, small groups, or math centers. Start with hands-on materials like counters, blocks, and everyday objects to introduce concepts concretely. Encourage children to talk about what they notice—“Which group has more?” or “What shape is this?” Pair hands-on exploration with short, structured practice such as counting mats or number matching games.

What Is Counting?

What Is Counting?

Counting is one of the first early math skills children develop. It helps them understand how numbers work, how quantities relate to each other, and how we use numbers in everyday life. Counting lays the foundation for later skills like addition, subtraction, number patterns, and problem-solving.

Why Counting Matters

When children learn to count, they’re doing more than saying numbers out loud — they’re learning to match numbers to real objects, compare amounts, and understand “how many.” These skills strengthen number sense and prepare children for all future math learning.

How to Teach Counting

Counting is best learned through hands-on experiences. Use objects children can touch, move, or group — such as counters, blocks, toys, or themed pictures. Counting worksheets support these experiences by giving children structured practice in recognizing numbers, matching quantities, and counting objects within themes they enjoy.

What Is Number Sense?

What Is Number Sense?

Number sense is a child’s understanding of what numbers mean and how they relate to each other. It includes recognizing numbers, comparing quantities, understanding “more” and “less,” and knowing that numbers represent real amounts.

Why Number Sense Matters

Strong number sense helps children make sense of counting, begin simple addition and subtraction, recognize patterns, and solve early math problems. Without number sense, math can feel confusing — with it, children develop confidence and curiosity about numbers.

How to Build Number Sense

Provide opportunities for hands-on counting, sorting, grouping, and comparing. Use manipulatives, themed counting pictures, number matching worksheets, and activities that encourage children to talk about quantities. Repetition with different themes helps learning stick.

What Are Patterns in Early Math?

What Are Patterns?

Patterns are repeating sequences that follow a predictable order, such as AB (red, blue) or ABC (circle, square, triangle). Recognizing patterns helps children understand order, predict what comes next, and make sense of early math concepts.

Why Patterns Matter

Patterns form the basis for many advanced skills, including problem-solving, number sequences, addition, and algebraic thinking. Children who understand patterns can sort, classify, and organize information more easily.

How to Teach Patterns

Use hands-on activities with blocks, beads, manipulatives, or themed picture cards. Practice extending, copying, and creating simple patterns. Worksheets can provide structured practice with AB, ABC, and growing patterns, reinforcing skills in a fun, visual way.

What Are Shapes?

What Are Shapes?

Shapes are basic geometric forms such as circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. Recognizing and naming shapes helps children understand spatial relationships and early geometry concepts.

Why Shapes Matter

Learning shapes builds visual discrimination, classification skills, and early math vocabulary. It also prepares children for more advanced geometry, patterning, measurement, and problem-solving tasks in kindergarten and beyond.

How to Teach Shapes

Use hands-on materials like blocks, tangrams, or everyday objects. Practice sorting shapes, identifying attributes (sides, corners), and matching shape pictures. Worksheets with tracing, coloring, or finding shapes in themed scenes offer structured practice.

What Is Sorting and Classifying?

What Is Sorting and Classifying?

Sorting and classifying involve grouping objects based on shared attributes—such as color, shape, size, or category. Children learn to notice similarities and differences, an important early math skill.

Why Sorting Matters

Sorting prepares children for patterning, number sense, problem-solving, and scientific thinking. It strengthens observation skills and helps children organize information in logical ways.

How to Teach Sorting

Use manipulatives, themed picture cards, or worksheets that ask children to group objects by attributes. Start with simple sorts (color, shape) and gradually introduce more complex categories (size, type, beginning sounds). Encourage children to explain their choices.

Number Sequencing

What is Number Sequencing

Number sequencing is understanding and ordering numbers — knowing what comes before, after, and in between. It builds the foundation for counting fluency and early problem-solving.

Why it matters
 Sequencing strengthens number sense and helps children grasp patterns in math. It’s essential for understanding addition, subtraction, and how numbers relate to each other.

How to teach or support it
 Use number line games, cut-and-paste sequences, or missing-number printables. Practice counting forward and backward during transitions, songs, or calendar time.

Comparing Quantities (“More, Less, Equal”)

What Is Comparing Quantities?

Comparing quantities helps children notice differences in groups or sets — understanding when there are more, less, or the same.

Why Comparing Quantities Matters
 This concept builds number sense and prepares children for addition, subtraction, and problem-solving. It helps them think logically about amounts and fairness.

How to Teach Comparing Quantities
 Use everyday objects like blocks, snacks, or toys. Ask, “Which group has more?” or “Do we have the same?” Use visual models, sorting trays, and simple comparison worksheets to reinforce learning.

Simple Addition Readiness

What Is Addition Readiness?

Addition readiness introduces children to the idea of combining two groups to make a new total. It’s about understanding putting together rather than memorizing facts.

Why Addition Readiness Matters
 Early exposure to addition concepts builds confidence with numbers and lays the groundwork for future math operations.

How to Teach Addition Readiness
 Use hands-on manipulatives like counters or buttons. Model joining two sets: “Two apples and one more make three.” Practice through story problems, counting songs, and simple picture addition activities.

Measurement with Everyday Objects

What Is Measurement?

Measurement helps children compare size, length, weight, or volume using nonstandard tools like blocks, hands, or paper clips.

Why Measurement Matters
 It develops critical thinking, vocabulary, and math reasoning skills. Children learn concepts like longer/shorter, heavier/lighter, and more/less.

How to Teach Measurement
 Provide items to measure classroom objects — “How many cubes long is this pencil?” Use balance scales, water tables, and themed worksheets for practice. Emphasize describing and comparing rather than exact numbers.

Graphing and Sorting Data

What Is Graphing and Sorting?

Graphing and sorting help children organize information visually. They group objects by color, shape, or size, and display results in simple bar or picture graphs.

Why Graphing Matters
 Sorting and graphing promote reasoning, comparison, and data interpretation — key early math and science skills.

How to Teach Graphing and Sorting
 Start with classroom collections like buttons or blocks. Have children sort them, then count and record results on a chart or graph. Use stickers or pictures for fun visual displays.

Teacher Tip: Make Math Visible Everywhere

Label items with numbers, create simple pattern paths on the floor, or keep counting jars in your centers. When math ideas appear naturally throughout the room, children understand that numbers are part of everyday life.

Building Confident Mathematicians

When children explore math in playful, meaningful ways, they build confidence and curiosity. These early experiences create a strong foundation for future problem-solving and number fluency.

Explore More Teaching Guides

If you’re building skill-based lessons across your classroom, you may also enjoy our other guide collections. Each one offers practical, easy-to-use ideas for early learners: