The Mitten Number Puzzles Winter Math Activities For Early Elementary

These 42, mitten-themed number puzzles, are a super-fun way for your kiddos to practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, counting backwards from 10 to 1, and skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s.

They provide a wonderful extension to Jan Brett's story, The Mitten.

To use as an independent math center, simply print the 7 mitten shape puzzles on a variety of colors, laminate and trim.

Make a double set for a “Speed” game, and have students play against a partner to see who finishes first.

To keep interest, challenge students to see if they can beat their last time.

Children can use the blank grids to place the puzzle pieces on, or simply arrange them on their work space.

Another option is to run off puzzles for the entire class.

They choose a colorful mitten, trace and write the numbers, color the word mitten, then trim their puzzle. Have them mix up the pieces and then put their puzzle back together.

After children have assembled their puzzle, to make a cute bulletin board, have students glue their puzzle to a sheet of construction paper, leaving a small gap in-between each piece creating a cool mosaic effect.

Besides the mitten shaped puzzles, I’ve also included a set of 13 rectangular number puzzles, so that you can combine math with literacy.

Since Jan Brett’s story, The Mitten, is a Ukrainian folktale, I’ve also included a map of the Ukraine puzzle.

Take a teachable moment to toss in a bit of geography, by having students find the country on a world map or globe.

The other 22 rectangular puzzles, feature the characters from The Mitten story.

There are colorful puzzles to be used in a center, as well as black & white puzzles, so that your students can make their own.

I keep the full-color puzzles, in their own Zip-lock Baggie in my math center.

All of these fit the blank mitten grid, that kiddos can use for a base if they need to.

As a whole group activity, I give students a choice of which animal puzzle they want to make.

I did not number the character puzzles, so that students can number each strip according to your directions.

This way you can work on those toughie teen numbers, or counting beyond 100.

Children color the animal and word, cut their puzzle apart, then put it back together.

You can also make these into a mosaic picture as well.

I’m Diane from Teach With Me, hoping your students enjoy practicing counting skills with strip puzzles, as much as mine do.

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