Number Tower Mats Free Printable
Grab these free printable Number Tower Mats to give kids practice with counting and composing numbers while building number sense!
Number Tower Mats Math Activity
This number sense activity is just what you need to get your students practicing their math skills. Add it to your math center for practice with counting, addition, number recognition, composing and decomposing numbers, one-to-one correspondence, and fine motor practice!
The mats come in color and black and white, so you can use them even if you can’t print in color. They include the numbers 1-10, so students get the chance to practice composing lots of different numbers.
How to differentiate this number sense activity.
Once you have the number tower mats, there are a couple of options for you to choose from. First, there are boxes with pictures of dominos on them. The students will use two colors of linking cubes to count and match the domino.
The next option is a building activity that shows one number. The student will use two colors of linking cubes to make a tower that equals that number. This increases the difficulty a bit by having students choose how many of each color to use to create the number tower.
The final option is a recording sheet for your students to write addition sentences to match the towers they created.
Students who aren’t ready to use two colors to compose a number, can simply use one color and practice counting and number recognition.
They can be adapted to meet the needs of students at a huge variety of levels!
Print and Play Math Activity
The number towers activity includes multiple color game boards and a recording sheet. You will print them out and slide them into a write-and-wipe pocket or laminate for durability. Then gather some linking cubes and pencils and begin playing!
No cutting, coloring, or gluing is required! From one print-out, your students will be practicing their number recognition, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and fine motor skills!
Setting Up the Number Tower Mats Free Printable
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Supplies Needed:
- Number Towers Math Activity (get it by clicking the button at the bottom of this post)
- 2 colors of linking cubes per student
- Write and wipe pockets (optional)
Directions:
- Print the game board and recording sheets.
- Slide into write and wipe pockets for durability. You can also laminate it.
- Gather the linking cubes.
- Store in a large bag or storage container for easy access.
Using this Number Sense Activity
The first version shows a box with a domino on it. The students will use one color to create a tower on top of the left side of the domino and another color on the right side of the domino. Then, they will combine the two towers to make one cube tower.
Next, they will record the addition sentence they created. For example, the domino shows a 2 and a 5. They will make a tower with 2 yellows and a tower with 5 blues. Then they will combine the tower to make one tower. They will then write the addition sentence 2+5=7.
The second version is similar but more complex by having them problem-solve a little more. The mat shows a number, and the students will design a tower using 2 colors of cubes that add up to that number.
Then, they will write an addition sentence to match the tower that they built. For example, the mat has a 2 on it. The student would create a tower with 2 colors (1 red and 1 purple). Then, they would write the addition sentence to match (1+1=2).
More Ideas for the Number Tower Mats
Hands on activities included are 2 versions to play for easy differentiation! These game boards could be used for a small group, math centers, a whole class activity, an after-school tutoring group, and so much more.
If your students aren’t ready to make addition sentences yet, you could use the mats with just numbers and have them make towers with one color to just practice counting and one-to-one correspondence.
They could use play dough to create little counters to match each numbered spot on the mat. Mini erasers would make a great manipulative for this idea, as well.
Students could also use different manipulatives like pom poms, building blocks, or other manipulatives.
Early finishers would love to work together with a partner to build a tower for every spot on the counting mat. This could be completed quietly once they have finished their main math lesson. If you have a student looking for more practice, they could transfer their addition sentence into a ten frame to take it even further.
Grab these number tower activity mats to have a fun way to practice number composition or counting all throughout the year. The printable counting mats are no prep for you, which is perfect for busy teachers!
Click the button below to get the number tower mats free printable activity. Happy learning!
Here are some more number sense math activities!
Printable Number Matching Clip Cards
List of Fun Number Sense Activities
Activities for Learning Numbers and Counting