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Thumbprint Addition Activity

Last week I talked about after-schooling and ways in which we can help support our children’s teachers at home. Simple activities that take no time to set up are some of the easiest things you can do. For this weeks post for the #TeachECE team, I’m sharing a quick addition activity that was so simple to do. Using our body – as this week’s theme is My Body we are using our thumbs to create some number sentences to work on addition.

Simple low prep activity to help young children with addition and number sentences

Learning Objectives

  • Can add 1-digit numbers
  • Know the signs + and =
Work more with these objectives using our Play Dough Ladybug Addition Activity

Materials needed for Thumbprint Addition Activity

We have included links to the products we used to create this activity. If you purchase via these links we may earn a small commission.

Paper

Washable Ink Stamp Pad 

Pencil

Looking for more activities to work on addition try our Nuts and Bolts Number Sentences.

Thumbprint Addition

So that this activity became one that T my youngest could take over and lead I demonstrated first with a simple set of thumbprints. I showed her how we would produce the thumbprint using the stamp pad and then set a group of thumbprints together.

Simple low prep activity to help young children with addition and number sentences

I then produced a second set in a different colour of thumbprints. I explained that we were going to write a number sentence using the thumbprints and then write the number sentence below using numbers.

Work on addition with our Grasshopper Number Lines Activity ideal for hands-on counting on.

We wrote this together and then I let T take over.

Simple low prep activity to help young children with addition and number sentences

As I was only working with 1 digit numbers until she gains confidence with the addition I did have to say STOP a few times as she headed close to 10’s with her numbers.

Simple low prep activity to help young children with addition and number sentences

She then decided that to total the numbers she would write the numbers underneath each thumbprint – a fantastic way to practice her number writing skills – yes we do need to work on some of the numbers but it gave me a glimpse at where to move forward next.

Simple low prep activity to help young children with addition and number sentences

More Body Themed Learning

How Does Your Temperature Change After Exercise? Fun Science Experiment for Kids from Capri +3

Moving My Body Gross Motor Game from Life Over C’s

Thumbprint Addition you are Here

Let’s Look Inside a Bone from Tiny Tots Adventures

Tips for Helping Preschoolers with Self-Regulation Skills! from The Preschool Toolbox

Where is the Heart? Body Identification Game from Still Playing School

More Resources to help with addition and number sentences


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Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

4 Comments

  1. What a great way of making additions fun and less intimidating :- ).

  2. What a fun way to practice addition! We will give this a try! Than you.

  3. Our kids will LOVE this! I’m thinking of adding ten frames to it, too! Thank you!

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