Traditionally Kindergarten students were taught to count to 100, but emerging research shows a value in teaching students to count to 120. This super cute, free printable octopus craft helps students practice counting to 120 with a cute math craft. Simply print the counting to 120 activity and you are ready to sneak in some fun math for kids!
Counting to 120
Dive into Counting Fun with a Crafty Octopus Adventure to 120! Today, we’re gonna learn how to count to 120 with a cool octopus craft. This counting craft was a big hit in my classroom; I hope your preschoolers and kindergartners enjoy it too! I love that to use hands-on projects to make concepts stick. With this fun counting to 120 activities you will just grab our free printables, glue, and crayons to practice an important early math skill. Let’s make numbers less of a snooze fest and more like a fun craft!
Count to 120
Education experts agree that early math skills form the foundation for a child’s future success. By challenging kindergarten students to count up to 120, we are helping them develop critical numeracy skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and beyond!
Research has shown that teaching children to count beyond 100 has several advantages. Here’s some evidence to back it up:
- Building Number Sense: Learning to count higher helps children develop a solid grasp of number patterns and sequences. As they progress beyond 100, they start recognizing how numbers relate to one another, enhancing their overall number sense and problem-solving abilities.
- Enhanced Mathematical Thinking: Counting beyond 100 requires kindergarten students to engage in complex mental processes. It challenges them to think critically, use logical reasoning, and build their cognitive skills – all essential for future mathematical endeavors!
- Preparation for Advanced Concepts: Counting to 120 acts as a stepping stone for more advanced math topics like addition, subtraction, and place value. By mastering this skill early on, children are better equipped to tackle these concepts with confidence, paving the way for a smoother academic progression in later grades.
- Additionally, counting higher opens doors to real-life applications. Think about it: Imagine your child accurately counting items when shopping, identifying house numbers, or understanding calendar dates. These practical skills are honed through counting beyond the traditional 1-100 range!
Counting Craft
Counting to 120 might sound like a big deal, but trust me, it’s not rocket science. When I teach, I find counting wasn’t about reciting numbers like a robot. It was more like a detective game, finding numbers hiding around the room. Once, I turned counting into a game of “number detectives.” We’d search for hidden numbers, turning a regular day into a mission. The kids loved it!
Octopus Craft
In this free printable math craft students will count, add the missing numbers, and craft their own underwater buddy.
- Print the Octopus and Numbers Chart: Get the free octopus template and printable 120 chart
- Crafty Counting: Make your octopus while counting and adding the missing numbers. Easy peasy.
- Show and Tell: Let your little artists proudly show off their octopus crafts. They will love showing off their crafting and counting skills.
Counting to 120 activities
Here are some fun extension activities to dive deeper! The octopus craft is just the beginning. Here are some extra activities to keep the counting excitement alive:
- Octo-Hunt: Hide octopus cutouts around the room with numbers. Kids go on a hunt and put them in order.
- Number Stories: Get creative! Kids can make short stories using the numbers on their octopus. It’s like numbers in action.
- Octo-Races: Line up octopus crafts and have a race to see who can arrange their numbers first.
What if Kids Struggle with Counting to 120?
Now, if your little explorers hit a road bump on their counting to 120 journey, don’t stress – it happens! Counting to 120 can be a bit like navigating a new path in the jungle. Here are a few laid-back tricks to help them find their way:
- Visual Aids: Bring in visual aids like fingers or objects to count. Sometimes seeing it in action makes the numbers less like mysterious codes and more like friendly faces.
- Counting Songs: Turn on some catchy counting tunes. Seriously, those repetitive melodies are like the magic spell for making numbers stick.
- Interactive Stories: Weave counting into stories. Whether it’s counting animals or objects, stories turn numbers into familiar characters in a little adventure.
Remember, the goal isn’t to rush through the work but to enjoy the journey. Each step counts, and progress is progress, no matter how small.
Math Crafts
So, if counting feels a bit tricky, grab those visual aids, hum a tune, and turn counting into a craftful adventure. Before you know it, those numbers will be a fun learning skill, rather than a mystery.
Free Printable Math Crafts
- Counting to 120 math craft
- Build a Snowman Math Craft (addition & subtraction within 10)
- Valentines Day Cupcake Math Craft
- St Patrick’s Day Math Craft (addition & subtraction within 20) or addition and subtraction within 50 craft
- Kite Skip Counting Math Craft (counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s) and rainbow subtraction craft
- Number line plant math craft and Flower Shapes Math Craft
- Ice Cream Counting Math Craft (count to 10, 20, 30, …..100)
- Fisherman Make 10 Math Craft
- Sandcastle Subtraction Math Craft
- Crayon Box Colors Math Craft (color words & color recognition), back to school addition craft for kindergarten, and apple multiplication craft
- Pumpkin Patch Shape Math Craft (shape matching)
- Adorable counting turkey math craft
- Christmas elf shapes math craft
Kindergarten Activities
- 50 Books for Kindergarten Book List – Books for Kindergarteners to read themselves
- Kindergarten Calendar Printable, free Days of the Week Worksheets
- Kindergarten Spelling Words – add a vowel practice or Free Kindergarten spelling words Printable and free kindergarten opposite worksheets, free circle the bigger number worksheets
- Hoppy Frog Math Game (addition within 10 and addition to 20), free kindergarten math worksheets, and Number Chart for Kindergarten, Goldfish Kindergarten Subtraction Games, and free subtraction worksheets for kindergarten
- Roll to 100 Counting Game, 100s Chart Battleship Game, and Days of the Week Worksheets
- Free Ordinal Number Worksheet, Pirate I Spy Worksheets, Crack the Code Worksheet Pages
- Kindergarten math coloring worksheets, free kindergarten subtraction worksheets
- Playdough Subtraction Smash free printable math activity, What Comes Next Kindergarten Math, pattern math worksheets, free number sequencing worksheets, free Addition picture worksheets, 7 fun odd and even games, plus free pattern worksheets
- Short i cvc worksheets cut and paste pdf, Short E CVC Words Booklet, Crack the Code CVC Word Worksheets
- Crayon CVC Words Activity, free CVC Word Puzzles Free Printable, Blowing Bubbles Word Family Activities
- Word Family Sliders Free – lots of styles to print in color or black and white
- Free Printable Seasons Worksheets w/ Free 4 Season Printables, Large Printable Weather Unit for kids and 6 free ten frame games
- Rain Cloud for Kids experiment and free worksheet, Water Cycle for Kids Printable Book
- Human Body human body playdough mats , EPIC, Life-size Human Body Project
- Amazing 5 Senses for kids lesson, Free Community Helpers Coloring Pages – over 20 pages, Community Helpers Printables Wheel – spin and learn, Free Kindergarten Word Search with Sight Words
- Non Standard Measurement Worksheets, Free Printable Community Helpers Matching Game
Octopus Math Craft Printables
Before you grab your free pack you agree to the following:
- This set is for personal and classroom use only.
- This printable set may not be sold, hosted, reproduced, or stored on any other website or electronic retrieval system.
- Graphics Purchased and used with permission from
- All material provided on this blog is copyright protected.
Leave a Reply