Fishbowl Math

On Monday we will be starting a unit on Fun in the Sun. Around here that means things that we do around the rivers and lakes and all the animals that go with it. I thought I would start out with fish since most of the children have been fishing for the summer.


Here is a math game I came up with for this week.

I made copies of a fishbowl on white card stock and then cut blue paper in the shape of the water and glued it on. Once I had all the math mats ready I laminated them. I found small plastic fish for counting at the dollar store and also floral stones.

Object of the game is number recognition and counting.

• Each child at small group will get a fishbowl mat.
• Teacher will write numbers on the mat with a dry eraser marker.
• A number at the top for fish and a number at the bottom for stones.
• Child will identify each number and then count out the object for each of the numbers.
• Have them check their answers with one another.
• To make it more challenging the children can use addition to find the total of objects in the fishbowl.

You could also use game dice for the children to roll and identify the amount on the dice and then count out how many fish they need to put in the bowl. Once the fishbowl is full of fish the game is over.