Back to School Find and Color the Number Activity
Looking for a fun and low-prep number sense activity for the first weeks of school? Use this back to school find and color the number activity to work on counting and number identification in preschool and kindergarten.
What Is Back to School Find and Color the Number?
This back-to-school find and color activity combines number recognition with coloring fun. Students choose a ten-frame card, determine the number it shows, and then color that number on their worksheet. The cards feature ten frames and twenty frames, making them an excellent tool for reinforcing number sense in the early weeks of the school year.
Whether you’re teaching pre-K, kindergarten, or 1st grade, this activity offers the perfect blend of learning and fun, and it’s easy to adapt to meet the diverse needs of different learners.
Quick and Easy Prep for Teachers
One of the best things about this back-to-school find and color number sense activity is how simple it is to prep. Here’s what you’ll do:
- Print and cut apart the crayon number cards.
- Print one coloring sheet per student.
- For durability, laminate the cards.
- Want to reuse the coloring sheets? Just slide them into write-and-wipe sleeves and use dry-erase markers instead.
That’s it! You’ll be ready to go in just a few minutes.
What You’ll Need
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To set up this activity, you’ll need:
- The printed back-to-school find and color number cards
- Backpack coloring sheets (choose from 0–10 or 0–20 versions)
- Crayons or markers
- Laminator or sheet protectors (optional)
- Dry-erase markers (optional for reusable version)
These materials are easy to gather and perfect for classroom or small group use.
How to Use with Students
There are two fun ways to use this activity in your classroom:
Option 1: Sit-and-Color
- Give each student a backpack coloring sheet.
- Have them pull a crayon card from a pile.
- They’ll look at the card (featuring a ten-frame or twenty-frame), figure out what number it shows, and color that number on their backpack sheet.
Option 2: Number Hunt Around the Room
- Tape the crayon ten-frame cards around the classroom.
- Hand each student a backpack coloring sheet and a clipboard.
- Let them walk around the room, find a card, figure out the number, and color it on their backpack page.
Both options are great for helping students move, think, and have fun while practicing number recognition.
Differentiate and Extend the Learning
It’s easy to adjust this back-to-school find and color activity to fit different levels:
- Use the 0–10 sheet with early learners and the 0–20 version for students who are ready for a challenge.
- Add a dry-erase mat and use mini-erasers or counters instead of coloring for a reusable “find and cover” option.
- Ask students to write the number they find before coloring it for extra number-writing practice.
You can also mix it up by turning the activity into a game or a partner challenge!
Grab Your Free Back-to-School Find and Color Activity
This back-to-school find and color resource is the perfect way to start the year with meaningful math practice and a little fun. It’s easy to set up, engaging for students, and a great way to review numbers right away.
Grab your free back-to-school find and color activity below and make the first days of school extra fun!
For more back-to-school activities, check out these ideas:
Free Printable Back to School Spin and Build Word Work Mats
Free Printable Back to School Alphabet Activity Mats
Editable Back to School Four in a Row Printable Game
Free Printable Back to School Number Tower Mats