If your students are learning counting by 4 they need lots of practice to become fluent. Adding fun activities can make counting by 4s more fun. While you can teach this at any grade in elementary, many start counting by 4s in 2nd grade and 3rd grade. This free printable skip counting craft is a great way to achieve both!
Counting By 4
Teaching kids how to count by 4 can be a bit of a challenge, but with the right tools and a little creativity, it can also be a lot of fun! One of my favorite ways to introduce this concept is through a hands-on craft activity that not only engages kids but also reinforces their learning in a memorable way. Let me share a super simple and effective craft that you can do with your kids.
First, make sure your child understands the basics of counting. You can start by counting objects around the house, like toys or fruits. Once they’re comfortable with counting by ones, introduce the idea of skip counting. Explain that counting by 4 means you’re “skipping” numbers and landing on every fourth number.
We have lots of fun and free skip counting printables to choose from!
Counting by 4s
A number line can be a helpful visual tool. Draw a number line from 0 to 40 and highlight every fourth number (4, 8, 12, etc.). Practice counting these numbers together. You can even make it into a game by hopping along the number line.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, tutor, or homeschooler – you will love this free skip counting printable to help grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 students practice counting by 4s!
Skip Counting 4s
Now, let’s dive into the fun part – the craft! This tree craft with leaf cutouts is a fantastic way to reinforce counting by 4.
Materials Needed:
- Printable tree and leaf cutouts (we’ve included a printable for you)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Crayons or markers
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Print and Prep: Print out the tree and leaf cutouts. There are numbers on the leaves, each representing a multiple of 4.
- Coloring Fun: Let your kids color the tree and the leaves. This part is always a hit because kids love to get creative with colors. There is also a colorful version.
- Cutting Practice: Have your kids cut out the leaves. This is great for their fine motor skills.
- Counting and Gluing: Now, it’s time to count and glue. Ask your child to find the leaf with the number 4 and glue it on the tree. Then, move on to 8, 12, and so on until all the leaves are on the tree.
- Review Together: Once all the leaves are glued, review the numbers together. Ask your child to point to each leaf and say the number out loud. You can even mix up the leaves and ask them to put them back in the right order.
Counting in 4s game
This craft is more than just a fun activity; it’s a powerful learning tool. By physically manipulating the leaves and placing them in order, kids are actively engaging with the concept of counting by 4. It also helps reinforce number recognition and sequencing skills.
When I first tried this activity with my niece, she was a bit hesitant about counting by 4. But once we got into the craft, she was so excited about making her tree that she didn’t even realize she was learning.
By the end of the activity, she was proudly showing off her tree and counting by 4 like a pro. It was a great reminder that learning can be both effective and fun when you add a creative twist.
Skip counting by 4
Tips for teaching children to skip count:
- Repetition is Key: Don’t be afraid to do this activity multiple times. Repetition helps solidify the concept.
- Positive Reinforcement: Praise your child for their efforts and progress. A little encouragement goes a long way.
- Make It a Game: Turn counting by 4 into a game. You can hide the leaves around the house and have your child find and place them on the tree in the correct order.
Teaching kids to count by 4 doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With this tree craft, you can make learning enjoyable and engaging. Remember, the goal is to make learning fun and to help your child build a strong foundation in math. So, gather your materials and get ready for some counting by 4 fun!
Skip Counting Activities
We have lots of fun skip counting activities and free worksheets for elementary age students!
- Free skip counting games, spring Skip Counting Games, printable skip counting mazes, Oregon Trail math game
- Skip Counting Worksheets 1s-15s, Skip counting by 2 worksheets, Polar Animals Skip Counting Worksheets, free skip counting dot to dot, fun connect the dots constellations worksheet pdf, follow the path skip counting printables, hundreds chart skip counting chart, robot kindergarten skip counting
- Skip counting charts 1-15, skip counting anchor chart, or these cute Skip Counting posters
- Kite skip counting craft, 50+ skip counting puzzles, ocean skip counting dot to dot
- Leaf skip counting by 4s math craft
- Bunny skip counting printable clip cards, monster skip count by 4 clip cards, penguin skip counting strips, sundae skip counting activities for kindergarten, fairy tale counting in 2s, bee skip counting craft
- Seasonal skip counting: christmas worksheets, free christmas skip counting puzzles, fun fall worksheets, easter math, pumpkin seed skip counting, turkey math, winter math skip counting puzzles
- Smores skip counting activities, hands-on skip counting ideas like self-checking lacing plates, world landmarks skip counting puzzles, number train skip counting activity, skip count star wars worksheets
Skip counting craft
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