Puppy Chases Butterfly to 10

Puppy Chases the Butterfly: A Fun Math Warm-Up for Counting and Ordering Numbers!

What happens when a puppy chases a butterfly? A fun math adventure that helps students count and order numbers, of course!

Try this playful Puppy Chases the Butterfly activity, which brings a touch of imagination and movement to your math lesson.

In this warm-up, we use 

• number cards from the Math Kit and 
• a butterfly wand (a pencil with a butterfly topper) to help students order and count numerals in a small group setting. 

How to Play Puppy Chases the Butterfly:

Set Up the Numbers: 

• Place the number cards (0 to 10) in a scattered arrangement on the small group math table.

Introduce the Butterfly Wand: 

• The teacher or a student will be the “puppy” chasing the butterfly as it flutters from one number to the next.

Count Along: 

• Use the butterfly wand to “fly” in order from 0 to 10, touching each card. As the butterfly lands on each number, students can count out loud along with the teacher.

Take Turns: 

• Give each student a chance to take the role of the puppy, guiding the butterfly to each number in order.

Collect the Cards: 

• Once all the numbers are in order, the puppy takes them back to the Puppy House (if you have the play mat from my newsletter, this is a great way to incorporate it!).

This activity is perfect for helping young learners strengthen their number sense while having fun. By turning math into an interactive game, students stay engaged and motivated as they practice forward counting.

If you’d like a copy of the Puppy House Mat to use in your classroom, simply join my newsletter community and I’ll be happy to send it your way!

Why Use the Butterfly Chase?

• Hands-On Learning: Movement and visual aids help students grasp math concepts in a memorable way.
• Turn-Taking Practice: Each student gets a turn to “fly” the butterfly, encouraging participation and collaboration.
• Reinforces Number Order: By collecting the cards in the correct sequence, students build confidence in ordering numbers.

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