Three “Chick Counting” Activities with Free Printables

I recently shared three new books and a wonderful beginners board game that center around counting chicks/chickens in my enthusiasm for spring.  However, I loved the idea of spring counting so much that I thought it would be a great idea to extend that to include a simple counting activity inspired by each book.  That way children could not only get a bit of counting practice with the book, but they could literally practice counting in a hands-on, tactile way afterwards.  And even better news? They each come with a free template I created!  I hope your littles enjoy them as much as my toddler does.

To read the first post, which includes a better description of all three of these books, plus the game, click here.

*this post contains affiliate links

“Count Your Chickens” by Jo Eilen Bogart and Lori Joy Smith Inspired Finger Print “chick” Counting

My favorite part of this book is the chickens, hands down.  They are quirky and cute and clever.  This simple activity allows your kids to create finger print chickens in their counting fun.  (The chickens in the is book just sorta looked like fingerprint chickens to me.)  To do this activity, print out the free download then have your child place a row of fingerprints on each line in the quantity of the number at the start of the row.  Afterwards you can take a thin pen or marker to make them into simple chickens.  That’s it!  This activity is great for visually seeing how much a number represents and the process of the quantity slowly growing into a greater number.

Click here for the free printable: Count The Chicks “fingerprint” Template

Click here to purchase “Count Your Chickens”

“How Many Baby Animals?” by Guido Van Knechten inspired Number Matching Template

This books shows a variety of different animals that are pregnant followed by a turn of a flap which reveals the new mother with all her babies.  That is why I thought a nest with eggs (soon-to-be chicks) was appropriate.  To do this activity simply print out both pages of the template and cut out the eggs.  (I would recommend printing this one of on card stock so it is sturdier, but copy paper is great too.)  Then, have your child match the eggs with the corresponding number that matches the quantity of speckles on it in the nest.  This template would also work really well in “file-folder game” format.  Give it a go!

Click here to download the template:“Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch” Template

Click here to purchase “How Many Baby Animals?”

“Flora and the Chicks: A Counting Book” by Molly Idle inspired Chicks and Counting Cards

The chicks in this book were so adorable that I was literally smiling with the turn of each page.  So, I decided to make some simple pom-pom chicks for my child to count along with some simple counting cards.  These chicks are so fun for the activity, but also make adorable spring decorations as well.

Supplies:

• 2 inch yellow pom-pons, 2 for each chick  (I used these ones)
• orange felt
• glue gun
• black marker

Process:

1. Using hot glue, glue two pom-pons on top of each other.
2. Cut out little web feet from your orange felt and glue them on the bottom of the lower pom-pom.
3. Cout out a  little diamond from your orange felt and fold it in half for the beak.  Then glue the folded crease on the top pom-pom.
4. Swirl a highly pigmented marker around in a small dot on each side of the beak to make eyes.  (You could also paint black eyes on with a small paint brush or hot-glue wiggly eyes)

For this activity I suggest making 10 chicks.  With 10 chicks you would print off the counting card mats and then place the chicks on the card in the correct quantity to match the number on the card.  You would only be able to really do one card at a time, but making over a dozen more chicks would be a lot of work in order to have all the cards done at the same time.  If you don’t have the time to make the chicks, or you do prefer to have all the cards full all at once, you could use jelly beans or mini chocolate eggs instead.  (Plus, then you would have a lovely snack for afterwards!)

Click here for the template: Counting Cards for Chicks Template

Click here to purchase “Flora and the Chicks”

If you give this Beyond the Book activity a try I’d love to hear how it goes! Share it on Instagram using hashtag #beyondthebook (I’m on Instagram as @book.nerd.mommy) or even just comment here with your thoughts. It would make my day! Or to simply save for later pin the image below.