Little bug enthusiasts will enjoy counting and fine motor practice with this set of Ladybug Play Dough Math Mats. These will go great with a Bug or Insect Theme. Find more of these mats on the play dough math mats page.
To prepare these play dough mats, print them on card stock paper and either laminate them or slip them into page protectors. I always use page protectors so I can hook them all together using metal binder rings. This makes them like a flip book and keeps the pages together so the kids don’t scatter them all over the table during center time. If I use these during Small Group lessons, I can unhook the pages and pass one out to each child.
This file has ten pages plus a cover (optional), and I know many of you like to save ink. In that case, the best option is to print out the “toddler” version of the mat. There are no numbers on it, so you can print one and make small number cards to place on the mat. Or, write the number with a dry erase marker.
Each mat says, “There were [#] ladybugs crawling on the leaf.” Children will make little ladybugs with small pieces of play dough. The play dough ladybugs can be made very simply – no detail necessary. Kids can pretty much just roll a piece of dough in their hands to make it round. They will identify the numeral on each page, and count out the correct number of “ladybugs” to place on the leaf.
The “toddler” version of the play dough mat says “There were ladybugs crawling on the leaf.” This version is for young children who are not ready for counting, but need the fine motor practice.
Alternatives to play dough: If you prefer to use something other than play dough for counting practice, try these options:
- flat floral marbles in red or yellow
- craft foam ladybugs
- buttons
Download the Ladybug Play Dough Mats
Note: This printable is FREE. Just click to download.
Download Ladybug Counting Mats:
Download Ladybug Toddler Mat:
This is a large file, so please be patient while it downloads. If you have any problems with it downloading or printing, try this compressed version of the file.
Download Compressed Version of the Mats:
Books to Read with This Activity
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Thank you so much for these!!! They are so cute and also very useful. I can’t wait to show them these cute mats.
Your Simple ideas work great with toddler kids
Looking forward to help my children the same way
Thanks, it’s a great idea!
I always love your ideas. This is another great one. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy your ideas, thanks!
I enjoy the play mats as much as the kids! I use the toddler one and we roll a large die and count the dots and then that many “lady bugs” on the mat. It gets the older children in my daycare helping the younger ones. THANKS for the inspiration you pass on with your ideas!
Great idea to use dice!
So cute thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing
I love the wonderful ideas! Thanks!
Thanks for this resource. It will make for a good practice for my pre-k students
I love the fact that you use A LOT of photos of real objects, thank you so much for sharing this site.