Turn your math time into a Halloween adventure with these charming black cat number mats! These printable mats are perfect for helping young learners master counting, number recognition, number words, and set building. Best of all, they keep kids engaged through playful, hands-on fun.
Using the Printable Black Cat Number Mats
Each mat is ready-to-use and prints one per page—no cutting required! Laminating will increase durability, especially if you plan to use them with playdough or wax sticks. Instead of laminating each individual page, reusable sleeves are a great eco-conscious alternative.
To begin using the cards, read the number word together with your student as they point to the word. If this is their first time using the mats, encourage them to repeat the word a few times. With repetition, they’ll soon be recognizing and reading it independently.
Using playdough, wax sticks, pom-poms, or dry erase markers, have the students fill in the large number outline. This tactile approach boosts number recognition and fine motor skills.
Next, kids will select the correct number from a set of 3 choices, which is another opportunity to practice number identification. They can simply tap the number or circle it with a dry-erase marker if preferred.
Moving on, your kiddos will count all the adorable black cats inside the ten frame. Then, invite them to build their own set with counters, black cat mini erasers, or anything you have on hand. For younger kids who still put things in their mouths, they can always build their set using a dry-erase marker instead.
The final step is finger-tracing the number word in the bottom corner. This multisensory move helps solidify the spelling and recognition of the number word over time.
What You’ll Need
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- Black cat number mats (grab your printable at the bottom of this page)
- Playdough, pom-poms, wax sticks, or dry erase markers
- Counters (like these black cat mini erasers)
- Laminator or reusable dry-erase sleeves (recommended)
How to Differentiate the Activity
Many students with motor difficulties may find it impossible to pick up small manipulatives. For these kiddos, swap out the counters for dot markers or bingo daubers. These items are still engaging, but easier to manage. Of course, you’ll have to use some type of lamination for this.
We know the amount of tasks on these mats may be overwhelming for some students. You can find a simplified version in various themes here. These simplified cards are a bit smaller, which also makes them great for using with felt boards, especially for kids who need to answer using eye gaze.
More Ways to Use These Printable Counting Mats
Take your morning meeting to the next level by creating individual counting books for each student. Simply print the activity, laminate it, and bind the pages together using a binder ring. The books will also be perfect to send home for additional practice.
No matter how you use this activity, these black cat number mats are sure to sprinkle some spooky fun into your next math lesson!
Even More Number Games to Keep Learning Fun
Black Cat Activity
Sensory Playdough Math Mat in a Fun Candy Corn Theme
