Kids are fascinated by their names. Many kids learn to spell their names before any other words. Names give them a sense of identity and activities using their names get their attention.
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Kindergarten Math Using Their Names:
- Have children break their names into twos or threes plus the remainder if it does not break down evenly and add it up.
- Less or more-Does their first name have more or less letters than their middle or last name?
- They can try adding their first and middle (or last) names together or subtracting the smaller name from the bigger name (as they are not ready for negative numbers yet).
- They can add or subtract the first names of those sitting on their left and right.
- They can add up the letters in their teacher’s name (i.e. Mrs. + Smith = 8)
- You can help them count out the letters by giving them something to line up with the letters of their names, such as rocks, beans or Legos that they can count and put in piles.
- They can clap out the syllables of their names and count them. Then, what is the number of syllables in the first name added to the number of syllables in the last name? Does the first or last name have more syllables?
Math Adventure to the Moon by Leapfrog is a wonderful DVD to teach basic math concepts including a great song that teaches them to count by 5’s.
Math Circus by Leapfrog is a fun DVD which teaches kids to compare quantities, count and learn basic math skills.
Learning Resources Sorting Pie is great for teaching fractions, counting and basic math. It is also wonderful for fine motor when used with tweezers:
Follow the hashtag #TeachECE to see all of the free educational ideas. Here are more All About ME themed activities from the Early Childhood Education Team:
Erase Me Rhyming Activity via Growing Book by Book
Spell Your Name Sensory Bin via Mom Inspired Life
All About Me Early Writing Activity via The Educators’ Spin On It
All About Me Booklet via Tiny Tots Adventures
Learning Names in Preschool with ALL 5 Senses! via The Preschool Toolbox
Scratch and Sniff Names via Fun-A-Day
Fun Kindergarten Math Activities Using Their Names via Capri + 3
All About Me Math Race via Still Playing School
DIY My Name Puzzle Printable Template via Learning 2 Walk
Name Recognition Snack via Munchkins and Moms
Build my name via Rainy Day Mum
All About Me DIY Puzzles for Preschoolers via Life Over C’s
Amanda Boyarshinov says
Fun idea to get the kids thinking more about what their name is made up of! We're off to count the letters in our name: my poor 2 year old has 17 letters in his first AND last name.
Growing Book by Book says
What a super fun idea! Neat way to work on counting and adding.
Theresa says
Hi Amanda.
It sounds like your 2 year-old will be quite the mathematician if he tries this out when he is a little older! When you have more letters in your name, you learn letters faster (and possibly math too).
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Thank you Growing Book by Book!
: 0 ) Theresa
Danielle Buckley says
Great way to integrate math with name recognition/spelling!
Clarissa Hooper says
I had never thought that math could be used with name activities!What a great idea for little mathematicians!
Theresa says
Thank you Danielle.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Thank you Clarissa.
Kids love their names. Any activity where they use their own names seems to grab their attention.
: 0 ) Theresa
Lindi says
I will definitely be trying this with my youngest soon, we would like to some school prep learning before he goes to a formal school. Thank you
Tricia Goodmama says
Great idea!! This would be such a great activity for the beginning of school when children are learning each other's names.
Theresa says
Hi Lindi.
That is great! I hope your son enjoys it.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Tricia.
That is true. It would be a great (and sly) way for them to learn each other's names.
: 0 ) Theresa
Shann Soiney says
Great ideas! They really are fascinated with their names, so this would be so much fun for them.
Theresa says
Thank you Shann.
: 0 ) Theresa
Devany LeDrew says
Our whole family unintentionally has the same amount of letters in our names!
Theresa says
Hi Devany.
That is funny! If the kids don't know that already, it would be fun to discover it through math problems.
: 0 ) Theresa
Mrs FF says
My poor daughter (or not) her full first name has 15 letters 😉