We love butterflies, Spring and pastel colors, so I got inspired to make a second beautiful butterfly Math activity for my children. But really, this activity will work for anytime of the year. See, we love Math and we love the Montessori Method, so we blended the two and made some Montessori-Inspired Skip Counting for Kids that you and your family will enjoy using and learning from.

Skip Counting Games for Kids

We know that children learn best through play, so we made learning fun with these Montessori-inspired 3-part cards. They are the perfect way to learn skip counting for kids because they are fun and easy to use because of their control of error. We printed each set twice in color and laminated them.

We have 3 sets already (get them here): skip counting the 1s, the 2s and the 3s. And this is our second set! In this post, we focus on skip counting 4s, 5s and 6s!  One of the copies of each set stays just like the picture below, but the second set gets the bottom part cut so then you will have 3-part cards. And just in car you were curious, here are our other butterfly-related posts.

AmazonBasics Thermal LaminatorAmazonBasics Thermal Laminating Pouches – 8.9-Inch x 11.4-Inch,Swingline Paper Trimmer / Cutter, Guillotine, 12Canon MG6821 Wireless All-In-One Printer with Scanner and

Montessori at home Multiplication Facts Game

To being the skip counting activities, use only the cards with the number part attached at the bottom of one set. I started with the simplest one: the skip counting 5s set because out of the 4s, 5s and 6s, it is the easiest to learn. Have the child repeat the numbers until the child is familiarized with the order. Step 2 is to teach the child a song or rhyme to remember the order of the numbers. We made a video to show you how we learned ours.

Step 3 is to place the cards out of order and have the child place them back in the correct order. Then Step 4 uses the second copy of the set, where the child will match the picture and the small number card to the first copy (control of error). Step 4 is optional, but I took advantage of this lesson to teach my children how to say the numbers in Spanish as well (some of this is also included in the video).

As you noticed from the pictures, each set has the same type of butterfly, so if the sets get mixed up, you can use that as a control of error as well. I tell you that because that is exactly what we did once my children were introduced to all 3 sets individually and they were successfully learning how to skip count the 4s, 5s and 6s.

We mixed up all of the cards and, as a team (at first), they sorted all 3 sets before proceeding to putting all numbers in order. Counting the butterflies is also another control of error to know which card comes next. My children loved the butterfly designs and also the nature of the skip counting “games.”

Teaching Odd and Even Numbers

But we didn’t stop there! Here is a true Montessori odd and even number method, but for children, this will be a fun and easy odd and even numbers game. Montessori uses the counting dots to teach the concept of odd and even numbers. The rules goes simply like this: if there is a single number, it goes in the center of the space. If there are two, they go side by side. If there are more than two, the lone number goes below the pair in the center.

This way, when the child runs the index finger through the center, the child will know if the number in front is odd or even. How? Well, if the child runs the index finger through and the finger “bumps” or “crashes” into an object (like you see my son do in the image below), then that number is odd.

If the child’s finger runs all the way through the center of the two columns without being “stopped” by an object, then the number is even. Look at the image below. Do you see the card with the 12 butterflies? Imagine the child running the index finger through without an issue. That means 12 is an even number.

Skip Counting Songs for Kids

When you want to teach your kids how to skip count, make sure it is fun or silly. Make sure it can be repetitive and something that you can both easily remember. Watch the video I made while practicing with my daughter. I hope you find it helpful. I included the skip counting and the Spanish as well as the odd and even “test.”

Homeschool Printables:  Montessori Materials

Check out these relevant sets!

To get the first set that includes skip counting 1s, 2s and 3s, GO HERE!

Don’t you just love this awesome set?! The design is simply beautiful and there is so much you can do with them! To get it, simply click the button you prefer below, follow the steps and you will receive the file directly in your inbox for you to print.

Butterfly Skip Counting 4s 3-part cards

Butterfly Skip Counting 5s 3-part cards

Butterfly Skip Counting 6s 3-part cards

Butterfly Skip Counting 4s, 5s, 6s 3-part cards

Use Your Math Power:Hatching ButterfliesButterfly CountingCounting Butterflies 1-2-3 (All about Bugs)Butterfly Colors and Counting

Thank you for reading our Montessori-Inspired Skip Counting for Kids post!

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