Math Centers for First, Second and Third Grade

pattern block math center

Learning math concepts is always better with hands on activities! Math centers, stations, or morning bins are a great way for elementary students to explore numbers, shapes, and patterns!  Here are a few center activities you may want to add to your math program.

Pattern Block Puzzles Math Center

pattern blocks puzzles

Pattern block puzzles can help students develop spatial sense and problem solving skills.  The ones shown above have the block outlines right on top for beginners as well as ones with only outlines only for higher level learners. This helps with differentiating at your math centers.

Skip Counting on Number Lines (Number Patterns)

counting on a number line

If your students need to learn to count by 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's, these number lines can provide a lot of practice!  They can fill in the missing numbers on these 60 number line strips with dry erase markers.

Comparing Numbers Math Center - Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

comparing-numbers-math-center

This math center is great for kindergarten or first grade students.  Students can use cubes or counters to compose, compare and order numbers.  Each mat has space for students to make an equal number, a number that is greater than and a number that is less than the number shown.

Pattern Strips Math Center

shape patterns

Learning about shape patterns can be fun and exciting with hands-on activities like the strips above.  Students can use dry erase markers to fill in the missing shapes and extend the patterns.

Place Value Activities

place value activities

Place Value is one of the first concepts many teachers teach at the beginning of the year.  Students can practice by matching number cards with base ten block cards.  Students also enjoy playing I Have Who Has games like the one shown above.

Addition & Subtraction Task Cards 

addition and subtraction task cards

These task cards can be used at math stations to help students learn single digit addition and subtraction. Students choose a card and solve the problem using counters or by drawing pictures to help them. These are best for students who are reading independently.

Balancing Equations Math Center

balancing equations task cards

Balancing equations can sometimes require a lot of practice.  These cards each come with 6 questions and are a quick and easy way to get some extra practice!  Students fill in the missing numbers to make both sides of the equation equal.  There are also some "circle the answer" cards included for differentiation.

Reading Pictographs Math Center

pictographs activity

Make reading and understanding pictographs fun and easy with this low prep center for first grade! Each of the 15 cards have 3 questions. Students look at the pictograph and interpret the data to answer the questions beside each graph.

Create a Bar Graph Math Center

Students can create their own bar graphs from data in tally charts. This math center for 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade students comes with one blank graph, 20 tally chart cards, and a graph checklist. An optional questions card is also included so students can make observations about their graphs.

Area & Perimeter Task Cards

area and perimeter task cards

Use these 24 task cards at your 3rd or 4th grade area & perimeter math centers or stations. Students choose a card, and measure both the area and perimeter of each shape in square units.  These cards also come in black and white.

Equal Expressions Task Cards

equal expressions task cards

Use these task cards at your first grade math center to help students understand equivalent expressions with sums and differences of 20 or less.

 

Transformations Task Cards

transformations task cards

Students identify translations, rotations and reflections on these Transformations Task Cards. There are 24 cards in all, a student recording sheet, and a teacher answer sheet. These can be used at math centers, for early finishers, or as a morning tub activity!

Elapsed Time Task Cards

elapsed time task cards

Teaching the passage of time?  These Elapsed Time Task Cards  are bright, colorful and easy to use! Just laminate them and put them in your math center. They are best for 3rd and 4th grade. There are 30 cards in total.

Multiplication & Division Task Cards

multiplication and division task cards

These Multiplication & Division Task Cards can help students practice solving word problems in a fun, hands-on way!  These 40 cards can easily be part of your math centers or used for independent practice.

If you are looking for ideas and strategies to teach multiplication, you may want to check out this blog post.

Grab all these math centers in one bundle!

Each of these resources is available to purchase individually in my store or you can get them all in my Math Centers Bundle!

math centers