Are you looking for a fun summer-themed math activity for preschool and kindergarten kids? This Free summer counting activity is hands-on and interactive. The free Counting Fish Printable Mat is great for practicing counting, number identification, and one-to-one correspondence.

This free summer counting activity will make practicing numeracy skills fun and engaging for preschoolers and kindergarteners!

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Fishing Counting Mat

Make counting to 20 fun and hands-on with this fish counting math center activity. This activity is useful for building number sense and practicing counting. Preschool and kindergarten kids will work on the following skills:

• 1-to-1 correspondence
• counting objects to 20
• number identification

What Is One-to-One Correspondence?

One-to-one correspondence is a foundational math skill that preschool and kindergarten-aged kids learn. It is the ability to say a number for each object counted. One-to-one correspondence is the knowledge that each number has a corresponding quantity.

Here’s What’s Included:

• Fishing Counting Mat in color
• 20 fish counters in color
• 20 number cards in color
• Fish Counting Mat in black and white
• 20 fish counters in black and white
• 20 number cards in black and white

RELATED: SPRING COUNTING MATS

Preparing the Free Summer Counting Activity

Get your copy of the Counting Fish Mat. Print on cardstock and laminate the pages. Cut out the number cards and the fish counters.

How to Use:

Lay out the counting mat, the number cards, and the counters. Kids will pick a number card, and identify the number. Next, kids will count and place the corresponding number of counters or small manipulatives on the mat.

Ideas for Use

If you wish, you can opt to use goldfish crackers, mini erasers, or play dough instead of the fish counters provided.

For an added sensory element, place the number cards in a sensory bin. You could use blue-dyed rice, navy beans, gems, or shredded paper as the filler. For some ideas on how to create or set up sensory bins, check out this post here.

Free Counting Fish Activity

Click the button below to download your copy.

Other Ways to Build Counting Skills

Looking for additional ways to teach kids to count? I’ll share with you some ideas and ways that will help kids develop their ability to count and learn numbers.

Counting Books

Number books are fun and educational! They are great for building literacy skills and math skills. Here is a list of some counting books that are great for preschool and kindergarten kids.

Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews is a sweet little book that teaches kids to count to 10 The black dots are used to count and create pictures.

Quack and Count by Keith Baker is a story about 7 ducklings preparing for their first flight. Count along with them as they set off!

Doggies, a Barking and Counting Book by Sandra Boynton is a fun and silly book featuring dogs woofing, yipping, and yapping. It is a fun way for young kids to learn numbers and count to 10.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a classic! Kids will have fun counting all the different foods the little caterpillar eats and learn about the lifecycle of a butterfly.

Counting Toys

Counting and math-based toys are interactive and allow kids to learn through play! When kids are playing and interacting with toys powerful learning is happening.

An abacus is great for building counting skills, and this counting bears game is great for preschoolers to learn to count, identify colors, sort, and identify numbers.

Counting Songs

Songs also provide get learning opportunities for kids. Try these songs and get counting and dancing!

Count Your Fingers, Count Your Toes by The Kiboomers

Chicken Count by Mary Jo Huff, sung by Jack Hartman

Count and Move by Super Simple Songs

The Ants Go Marching by Super Simple Songs

What are some ways that you teach preschool and kindergarten-aged kids to count? Please leave a comment and let us know! I’m looking forward to reading your ideas. 🙂

Have a wonderful day!