This post contains affiliate links please see the Disclosure and Privacy Policy page for full disclosures here.

This week I introduced C to a new addition activity for preschool learners, the Adding Machine. I have done this activity with other kids before and it was super fun to introduce C to it.

A preschool girl is sitting on the floor with a shoe box in front of her propped up on an art easel. In the shoe box, two toilet paper rolls are attached on the inside of the lid. The little girl is putting a counter into one side as she completes her addition activity.

Supplies:

My Favorite Laminator

Directions:

A view of the Adding Machine from the top. The shoe box is laying on the ground open. On the inside of the lid are two toilet paper rolls glued on. On either side of the toilet paper rolls there is a small velcro circle for the numbers to be velcroed onto. There is a plus sign between the toilet paper rolls. There is an equal sign under the plus sign. There is another piece of velcro under the equal sign so that the answer can be attached.
  1. You will need to make the adding machine first. You start by hot glueing the toilet paper rolls to the top of the box. If you are using an old shoe box like us, it will be easy to stand it up to play later.
  2. Now, use the permanent markers to write a plus sign between the toilet paper rolls and an equal sign under the toilet paper rolls. I did my equal sign on the top of the base of the box so it was easy to see.
  3. Finally to finish prepping the box, add velcro right beside each toilet paper roll and one under the equal sign. Also make sure your numbers have the opposite velcro parts on them. I have these in from using the adding machine with older children, but with C didn’t do the numbers this time!
  4. Now it is game time! Have your child roll the dice. They will place that many of the counters in the first toilet paper roll. If you are using the numbers and velcro have your child attach the correct number to the first toilet paper roll.
  5. Then either you or your child rolls the other dice. Put that many of the counters through the other toilet paper roll. Have your child put the correct number on the velcro if you are using them.
  6. Count the total number of counters in the bottom of the box. Have your child put the correct number under the equal sign.
  7. They have finished the game! Keep playing until your child is bored.
  8. You can add an extension of having your child write the addition sentences out on a board or paper if you would like.
A preschool girl is playing an addition activity with The Adding Machine. The girl is placing a counter into one of the toilet paper rolls attached to the lid of a shoe box. There are two dice in front of her showing her how many counters to put in each roll.

We used corn counters so after we solved each problem, she feed that amount of corn counters to a toy duck (it was supposed to be a chick, but I didn’t have any chicks)! Some times the duck ate them outside the box and sometimes the duck ate them inside the box!

I hope your child enjoys this new addition activity for preschool children as much as C enjoyed it! We play it all the time with different counters.

Related Posts

Spread the love

Similar Posts

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: Week of August 30th - Teaching with Faith
  2. Pingback: Preschooler and Toddler Rainy Day Activities - Teaching with Faith

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *