Everything you'll need to teach the number 3 to your preschoolers can be found here. Posters, songs, crafts, and worksheets are just some of the activities on this list! These activities for preschoolers are sure to please and will build those pre-math skills in a fun way. Kids really need these foundational math skills as they get older in order to succeed in school.
1. Number 3 Poster
When teaching a new math concept, it is important to have it displayed in the classroom so kids can refer to it when completing independent work. Also as you go through each number, add them next to the others to help with counting skills as well.
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2. Jack Hartmann Video
Jack Hartmann is amazing and has made so many videos that preschoolers love. This video, which is lots of fun, will help with number recognition and formation and is done using a catchy tune. It can also be played in the background during math center time.
Learn More: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel
3. My 3 Book
This cute number 3 book is a great math activity that kids can complete and refer to during quiet time. It's a good idea to teach preschool-age kids to look back at their past work, so they have better study habits when they get older.
Learn More: Worksheet Place
4. Number 3 Puzzle
A simple puzzle is always an activity that preschoolers will like. This one requires you to print, laminate, and cut it apart. Then kids can put it together. It helps with so many skills at the same time, such as number recognition, motor skills, and perseverance.
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5. Number 3 Scramble
There are 3 sheets to choose from here. I am partial to the one shown here, which is fun to color and it reinforces color recognition as well. When math ideas are combined with other preschool skills, they are even better.
Learn More: Clever Learner
6. Number 3 Clothespins
Another easy setup and multi-skill activity. This one is made from a foam letter and kids will put 3 clothespins on it. Opening and closing the pins is challenging for kids, which makes this an excellent motor skill as well.
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7. Number 3 Worksheet
Worksheets that have multiple skills are wonderful for kids. It includes tracing, number writing, drawing, and coloring. It exposes them to multiple ways that the number 3 is represented, all in one place. While this is a worksheet, it's still valuable for preschoolers' counting skills.
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8. Marbles in a Jar
This fun number activity is great for cutting and gluing too. Kids can choose whatever color of marbles they want to use, which helps with interest level. Any time kids get some choice in a learning activity, it increases their interest. It's a great math center activity.
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9. Number 3 Gluing Craft
An art activity that can be completed using multiple mediums. The example uses cut-up paper scraps, which many preschool teachers love since there are always scraps floating around. You could also use paint, buttons, or virtually anything else. They could also be used as play dough counting mats as well.
Learn More: Preschool Activities
10. The Three Little Pigs
A classic story that focuses on the number 3! You can read this book out loud and then have students say the number three when it comes up. They can also look back at the book and point to the word later on.
Learn More: Amazon
11. Three Little Pigs Craft
After reading the book, these activities are the perfect follow-up to The Three Little Pigs. I love the heads on the popsicle sticks and the houses with the pigs inside. I would use it as a counting game for kids to play together. Everything you see is free, which makes them even better.
Learn More: Eastcoast Mommy Blog
12. Number 3 Monster
This cute little monster looks like such a fun activity. I think I would use pipe cleaners to attach the eyes and make them pop! I would give my monster 3 eyes as well. You can use any colors you'd like as well. Kids will love these monsters.
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13. Ice Cream Cone Craft
I love this counting activity for so many reasons. It's great to refresh kids' memories of numbers 1 and 2, while they complete their projects. They can choose their favorite "flavors" and write the number themselves. I can see a bulletin board is made with these as well!
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14. Number 3 Flashcard
Flashcards are always useful for skill review. They can be used during meeting time or independently by kids in a station to review what they've learned. I like that the pictures are fun, which will draw preschoolers' attention as well. I would print them on cardstock and laminate them to make them more durable.
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15. Number 3 Minibook
I love these mini books. They provide simple counting activities and leave kids with something to look back over. I remember when my son was in preschool and kindergarten, he made similar books with letters and numbers. When he finished an activity at school early, the teachers had the kids look back over them.
Learn More: Education Outside
16. Scaffolded Worksheet
The scaffolding here makes this sheet perfect for all learners. They start by tracing the number and progress to writing it independently. It's a simple counting activity, but good for homework. This could also be used for a fun hands-on experience by using manipulatives to count with.
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17. Number 3 Pompoms
A fun math worksheet that kids can glue or paint with. The directions say to glue pom-poms on the paper, but you can have students paint or use dot markers instead. This may easily become one of their favorite math activities.
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18. Pattern Tracing
There are links for numbers 1-10 here, but just find number 3 and print it out. It builds on basic math skills by having kids trace multiple 3s on the big 3. They can do it with any pattern you choose, or by using all different colors like you see in the example.
Learn More: Made By Teachers
19. Circle the Number
Circling the 3's is a basic math skill for number recognition. You can also have kids finger-paint the 3's. It's a great math center activity. When kids have a good foundation in math, they will be more successful as they progress in school.
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20. How Many 3's?
Another great math worksheet to help with basic math skills. Kids count how many 3's are in the picture, after coloring each number a different color. This is another activity that is good for math centers.
Learn More: Education
21. Number 3 Maze
Help the horse get to the hay by following the path of threes. Kids can use a crayon, marker, or dot marker to trace the path they find. My son loves mazes, as do many kids, so this activity will be lots of fun.
Learn More: Learning The Alphabet
22. Find and Color
This simple activity could be used in a math center or for homework. All kids have to do is find the 3s and color them in. This is a great number recognition activity for preschoolers to do as well.
Learn More: Preschool Planet
23. Trace and Color Number 3
These sheets are great. The first one gets kids to trace and color, but I think I would turn it into an art project. Have kids cut out the threes and make a character or just an abstract picture with them. The second sheet is color by number, where they are left with a bold number 3 in the middle. These are both fun math sheets.
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