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:
