Acorn and Squirrel Counting Cards

Every morning we wake up and watch out of the window as a little grey squirrel comes and steals nuts from the bird table that we have put out. Yes, we know that it comes every morning so we add a few extra the night before and then some more after it’s been. T and I watch and try and count how many nuts we think it is taking. Inspired by this and the fact that this week’s #TeachECE theme is all about Numbers 6 – 10 I decided to combine some fine motor skills, number recognition and 1 to 1 correspondence counting with some Acorn and Squirrel Counting Cards.

Learning Objectives

• Practice the pincer grip important for pencil hold.
• 1 to 1 correspondence counting
• Number recognition of Numbers 6 – 10

Read this next – Maths Games for Counting ideal to play with Toddlers and Preschoolers

Materials Needed

Download and Print the FREE Acorn and Squirrel 6 – 10 count cards

Scissors

Double-sided Tape or Glue

Laminator (optional)

Clothes peg

Preparation Needed

Cut out the Clip Cards and the Squirrel

Laminate the cards so that they will last longer and the squirrel – I have provided more than 1 squirrel in case you are using this with a group activity. Just print multiple copies of the clip cards and provide children with a squirrel each.

Using glue or double-sided tape stick the squirrel onto the peg – Leave to dry if needed

Using the Clip Cards

This isn’t the first time we’ve used clip cards – we did Snowmen Count Cards back last winter which were really successful with T and worked on numbers 1 – 5 but if you haven’t used them before here’s what we did.

We sat together quietly and I explained we were going to count the number of acorns that the squirrel collects and then we would find the number on the bottom of the card.

Once we found the number we then need to put the squirrel on it so he owns up to how many he has eaten.

The opening and closing of the clothes peg helps to develop the muscles in the hand and I love how it connects with what we see out of the window every morning.

More Number Based Activities

Looking for more activities to work on numbers 6 – 10
How can I teach numbers 6-10 and Writing? by The Educators’ Spin On It

Fine Motor Number Building Challenge by  Fun-A-Day

Turkey Counting Rhyme by Growing Book by Book

Acorn and Squirrel Clip Cards by Rainy Day Mum

Candy Cane Counting Sticks in Preschool by The Preschool Toolbox Blog

Numbers Prewriting Activity by Tiny Tots Adventures

Free Printable Counting Game by Life Over C’s