Counting Creatively

Overview

This 10-minute art session for preschoolers aged 3-5 offers a playful introduction to counting from one to ten through hands-on, creative art activities. It firmly aligns with the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, promoting learning outcomes in communication, contribution, and exploration through sensory and visual art experiences.

Curriculum Links: Te Whāriki

This lesson connects especially with these strands and goals:

• Mana Reo | Communication: Children learn to express themselves using verbal and non-verbal means, including art and language.
• Mana Tangata | Contribution: Developing confidence to participate and contribute their ideas and efforts.
• Mana Aotūroa | Exploration: Using the environment and materials creatively to explore and make sense of their world.

Specifically addressing:

• Goal 2, Strand 1 (Mana Reo): Develop a growing vocabulary and expressive use of language including numbers.
• Goal 3, Strand 3 (Mana Aotūroa): Show curiosity through hands-on exploration.
• Goal 4, Strand 1 (Mana Tangata): Engage confidently in group experiences.

Learning Objectives

By the end, children will:

• Recognise and count numbers 1 to 10 through a multi-sensory art activity.
• Express creativity by associating numbers with colours and shapes.
• Develop fine motor skills through painting and counting objects.
• Use simple number language and respond to counting prompts.

Resources Needed

• Large sheet of white paper or art boards (one per child)
• Non-toxic finger paints or washable paints in ten different colours
• Paintbrushes
• Ten small items per child (e.g., pom-poms, beads, button shapes)
• Number cards 1 to 10 (large, colourful)
• A counting song or chant (e.g. “1,2,3,4,5, Once I caught a fish alive”)

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up & Introduction (2 minutes)

• Gather the children in a circle.
• Show the number cards 1 to 10 slowly, saying each number aloud.
• Sing a simple counting song together to build engagement.
• Explain: "Today, we are going to paint and count from one to ten!"

Links to Te Whāriki: Language development and communication through chant and song .

2. Counting and Painting Activity (6 minutes)

• Give each child a large paper and paints.
• Invite the children to select one paint colour per number (e.g., red for 1, blue for 2, etc.).
• Guide the children to paint a dot or shape on their paper as many times as the number they are counting (e.g., paint one dot for '1', two for '2' up to ten).
• Reinforce counting verbally: "Let’s count the dots together: one, two, three...".
• Help children place the corresponding number of small items (pom-poms, beads) next to each painted group to link the number and quantity visually.
• Encourage the children to say the number aloud when they finish each group.

Links to Te Whāriki: Active participation and symbolic representation of numbers through art support learning outcomes in Mana Aotūroa and Mana Tangata .

3. Sharing and Reflection (2 minutes)

• Invite children one-by-one to briefly show their artwork.
• Encourage them to count the dots or items aloud.
• Compliment efforts to build confidence and vocabulary.
• Summarise: "You all did a wonderful job counting from one to ten with your colours and dots!"

Links to Te Whāriki: Encourages confidence, contribution, and communication in a supportive environment .

Assessment

• Informal observation of children’s ability to match spoken numbers with painted quantities.
• Note participation and willingness to verbalise counting.
• Check if children can identify and say numbers 1-10 during the sharing phase.

Extension Ideas

• Introduce te reo Māori numbers alongside English for bilingual number words (e.g., tahi = one, rua = two).
• Incorporate counting movements (clapping or stomping) for kinaesthetic learners.
• Display children’s artwork in the classroom labelled with numbers 1-10 to reinforce learning throughout the day.

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This lesson plan creatively integrates early maths skills within an art-based context, fostering joyful exploration consistent with Te Whāriki’s holistic and playful approach to early learning. It values participation, communication, and sensory learning to lay a strong foundation for numeracy in young children.