PRESCHOOL MATH

Subitizing

Good mathematicians know that numbers represent quantities. In this learning

plan, students will explore quantities of 1-4 and practice recognizing those
quantities without counting how many there are.

Standards
Preschool Learning Foundations.1.3.
Identify, without counting, the number of objects in a collection of up to four
objects (e.g., subitize).

Objectives
Students will be able to recognize how many objects are in a group of up to
four objects without counting.

Students will be able to match quantities to numbers without counting.

Guiding Questions Materials

Quick Numbers worksheet

How many are in this
Matching Numbers worksheet
group?
How Many Are There? worksheet
Can I tell how many are Sorting Numbers worksheet
here without counting? Color the Number worksheet
Subitizing Bingo worksheet
Flower Fun! worksheet
Chart paper and markers
Index cards and sticky notes
Tape, scissors, and glue
Crayons
Picture books that showcase numbers
and show quantities (see suggested
titles in daily plans)

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 PRESCHOOL MATH

Subitizing

Assessments

Formative assessments and Differentiation

Strategies
checks for understanding occur
throughout the lesson: Be purposeful in the cards you
hand out during guided practice. If
Students’ ability to subitize using
students struggle with subitizing,
numbers 1-4
only give them cards with
Students’ work during guided quantities of 1 or 2.
and independent practice
Create a book with students using
dot paint or stickers to represent
Summative Assessment: quantities 1-4. Allow them to keep
Flower Fun! the book with them to help support
understanding.

Give students physical objects to

sort before working strictly with
images. Ask students to create
groups of 4 pom poms or 3
erasers to familiarize themselves
with the quantities.

Extension Activities
Ask students to subitize using 5-6 items. Show pictures of objects and ask
students to recognize how many are in the group without counting.

After students identify how many are in a group by subitizing, ask them how
many there would be if you added one more or took one away.

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 PRESCHOOL MATH

Subitizing

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3 Activity 4 Activity 5
Quick Numbers Guided Practice Independent Practice Subitizing Bingo Flower Fun!

Students examine Students practice Students explore Students play a Students

quantities of 1-4. sorting images subitizing using game to practice demonstrate an
based on quantity. images of recognizing understanding of
quantities 1-4. quantities 1-4. subitizing.

ACTIVITY 1: QUICK NUMBERS

Prepare a chart ahead of time with numbers 1-4 written horizontally

across the top.
Ahead of time, cut out the cards from the Quick Numbers worksheet.
Prepare four index cards for each student with dots on each one to
represent one number from 1-4.
Gather students and explain that they will be working on recognizing how
many items are in a group without counting the items.
Read aloud a picture book that showcases numbers and shows
quantities, such as Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, by James
Dean.
Point to the numbers on the chart and ask students to say the numbers
with you. Ask students to hold up fingers to show how many dots you
should put under each number to represent the quantity. Make dots
under each number. Allow students to share anything they notice about
the number of dots, such as how there are more dots for number 4 than
for number 1.
Distribute the pre-made index cards to students with dots to represent
numbers 1-4 on them. Explain that you will hold up a card from the Quick
Numbers worksheet. They should try their best to notice how many items
are on the card quickly and then hold up the index card from their pile
that matches that number.
Once you have shown all the cards, distribute the Matching Numbers
worksheet and explain the directions.
Students should try their best to match the quantities from the left
side of the page to the right without counting the items.
Provide additional support to students as needed.

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 PRESCHOOL MATH

Subitizing

ACTIVITY 2: GUIDED PRACTICE

Ahead of time, cut out the cards from the How Many Are There?
worksheet. If necessary, make multiple copies of the worksheet so there
are enough cards for each student to have at least three.
Review the chart from Activity 1. Cover the numbers on top of each set of
dots with sticky notes. Moving quickly, point to the groups of dots and ask
students to call out how many are in each group.
Read aloud a picture book that showcases numbers and shows
quantities, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.
Tape four large index cards or pieces of paper to the board, and write
numbers 1-4 on each one. Distribute a few cards from the How Many Are
There? worksheet to each student. Be sure to collect the cards at the end
to save for Activity 3.
Allow students to take turns coming up to the board and sorting their
cards based on the quantity represented on the card and taping them to
the board underneath the correct number. If a student is unsure or
incorrectly places a card under the wrong number, try counting as a
class to help determine the quantity represented on the card.
When all students have placed their cards under the correct numbers on
the board, distribute the Sorting Numbers worksheet and explain the
directions.
Students will cut out the cards at the bottom of the page and sort
them into the correct places based on the quantity represented.
Students should glue the cards when they are finished sorting.
Circulate and provide support as needed.

