I recently wrote about teaching syllables with children’s photos. Today I’m sharing some math activities with children’s photos. Children love to do activities with photos of themselves and their friends.
You can use either color photos laminated to be used multiple times, or you can photocopy a sheet of photos in black and white that can be cut out and glued. (I cut these out for the children in advance.)
Here are three activities to practice math skills with children’s photos.
Classification with Photos
Children use the photos to classify their classmates into two groups: boys and girls. This is a great activity to use at the beginning of the year as an introduction to classification. You might even want to introduce this at large group time (a.k.a. circle time) and have children put themselves into two groups, with the boys standing on one side of the room and the girls standing on the other. This is a pretty simple activity for 4 year olds, and I’ve never had any get it wrong, so it works great as an introduction. You can either use laminated photos, or have children glue the black and white photocopies on paper. (This also counts as a social studies skill because they are identifying differences in people.)
Counting with Photos
Have your prekinders practice counting skills by counting out photos. At small group, you could call out a number and have the children in the group count out the photos. Or give them a number card, have them identify the numeral and count out the correct amount of photos. I have several sets of these number cards (like the green one in the picture). I used colored card stock to print the numbers, and then cut and laminated the cards. Each set is printed on a different color and each set has numerals 1-10.
You could also have children make a counting book by gluing photocopied photos on the pages. The pages of the book could go like this (sung to the tune of Ten Little Fingers):
One little,
Two little,
Three little children.
Four little,
Five little,
Six little children.
Seven little,
Eight little,
Nine little children.
Ten little children having fun.
Patterning with Photos
Have your prekinders make an AB pattern by placing their classmates’ photos in a row of boy, girl, boy, girl. You can also introduce this at large group time by lining the children up in a pattern of boy, girl, boy, girl.
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Thanks… I love this idea!
Doing it next week. Thanks for sharing!
I just love all your stuff!!!!!!! It’s so awesome! Thank you for sharing!
I LOVE the idea of using their photos! I am constantly taking photos of the students while they are engaged in activities and sometimes use them for silly art! I have never thought about using them for math or any other area. This is very exciting!!
Hi Karen,
We use our photos (laminated) to check in everyday and count the kids. We also use the same set of photos for our daily helper jobs. We include pictures of the teachers and assistants in our counting so we can count higher.
We use our photos for many small group activities including reading, A favorite is a book with the ginger bread story repetitive phrase “run, run, as fast as you can, ..you can’t catch me I’m the g.bread girl or boy. We put all the class into a book and the children read it over and over.
Just thought I would share!
I will start taking photos right away! Fun idea! I can use the pics again to make a friendship tree! Anne
I love the background you used for the photos. Did you make this or is it a bulletin board? I’d appreciate the info.
Thanks!
Hi! It’s actually a shower curtain I got at Walmart.
Great I am going to give this a try! Thanks!
Hello KarenI I think it is so awesome to include the students pictures.This action on your part allows the child to feel special and that they are part of the whole process. You will get more involvement from students because fhey can connect which makes it personal.Keep up the good work.
Carolyn
I think you are just amazing! I have been using many of your ideas in my childcare program, and as I am feeling so pleased with how it is all working and the kids are enjoying things, I think of you and how wonderful of you to take the time to share such detailed and organized, and thorough ideas. I plan to get on and shop for some of your TPT products, in part as a thank you for all you do, and in part, well because they are an excellent product.
Thank you very much, for myself and my little charges. Smiles. Ms.Shell
These are GREAT ideas! Thank you so much for sharing!
Heidi
What a great idea! I am going to use pictures from now on when teaching math.
Don’t forget graphs! I laminated my photos and stick business card magnets on the back and we make graphs out of everything … Size of family, pets, fav ice creams, etc. … Fun! Love your ideas!
Thanks for sharing!
hi ,Karen
you are amazing ,thanks for sharing those great ideas; I will use them in my class.Please send more ideas about sorting ,patterning ,classification…….
Your ideas are GREAT!
I’m always blown away by your ideas!!!!
I’m now in the process of working on this and with other objects, too.
I’ve raided my own kids’ toy room for food, tools, cars, etc.
I teach an alternate curriculum and your ideas are always getting me thinking!!!!
Love this idea
Love the idea! Plan on using it in the next few weeks.
You have the coolest ideas – thank you for sharing!!!
hi karen,
its a brillant idea to use photos as a teaching aid. i will definitely use it in class specially with my pupils who are intellectually impaired . hanks for sharing.
Love these! You are truley amazing! I respect you as a teacher, don’t know how you find the time to work and build your website as well as activities! Great accomplishment!
I just can’t wait to do this in my classroom! It is meaningful and personal. ..genius! !
This is an excellent idea. I also included the teachers photo as well. The children are excited with the learning activities when they see their peers as well teachers. Thanks for sharing this idea, you make learning and teaching so fun!!
Do you think it would detract or add to the lessons by printing the children’s names on their photos? I used photos with names (simply made in Word by adding a text box to the photo) in my classroom last year for choice and job charts. I love the ideas you presented here and am just trying to figure out how many sets of photos I’ll need to make the first week.
I think it would be fine, Rachel. 🙂
Your ideas always are very useful and have a lot of fun for the Children. Whenever I can’t find any good activities, your website always has something for the Children in all area. I love your ideas. You are the best.