Starting the day with a short, hands-on math warm-up is one of the best ways to build strong number sense and routines in your K-1 classroom. These warm-ups or “lesson ignitions” are more than just time-fillers – they’re intentional, 5–10 minute activities designed to review key math concepts and get young learners thinking mathematically right from the start.
When repeated consistently throughout the year, warm-ups help students solidify foundational skills like counting, grouping, operations, and place value. Slotting one in at the small group table or as a quick class-wide game before your main math block is an easy habit to build – and once it’s part of your rhythm, your students will look forward to it each day!
Here’s a simple warm-up idea that’s perfect for Monday mornings (or any day of the week!). It’s quick to prep, uses materials you likely already have, and works beautifully with small groups of 3–4 students.
Roll & Collect – Tens and Ones Warm-Up
Objective:Students roll a die, collect connecting cubes, and build groups of ten as they go. Once all cubes are collected, they count their tens and ones to find their total.
Why it works:
This activity is great for reinforcing counting, subitizing, grouping, and early place value concepts – all while building fine motor skills through connecting cubes. It’s collaborative, visual, and tactile – perfect for early learners!
Quick Prep Guide
You’ll need:- 100 connecting cubes (placed in the center of the table)
- 1 standard die
- Table space
- 3–4 little mathematicians per group
- Students take turns rolling the die.
- Each player collects the number of cubes shown on their roll.
- As they collect, they connect cubes into rods of 10 where possible.
- Continue rolling and collecting until all cubes are gone.
- At the end, each player counts their total by adding their 10s and leftover 1s.
Teacher Tip:
This activity can be adapted for different skill levels. Try using two dice to practice counting on or doubles facts, or challenge students to estimate their total before counting.
A warm-up like this only takes 5–10 minutes but sets a positive, focused tone for the rest of your math block. It’s low-prep, high-impact, and perfect for getting students thinking, talking, and working together in meaningful ways.
Start your week strong – and keep the math momentum going, one warm-up at a time!
A warm-up like this only takes 5–10 minutes but sets a positive, focused tone for the rest of your math block. It’s low-prep, high-impact, and perfect for getting students thinking, talking, and working together in meaningful ways.
Start your week strong – and keep the math momentum going, one warm-up at a time!