Here’s a Halloween math idea for October. This Spider Ring Counting Game is an activity we did recently in my classroom during small group, and the kids loved it. Even the children who usually don’t want to sit down and practice counting… loved it. I first want to say that I do not like worksheets in Pre-K, and while this may look a little worksheet-like, this is what I call a “hands-on game with a recording sheet”. The game is fun and hands-on, but without a recording sheet it won’t really work. (I don’t do lots of recording sheets in my class. Only a few here and there.)
To set it up, I put two plastic spider rings in an empty tissue box for each child in the group. I had one black spider ring and one orange one in each box, and I put some orange and black crayons on the table. (You could also use bingo markers, but I didn’t have a black one.)
To play, children reached in the box without looking and pulled out a spider ring. They marked a spider on their recording sheet with the same color crayon. Then, they dropped the spider ring back in, and tried again. They continued pulling spiders out and marking them until every one on the page was marked. I used the term “mark” the spider because it really didn’t matter how they marked it; it doesn’t have to be completely colored inside the lines. They can scribble on the it, or draw an X on it, or circle it, or whatever suits them.
When all of the spiders were marked, I had them count how many black ones they had and how many orange. For Pre-K, the top part of the recording sheet was for the children to do, and the bottom part was for the teacher to do. I wrote the number they counted in the space. I did have a few children who were able to write the numbers themselves and wanted to do it, so I let them.
Of course, I had some children whose recording sheets looked perfect, but I picked this one to be realistic. 
The important thing is, this kid enjoyed himself.
So if recording sheets don’t scare you away, this is an expensive activity, with recycled materials, and the kids will love it! To download the recording sheet, click the green button below.
About Karen Cox
Love it and so will the children!!! Thanks for another great idea:)
Thanks, Jennifer!
love it
love it! and understand about last week…something is always taking me off track, too!
i also think the recording sheet is a good idea…especially for ‘visitors’ (supervisors) who prefer to see work stations and children ‘working’…gives the activity more meaning. thanks for sharing.
ymv
That’s so true! Thanks for commenting!
I can’t wait to introduce this lesson to my class. Thanks for another wonderful and affordable idea. YOU ROCK!!
Thanks, Angela!
I just love this!!! Thanks for all you do to help us make teaching so much fun!
Aw, thanks Janet!
Love it! The kids will really enjoy this!
Have fun, Barb! Thanks for visiting!
This is fabulous idea. thank you so much. God bless you.
Thank you so much for all the great stuff on your site! It’s fun, interesting, exciting and educational! Thanks again!
Lorena
I apply the mated as soon as possible I read my email it is very Essie to teach counting with joyful spider game thank you
Hi Karen,
Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful ideas, my students just love them! I was hoping that you could do me a favor, I am having trouble downloading the spider ring recording sheet. Would it be possible to email it to me?
Thanks again for sharing and have a great day!
Laura
This is such a cute idea! You are really an inspiration and your ideas have given me a new found love for teaching, so thank you very much!
Hello Karen you have done it again. Not only just fun,
but exciting for the teachers and children. We at DEElightful Kids look forward to your activities always. Thank you:-)
Thanks Karen, your site is a TREASURE TROVE! Love this game. Our dollar stores here (Ontario, Canada) have wooden versions of this style of tissue box, I’m going to get one and paint it to keep year to year for this game. Thanks again!
Great idea! My students will love it
What a fun and fabulous activity! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Thank you very much, Karen, for this fun counting activity! I know my preschoolers will love it!
I teach GA PreK, and I just love your website. I don’t know what I would do without you. Thanks for the continuing great ideas. Can’t wait to use this next week in small group!
What a fun game! They just love those plastic spider rings so any time you can turn something they love into something educational is spot on, thanks for sharing!
You are such an inspiration to me! The activities that you share on your site are “right-on” for young learners and make me want to say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Love, love, love the spider ring game! Thank you!
Thanks Karen! This is a great game.
Loved it! Did this activity with my Kinder. class and they enjoyed it. Instead of tissue boxes we used socks!
thank you for sharing….we did this activity with my class at last week….they were happy with that and very enjoyed. It was very helpful for our English book & Art class.
from korea