Popcorn Counting, Addition, and Subtraction

Children internalize number concepts with corn husk printouts and popcorn as they practice counting from 1 to 10 and solve addition and subtraction problems.

Grade/Age: Preschool or Kindergarten

Target Learning Skills:

Count from 1 to 10
Count by tens
Addition concepts
Subtraction concepts

Common Core Math Standards:

CC.K.A.2 Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).
CC.K.B.4c Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger.
CC.K.OA.A.1Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
CC.K.OA.A.2 Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.

Counting Activities:

Print several copies of the 1-10 Corn with Husk printable. Let children count out and glue popcorn to the printed numbers. Use the completed husks to practice counting by tens with the children. Make a Count by Tens Corn Field Bulletin Board to reinforce the concept. To do this, decorate a bulletin board with corn stalks made from construction paper and attach the husks with popcorn to the stalks.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Addition Activity:

Make addition mats by gluing two Corn with Husks cut-outs side-by-side on a sheet of construction paper. Cut out two elongated ovals from yellow construction paper to fit the centers of the Corn with Husks cut-outs. Glue the ovals in place. Show children how to use the mats, Addition Popcorn Pieces, and the real popcorn to solve addition problems.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

To set up a problem, children choose two popcorn pieces marked with numbers and place them below each corn husk on an addition mat. They place a popcorn piece marked with a + sign between the two numbers. Then, they use real popcorn to solve the problem by placing real pieces of popcorn onto the two husks on the addition mat to match the numbers showing in the addition problem.

Subtraction Activity:

Make subtraction mats by gluing one Corn with Husk cut-out to the center of a sheet of construction paper. Cut out an elongated oval from yellow construction paper to fit the center of the Corn with Husks cut-out. Glue the oval in place. Show children how to use the mats, Subtraction Popcorn Pieces, and the real popcorn to solve subtraction problems.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

To set up a problem, children choose two popcorn pieces marked with numbers and place them below the corn husk on a subtraction mat with the larger number first and the smaller number second. They place a popcorn piece marked with a – sign between the two numbers. Then, they use real popcorn to solve the problem by placing real pieces of popcorn onto the husk to match the first number in the subtraction problem. Then, they take away pieces of popcorn to match the second number. The popcorn that is left on the husk shows the problem’s answer.

Written by Erin Lassiter