This colorful number mats printable comes in a cute candy corn theme to pair perfectly with any Halloween lesson. They help kids learn numbers, counting, building sets, and number words. With so many skills on one mat, this printable can grow with your child as their skills progress.
Materials You’ll Need to Use the Candy Corn Number Mats
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- Printable number mats (you can get them at the bottom of the page)
- Moldable craft supplies (like these wax sticks or gluten-free play dough)
- Counters (try these 3-D pumpkin mini-erasers to keep with the theme)
- Laminating sheets (optional)
- Epson Eco Tank (if you want to stop going through so much ink)
Steps to Follow
Print the number mats and decide whether or not you want to laminate them. I usually advise against laminating most of my printables, but in this case, it does make the mats easier to use. For a more eco-friendly option, you can try these wipeable pockets instead.
When using the mats, begin by reading the top number word to your kiddos. Then, have them repeat you while touching the word. You may be tempted to skip this step, but don’t. Over time this process will help your kids learn to recognize and read the number words.
Next, have your kids use play dough or wax sticks to fill in the number outline. If you laminate the mat, kids can use a dry-erase marker to color in the number instead.
From there, your kids will move on to identifying the correct number from a group of three. Then, they can count the candy corn on the page and use counters to make a matching set.
Candy corn mini-erasers are an adorable counter option for building the set. If your kids are still putting things in their mouths though, having them draw cady corns with dry-erase markers may be a better option.
Finally, have your kids trace the number word at the bottom of their page. Finger tracing is typically the best option for littles, but if you have a child who is already writing, they can use a dry-erase marker instead.
Adapting the Mats for Special Needs
If you have a child who struggles to pick up small objects you can have them use a bingo dauber or dot marker to build the sets instead of small candy corn counters.
We also offer simple printable number cards in different themes. These work well with hook-and-loop tabs and felt boards. They are great for students who need to answer questions via eye gaze.
Whichever way you choose to use these candy corn number mats they are sure to be a fun addition to your home or classroom.