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 PRESCHOOL MATH

Subitizing

ACTIVITY 3: INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

Review the chart from Activity 1. Cover the numbers on top of each set of
dots with sticky notes. Moving quickly, point to the groups of dots and ask
students to call out how many are in each group.
Read aloud a picture book that showcases numbers and shows
quantities, such as The Crayons Book of Numbers, by Drew Daywalt.
Give each student four sticky notes. Either write numbers 1-4 on them or
ask students to, if they are able. Hold up a card from the How Many Are
There? worksheet from Activity 2. Hold it up just long enough for students
to see the image, but not count how many items are on the card. Then,
put the image down and ask students to hold up the sticky note that
represents the quantity they saw on the cards. Repeat the activity a few
times so students can practice seeing each quantity a few times.
Distribute the Color the Number worksheet and explain the directions.
Students will color each box based on the quantity, using the color
key at the top as a guide.
Provide additional support as needed.

ACTIVITY 4: SUBITIZING BINGO

Distribute the Subitizing Bingo worksheet, a pile of counters, and a

paperclip to each student.
Using a pencil and paperclip as a spinner, students will take turns with a
partner or small group to spin their spinner. Whatever number they land
on, all students will choose an image representing that quantity on their
bingo board and cover it with a counter.
Play continues until a student covers four squares in a row horizontally or
vertically.

ACTIVITY 5: FLOWER FUN

Ask students to help review the chart from Activity 1. Allow volunteers to
call out a number and ask students to hold up that many fingers.
Distribute the Flower Fun! worksheet and explain the directions.
Students will cut out the flowers at the bottom of the page and sort
them by quantity. They will match them to the correct pot and glue
them in place when they are done.
Encourage students to complete the assessment independently.

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NAME DATE

QUICK NUMBERS
Directions: Cut out the cards and use to practice subitizing with students.

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NAME DATE

QUICK NUMBERS
Directions: Cut out the cards and use to practice subitizing with students.

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NAME DATE

MATCHING NUMBERS
Directions: Look at each picture. Without counting, see how many are in
each group. Match the pictures on the left to the pictures with the same
number of items on the left.

1
2
3
4

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NAME DATE

HOW MANY ARE THERE?

Directions: Cut out the cards to practice subitizing with students.

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NAME DATE

HOW MANY ARE THERE?

Directions: Cut out the cards to practice subitizing with students.

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NAME DATE

SORTING NUMBERS
Directions: Cut out the cards on the bottom of the page and sort them
into the correct columns based on how many flowers and chocolate
chips you see in each picture. Then, glue them in place.

1 2 3 4

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NAME DATE

COLOR THE NUMBER

Directions: Look at the pictures in each box below. Using the guide at the
top, color each box based on the number of objects you see.

1 2 3 4

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 NAME DATE

SUBITIZING BINGO
Directions: Use your pencil and paperclip to spin the spinner. Call out the number you land
on. You and your partner will look at your own game boards and use your counters to cover
one box showing that number. Play continues until a player has covered 4 boxes in a row.

2
1
3

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 NAME DATE

SUBITIZING BINGO
Directions: Use your pencil and paperclip to spin the spinner. Call out the number you land
on. You and your partner will look at your own game boards and use your counters to cover
one box showing that number. Play continues until a player has covered 4 boxes in a row.

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 NAME DATE

FLOWER FUN!
Directions: Cut out the flowers below. Match them to their correct pots based on how many
objects you see in the pictures. Glue them in place when you are done.

1 2 3 4

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