Mini eraser Counting Mat: Restaurant
Recommended Grade Level:
Type of Resource: PDF
Number of Pages: 6
Coordinating Activities
Restaurant French Fry Mini Eraser Counting Mat
- 1 “How many fries?” restaurant counting mat
- Number cards 1-20
- Printable mini french fry cards to use if you don’t have erasers
- 1 page of directions
Print the mat and cards in color. Laminate them and cut apart the number cards and picture cards.
Required Materials:
- Paper, Printer, Ink
- Laminator
- Paper Cutter or scissors
- Mini french fry erasers (or the printable picture cards)
Standards for Counting and Cardinality
This Restaurant French Fry counting mat supports early math standards connected to counting objects, matching numbers to amounts and building sets to 20.
Common Core State Standards: Mathematics
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4: Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.5: Count to answer “how many?” questions.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Mathematics
- TEKS K.2A: Count forward and backward to at least 20 with and without objects.
- TEKS K.2B: Read, write and represent whole numbers from 0 to at least 20 with and without objects or pictures. Kids read the number on each card from 1 to 20.
- TEKS K.2C: Count a set of objects up to at least 20 and show that the last number said tells how many are in the set. Kids count out mini french fry erasers to match each number card.
Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning
- K.NS.1.a: Use one-to-one correspondence to find how many are in a set. Kids place one french fry at a time as they count.
- K.NS.2.b: Build a set of objects to match a given numeral. Kids build a set of mini french fry erasers to match the number card.
Restaurant French Fry Mini Eraser Counting Mat helps preschool and kindergarten kids count objects and build sets to 20 with a hands-on printable math activity.
Order up! Kids pick a number card and serve that many french fries.
The mat shows a fast food counter with a spot for a number card. Kids place a number card on the mat, read the number and count out that many mini french fry erasers onto the mat.
Matching real objects to a number builds one-to-one correspondence and helps kids connect each numeral to the amount it stands for. Printable picture cards are included if you don’t have mini erasers.
Laminate the mat and cards and store them in a zipper bag with the erasers for a quick math center.
How to Use Restaurant French Fry Mini Eraser Counting Mat
- Place a number card on the mat.
- Read the number together.
- Count out that many mini french fry erasers onto the mat.
- Check the count, clear the mat and pick a new card.
Small Group: Give each child a mat. Hold up one number card at a time and have everyone build the set with mini french fry erasers.
Independent Practice: Set the mat, cards and erasers in a math center. Kids pick a card and build the set on their own.
Easy Ways to Differentiate This Counting Mat
Every group of kids has a mix of counting, number recognition and fine motor skills. These simple changes keep the activity familiar while meeting each child where they are.
For Children Who Need More Support:
- Start with the number cards 1-5.
- Touch and count each eraser together.
- Lay the cards out in order so kids can see the amount grow by one each time.
- Use larger objects for kids who are still building hand strength.
For On-Level Practice:
- Use the number cards 1-10, then 11-20.
- Have kids say the number word after counting.
- Count the set again to check.
- Have a partner count to check the work.
For an Extra Challenge:
- Use the number cards 11-20.
- Mix up the cards and put them in order from 1 to 20.
- Pull two cards and tell which number is bigger.
- Show one more or one less than the number card.
For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:
- Model the number word and give plenty of wait time.
- Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
- Use tongs or tweezers to place counters for added fine motor practice.
- Repeat the same small set of numbers across several sessions.
- Talk about the french fry pictures as kids count.
Restaurant French Fry Mini Eraser Counting Mat Is Perfect For:
- Preschool and pre-K
- Kindergarten
- ELL and multilingual learners
- Restaurant, food and pretend play themes
- Math centers
- Morning tubs
- Small-group instruction
- Intervention
- Special education
- Speech, OT and early intervention sessions
- Homeschool preschool and kindergarten
- Substitute plans
