I’m all about simple and easy since I’m not crafty but felt is a wonderful way to create math manipulatives and they’ll last forever. The only issue I have with felt in our house is that if you leave it out, it collects pet hair which makes it unsightly but still usable.
I store all of our felt projects in ziploc bags in a box on our shelf and my daughter pulls it out whenever she wants to play with them. I created this felt craft to help with counting something that my little one loves to do.
So I combined counting and flowers and made this felt flower craft counting activity.
Felt Flower Craft Counting Activity Supplies
Felt
- purple – petals
- green – stem
- pink – center of flower
- number puzzle, number cards or you could just write the numbers out for your child
flic-flac 28pcs 12 x 8 inches (30cmx20cm) 1.4mm Thick Soft Felt Fabric Sheet Assorted Color Felt Pack DIY Craft Sewing Squares Nonwoven Patchwork
Misscrafts 42pcs 6flic-flac 42pcs 8 x 12 inches (20cm30cm) 42 Colors for Choice A4 Felt Fabric Sheet Assorted Color Felt Pack DIY Craft Patchwork
I created the felt flower and keep it in a ziploc bag for easy access to my child. I created about 15 flower petals and then the flower center and stem. So I grabbed a number and placed in front of my child and asked her what the number was and corrected her if she missed it. She counted out the petals as she was placing them on her piece of felt.
When she finished, she took everything off of her board and added them back one by one, so persistent. She did about 6 or 7 numbers before she got tired and asked what else I had in my felt box. I’m working on something but it was ready for her to play with just yet.
I’m loving all the different things I can create with felt and how easy it is to set up. Did I mention I’m not crafty? They don’t rip and they can be used over and over again and it’s relatively inexpensive and super easy to store.
Recommended Flower Books for Kids
Planting a RainbowLois Ehlert’s Growing Garden Gift SetBees Like Flowers: a free childrens book (Mummy Nature 2)I Can Grow a FlowerUp in the Garden and Down in the DirtOh Say Can You Seed?: All About Flowering Plants (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)
More Felt Crafts
Recommended Gardening Kits
4M Pressed Flower Art KitPaint & Plant Flower Growing Kit – Grow Cosmos, Zinnia, Marigold Flowers – Includes Everything Needed to Paint and Grow – Great Gift for Children STEMClever Kid Toys Kids Gardening Set Includes Sturdy Tote Bag, Watering Can, Shovel, Rake, and Trowel – Kids Garden ToolsINNOCHEER Kids Gardening Tools with STEM Learning Guide, Watering Can, Gardening Gloves, Shovel, Rake, Trowel & Garden Accessories – Outdoor and Learning Toys All in One Tote( 18 Pieces)Miracle-Gro Kids My Very Own Flower Garden by Horizon Group USA
Check out other ways you can make math manipulatives from Kristina at School Time Snippets.
Kristina says
I have a stash of felt, too! This would be a great way to use it up!!
Monique says
Yeah!
The Natural Homeschool says
What a fun idea! And the best part is that this is something that an older child can make, beginning to end. 🙂
Bethany says
I love all of your felt ideas! What an easy (and cheap!) way to make learning hands-on! Thanks for sharing this simple math activity! I’m going to have to put some “felt crafts” together this summer for quiet learning/play for my preschooler while the big kids “do school” in the fall! 🙂
Monique says
Glad you’re enjoying them.
Angela says
A great idea! Thanks for linking up at Everything Early Childhood!
Monique says
Thanks!