Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Fall {Free Printables}

My love of Montessori-inspired playdough activities led me to design a number of hands-on math activities for toddlers through first graders. First, my daughter, Christina, and I created some free playdough printables for fall. Then I prepared some Montessori-inspired playdough math activities using the printables.

Note: If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, check out our Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Spring {Free Printables}.

Free Fall Playdough Math Pack (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)

You’ll find the free fall playdough math pack in yesterday’s Montessori Monday post. It has printables for activities related to seasons, fine-motor skills, counting, DIY cards and counters, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, greater than, and less than. Go here to download the free pack.

Note: There are two apple photos and two pumpkin photos in the pack. The apple photos are whole-page photos so that the apples made on the cards-and-counters mats will fit somewhat proportionately with the photos.

Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Fall

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Here are some examples of activities you could have on apple and pumpkin playdough trays for fall:

Montessori-Inspired Apple Playdough Math Tray

Materials used:

• Montessori Services large plastic tray
• Red playdough (See recipe in my “How to Prepare a Simple Fall Playdough Tray” post.)
• Container for playdough (mine is from the Dollar Tree)
• Apple photos, printed and laminated
• Numbers and counters cards, printed and laminated (one number card chosen and placed under the apple photos)
• Number and number symbol squares, printed and laminated
• Green pipe cleaner, cut into ½” pieces for stems (in the ladybug container)
• Scissors, knife, or a playdough tool for cutting could be added to the tray for making the numbers with “playdough snakes.”
• Small containers to organize pieces (The ladybug container was an earring gift container my daughter had. I like to use special containers whenever I can to add interest to an activity.)
• Sponge or cloth for cleaning surfaces after using playdough

This tray was designed for a homeschool or classroom with multiple ages. Younger children would generally create playdough apples to make a picture or make the apples for one number. Older children could use the apple playdough for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, greater than, or less than. If you have one child, prepare the activity to be appropriate for your child’s age and ability level.

Apple Playdough Numbers and Counters

This is a fun variation of Montessori cards and counters. I recommend choosing a number your child is working on. In a classroom, you could have the numbers 1-10 available and let the children choose which number they want to use. I wouldn’t expect them to do the numbers 1-10, since that would be a LOT of apples to make! Of course, if a child wants to do all 10 numbers, that’s awesome!

Apple Playdough Counting Mats

Using the pipe cleaner “stems,” the child can transform the playdough balls into apples and transfer the apples to the photo.

Apple Playdough Addition

This is a simple hands-on addition activity. The playdough apples (or pumpkins if you’re using the pumpkin tray) could be used for simple hands-on addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

Apple Playdough Greater Than, Less Than Activity

This is a fun reinforcement for the greater than, less than symbols. If your child is confused by the greater than and less than symbols, be sure to check out my greater than, less than alligator work.

Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Playdough Math Tray

Materials used:

• Multicraft tray
• Orange playdough (See recipe in my “How to Prepare a Simple Fall Playdough Tray” post. I used yellow and red food coloring for the orange coloring. I added a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, which made the playdough smell heavenly!)
• Container for playdough (Mine is a food storage container we had in our kitchen.)
• Pumpkin photos, printed and laminated
• Numbers and counters cards, printed and laminated (one number card chosen and placed under the pumpkin photos)
• Green pipe cleaner, cut into ½” pieces for stems (in the ladybug container)
• Scissors, knife, or a playdough tool for cutting could be added to the tray for making the numbers with “playdough snakes.”
• Small container to organize pieces (Mine is a small Bambu condiment cup. I use those for LOTS of activities.)
• Sponge or cloth for cleaning surfaces after using playdough

Pumpkin Playdough Numbers and Counters

Again, this is a fun variation of Montessori cards and counters. I would generally place one number on the tray that the child is working on.

Pumpkin Playdough Counting Mats

As with the apple playdough activity, the child can use the pipe cleaner “stems” to transform the playdough balls into apples and then transfer the apples to the photo.

I hope your child or children have fun with hands-on math activities this fall! 🙂

This post is part of the 12 Months of Montessori Series!

12 Months of Montessori Series – Mathematics

Check the posts below for more ideas on Montessori math.

• Easy Ways to Use Montessori Math on a Budget | Natural Beach Living
• Montessori Math Subtraction Facts – Presentation and Printable | The Natural Homeschool
• Montessori-Inspired Playdough Math Activities for Fall {Free Printables} | Living Montessori Now
• Montessori Math for Preschool | Mama’s Happy Hive
• Shape Sorting: Early Math for Toddlers | The Kavanaugh Report
• Basic Montessori Math Materials for Introducing Numbers | The Pinay Homeschooler
• Using Command Cards for Math | Grace and Green Pastures
• 25 of The Best Montessori Math Printables | Christian Montessori Network

Have fun with Montessori-inspired math work!

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