Intro
Use stamping to reinforce simple math skills! This engaging activity combines the artistic
aspects of stamping with addition and/or subtraction to build one-to-one
correspondence, number recognition and other critical early math skills.

Set Up Ideas
For beginners, you may have children use the same object for each numeral. For more
advanced math, have the children use multiple objects. For example, 1 + 2 could be shown by 1 monkey + 2 hippos.

Let’s Get Started
Gather the following materials: small object or animal stampers, construction paper and
washable stamp pads. You may also need markers or crayons. This activity is easy to vary in several ways. Children may use both numeral and object stampers, or just one or the other.

Tips and Tricks
To save time, you might consider creating a template for your math worksheet that you
can easily copy. Simply keep in mind whether the children will use numeral stampers,
object stampers or both.

Follow up Activity
After you've done addition with stampers, try subtraction! Follow the same process as
above, only this time have the children stamp the correct number of fewer animals after
the equal sign.

This activity can help children grasp one-to-one correspondence through stamping.
Children may wish to use counters to find the correct number of objects represented by
the numeral before stamping objects or animals onto the sheet.

Steps:

1. Create simple math worksheets with small number equations such as 1+1, 1+2, etc. Use
   numbers appropriate for the children’s skill level.
2. Leave space at the end of each equation and underneath the equation for kids to stamp
   animals below each numeral.
3. Kids will use an object to stamp each of the numbers in the equation, and then count the
   total that they just stamped and stamp the final answer after the equal sign.
4. Children can check their work by counting the number of animals at the end of the
   equation and those before the equal sign.