Have y’all seen this fishbowl math activity for preschoolers? It is an absolutely fin-tastic way to teach numbers and counting!
Counting with Fish
The concept is simple but effective. Take a bowl and fill it with water. Then add small fish cutouts, each of them numbered. The kiddos can then use a fishing rod with a magnet at the end to catch the fish out of the bowl.
Once they catch a fish, they can read the number on it out loud and place it in the correct order. This activity not only helps with counting and number recognition, but it’s also a great way to improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills!
Math in a Bowl
Another variation of this fishbowl math activity is to add two different colored fish, one for addition and one for subtraction. You can then ask the kiddos to catch two fish, one from each color, and solve the math problem.
For example, if they catch a fish with the number four and a fish with the number two, they can add them together to get six. Or if they catch a fish with the number six and a fish with the number three, they can subtract them to get three.
Other Fishy Activities
There are so many other fun and educational fish-themed activities you can do with preschoolers. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Make fish out of cardboard or construction paper and have the kids decorate them with different materials like paint, glitter, and stickers.
- Place letters on different fish cutouts and use them to spell out words or practice reading.
- Use a larger fish cutout as a base for a felt or fabric plushie and have the kiddos stuff them with batting.
Wrapping Up
Teaching preschoolers can sometimes be a challenge, but activities like this fishbowl math one make it both fun and effective! Try it out and see how your little ones enjoy learning their numbers!
