School Bus Addition Mats + Zap Zap Kindergarten Math Review

This post is sponsored by Zap Zap Math. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links included for your convenience.

Practice math skills in a hands-on way with these fun, school bus themed addition mats. Kids who are familiar with ten frames will be able to solve addition equations using counters to help them visualize the numbers. Another great way for kindergarten kids to learn math is with the new Zap Zap Kindergarten Math app! Keep reading for our review.

Affiliate links included for your convenience School Bus Addition Mats + Zap Zap Kindergarten Math Review

Download your FREE School Bus Addition Mats at the bottom of this post!

This activity includes 2 addition mats, one with ten frames for sums up to 10, and one with 20 frames for sums up to 20. The 10-frame mat is best for kids just starting to add numbers.

Supplies Needed:
Instructions:

There are many ways to use these mats. Teachers/parents can give the child a set of addition problems to solve, or you can leave it up to the child to use the mat in a more open-ended way and make their own equations. 

I recommend using 2 different colored counters (one for each quantity being added) and 3 different colored dry-erase markers (one for each number being added and another color for the sum) Make sure the colors on the equation match the counters. This will provide a visual diagram for the child and help them understand the concept of addition.

Instead of using counters, kids can also use dry-erase markers to draw circles in the frames.

Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App

I had the wonderful opportunity to try out a brand new mobile app, Zap Zap Kindergarten Math, with my 5 1/2 year old daughter who just finished kindergarten. I wasn't sure how she was going to like it because she is very picky with games and often loses interest if they are too educational. It turns out she loves it and has asked to play the app every day since we downloaded it! I gladly let her, because this app is a great summer review tool for the math skills she's acquired in kindergarten, but it is also challenging enough that I know she's learning and building upon the concepts she knows. Watch the video below for an introduction!

What's Great About Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App

  • Adorable graphics with a cool space theme that will keep kids engaged. (Girls will love it too!)
  • Aligned with the Common Core Standards for Kindergarten Math
  • No ads or third-party content
  • Parents/teachers can track child's progress for each game level and skill.
  • Unique adaptive feature that adjusts the difficulty level of each game depending on the player's abilities.

Skills Practiced in Zap Zap Kindergarten Math App

  • Number sense & number recognition
  • Reading number words
  • Counting to 100 by 1's and 10's
  • Counting forward and backwards
  • Comparing numbers: greater than, less than, equal to
  • Identify and sort shapes, both 2D and 3D
  • Comparing objects by height, weight, length, etc.
  • Measurement
  • Addition and subtraction
  • Number bonds
  • and more!

My Recommendation to Parents & Teachers

Start out by exploring the app together with your child/student and making sure they understand the basic navigation. Children can play the app independently for the most part. My daughter asked me for help in understanding some of the game instructions and a few of the touch-screen requirements. However, they do a great job of including visual, verbal and written instructions for every level, so children will catch on quickly.

 The Zap Zap Kindergarten Math app would be a fantastic addition to your kindergarten math curriculum, in a math center, or at home as a fun and playful supplement to your child's learning. It is also perfect for summer learning, with its portable nature making it great for traveling.

Download Zap Zap Kindergarten Math from the iTunes App Store (iOS) or from Google Play Store (Android)

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