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This post has been co-written with Ben Wolfson, a full-time educator and assistant principal in the USA.
The revolution has been happening quietly and stealthily over the last decade or so. More and more items, from pencil cases to socks, are bearing the ubiquitous sparkly unicorns. Once a niche obsession for a particular type of kid in your class, you’ll be hard pressed to find one student who doesn’t love unicorns (those who protest they hate them are secretly fascinated by their sparkles and magic! It makes sense, therefore, to tap into their excitement and enthusiasm with unicorn themed learning centers. These cute unicorn ten frame mats are a great tool to use at the start of the kindergarten year as you model counting to 10 and want to inject a bit of fun and magic into your math centers.
Counting Using Ten Frames
The concept of ten frame counting is relatively new to the math scene, but the science behind it is decades old. The premise is that students learn best when they encounter predictable patterns, but the traditional methods of counting piles of things is haphazard and confusing to most students. The ten frame brings order and logic to the counting system. Each number has a specific “shape” on the ten frame, which helps students move from counting using ten frames to subitizing (recognizing a group of objects having a specific value without having to count all members of that group). Add a splash of rainbow and a hint of sparkle (yes, you can add glitter before you laminate!) and these unicorn ten frame mats will have your students eager for counting practice all year long.
Preparing Unicorn Ten Frame Mats
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Extension Activities For Ten Frame Counting
All you need to set up this ten frame math center is a set of the unicorn ten frame mats (laminated if you’re using dry erase markers) and a series of small objects like pom poms, counters or mini erasers. Students check the number in the yellow star and then arrange their objects in the standard ten frame form. While they’ll master this skill quickly, you can push them further with these activities:
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Comparative sentences – part of the beauty of counting using ten frames is that you can immediately compare two numbers. Give your students two piles of objects, but have them count them out using the 10 frames. Then ask them to complete a comparative number sentence (e.g. there are ____ erasers than pom poms).
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Different ten frame solutions -the standard use for ten frame counting is to fill up the top row from left to right, then the same for the bottom row. However, you can expand your student’s problem solving by asking them for different solutions (e.g. give them 4 items and ask them for different ways of arranging them in the ten frame).
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Number bonds to 10 – finally, the overall goal for kindergarten math is to have your students start to understand the concept of addition making whole numbers larger. These unicorn ten frame mats can help you talk about pairs of numbers that add together to make 10 by jigsawing them together.
Get More Ten Frame and 20 Frame Counting Activities:
There are many ways to use this pack. Here are 5 ideas to get you started:
1.Counting clip cards – print, laminate and cut into individual cards. Ask students to use a wooden peg to mark their answer. You can also make it self checking by placing a sticker behind the card on the correct answer. Counting clip cards up to 20 included.
2.Count the room scoot activity – Place the number cards around the room and as your students find it, they can fill in the recording sheet provided. This can also be done as a math station.
3.Cupcake count and write – print, laminate and cut apart the 10-frame or 20-frame cards. Choose which recording sheet you need. Students will pick a card and trace the numbers to practice number formation to 10 or number formation to 20.
4.Cupcake addition – print, laminate and cut apart the ten frame cards up to 10 or up to 5 depending on your students’ abilities. Students can pick 2 cards and practice writing out the addition equation on the recording sheet provided.
5.Cupcake counting mats to 10 or 20 – print and cut apart the cards. Students will pick a card and show the number on the mat using playdough, cupcake mini erasers or other manipulatives.
Delightful Unicorn Theme Books:
Browse My Most Popular Math Printables:
1) Parking Cars Tracing Lines – More than 10 different tracing line patterns to choose from, all of which help with pencil control.
2) Scarecrow Arrange By Size – 3 different scarecrow-themed image sets that they will arrange from smallest to biggest.
3) Bumblebee Addition Game – Solve the sum and help the bee land on the correct flower!
4) Farm Shapes Mats – Use playdough, pompoms, stickers etc to learn 2D shapes.
5) Popsicle Stick Number Formation – Kids will love forming the numbers 1 to 10 when ice cream and popsicles are involved!
6) Valentines Printable Worksheets Pack – 50 pages of mixed literacy and math activities.
7) Zoo Animals Number Puzzle Strips – Complete these cute puzzles and learn the numbers 1 to 20.
8) Counting Colorful Bugs – This printable book will help kids count to 10 while also learning about color words.
9) Humpty Dumpty Numbers – In this printable game, your students will practice number recognition using 1 dice or simple addition when using 2 dice.
10) Build A Number Santa – Match the number to the correct number word, tally mark and domino to form a Santa Claus
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