Here’s a fun fine motor math activity for preschool and kindergarten- pounding math patterns! In this hands-on math activity, children will create patterns by pounding golf tees into styrofoam pieces.
Follow our Math for Kids Pinterest board!
Recently we created turkeys for Thanksgiving using a mallet and golf tees. Theo (age 4) used this same technique to practice math patterns! He loved this math activity, and it provided him with a great opportunity to practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills too. This post contains affiliate links.
Math Patterns Using Golf Tees
Materials for Math Pattern Activity
- Small toy hammer or wooden mallet
- Golf tees
- Styrofoam from old packing materials, or you can buy blocks of styrofoam
Directions for Math Pattern Activity
1. I began the activity by starting a simple AB pattern on the styrofoam block. I showed Theo how to use the mallet to pound the golf tees into the styrofoam as I started the pattern. Theo and I said the pattern aloud together, and he finished it on his own.
2. We then talked about another pattern we could do. This time we created an AAB pattern with the golf tees.
3. Theo then removed the golf tees and created his own patterns all on his own!
Tips
- When you’re done, take the out the golf tees and create more patterns.
- This activity can also be used for counting practice. Children can pound golf tees into the styrofoam and count them when they are finished.
- Place some loose parts (like buttons or scraps of paper) and books about patterns near the activity to create an interactive pattern center for kids to explore.
Our Favorite Picture Books about Math Patterns
Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris
Pattern Bugs by Trudy Harris
Pattern (Math Counts) by Henry Arthur Pluckrose