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PSPKK12366 Comments

Bugs in a jar counting game

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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If you’re doing a preschool insect theme, this math game is the perfect one to put in a learning center or to do at home at your kitchen table.

This bug math game is a fun spring counting activity. Great for a preschool insect theme, too!

This week I’m doing the letter “I” with my preschooler.  I decided to create a simple printable that would help him practice using a die… counting insects for the bug jar.

This bug math game is a fun spring counting activity. Great for a preschool insect theme, too!

First I printed and laminated the jar. Then I printed the bugs, laminated them, and cut them apart. My four-year-old attached a small piece of sticky tack to each one. (Sticky tack works great, by the way!)

My Three rolled the die, counted the dots, and put that many bugs in his jar.

This bug math game is a fun spring counting activity. Great for a preschool insect theme, too!

He kept rolling the die and adding to the jar.

This bug math game is a fun spring counting activity. Great for a preschool insect theme, too!

This sort of activity is great for teaching subitizing: the ability to look at a visual representation of a number (like the dots on a die) and immediately know how many there are, without counting each individual object.

The numbers 1, 2, and 3 were no problem; he knew what those were right away. But for numbers 4 and 5 he had to stop and count the dots. He wanted my help with number 6.

We also got in some counting practice and even the sound of letter I.  “How many /i/, /i/, insects do you need to put in the jar now?”

Such a fun printable for spring!

A tip: If you want to save yourself some time and ink, just print the jar.  You could use counters or pom poms to represent the insects.

Get your free bugs in a jar activity!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

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Free Math Printables for Pre-K-3rd Grade

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Filed Under: Counting, Math Tagged With: counting, preschool, kindergarten, insects and spiders, Pre-K

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Reader Interactions

66 Comments

  1. Melissa

    August 18, 2020 at 10:33 am

    It isn’t showing up in my email, in any of the folders…

    Reply to this comment
    • Kate Dowling

      August 20, 2020 at 10:20 pm

      Hi Melissa!

      This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. I’m sorry you’re having trouble! I suggest trying a different browser. Anna prefers Google Chrome. I like Firefox. I just tested the link and I received it (using a gmail address and Firefox). Please give it another try. If it still doesn’t work, please send an email to anna (at) the measured mom (dot) com. We’ll be sure to get you your file!

      Reply to this comment
  2. Tara @moderncrumb

    June 24, 2020 at 7:35 pm

    Thank you for this cute activity! My daughter loves the bugs and it laminated perfectly.

    Reply to this comment
  3. Missy

    May 9, 2020 at 2:26 pm

    I need help. I have turned off my adblocker; I have clicked on the Green Box saying Click Here for Free printable. Nothing is happening. How can I get this awesome insect math game?

    Thank you

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      May 9, 2020 at 2:55 pm

      Please refresh your browser; if that doesn’t work, try a different one. Please comment to let us know what device you’re using and what browsers you’ve tried. Thanks!

      Reply to this comment
  4. Alexa

    April 11, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    I cant get the button this one or the insect readers to do anything, it seems like its not clickable. Any ideas?

    Reply to this comment
    • Kate Dowling

      April 13, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      Hi Alexa!

      This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. It sounds like you need to turn off your ad blocker and refresh the page to make all the buttons clickable. Thanks!

      Reply to this comment
  5. Pamela Simpson

    March 13, 2020 at 1:18 pm

    Like so many others, I followed your directions and nothing happens when I click “Here” to get “Bugs in a jar” I registered, found the the game and clicked” here”, nothing! Can it be emailed?

    Reply to this comment
    • Kate Dowling

      March 13, 2020 at 9:42 pm

      Hi Pamela!

      This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. I’m sorry you had trouble! I’m not sure if I understand which step caused trouble for you. Did you enter your email address and then check your email? You should have received an email with a link to click for the game to open up. If you did receive an email and were unable to open the link, please forward the email to Anna at anna(at)themeasuredmom(dot)com. She will be sure you receive your printable!

      Reply to this comment
  6. Nichole Duncan

    February 19, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    I can’t get the bugs in a jar counting game to do anything when I click on get your free printable here. I have subscribed to your website. How can I get this printable for my preschool class?

    Reply to this comment
    • Kate Dowling

      February 20, 2020 at 1:26 pm

      Hi Nichole!

      This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. If the green box is not clickable, please turn off your adblocker. Then you should be able to click on the green box and enter your email address. The file will be sent to you. Thanks!

      Reply to this comment
  7. Rebecca

    January 10, 2019 at 11:25 pm

    I cannot print the bugs in a jar activity. Why?

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      January 17, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      If you can give me more details, maybe I can help – but it may just be a setting on your printer.

      Reply to this comment
  8. Alyssa

    January 16, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    Hello!
    I love this activity and would like to incorporate it into my home-based childcare visits I do though my district.
    For my district to print many copies, I do need your permission to do so. If you could please get back to me that would be wonderful.
    Thank you!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      January 16, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      I emailed you. 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  9. Maria

    April 2, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    M’encanta!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      April 2, 2017 at 5:22 pm

      You’re very welcome, Maria!

      Reply to this comment
  10. Anna Geiger

    February 1, 2016 at 7:49 am

    Please click on the image that says “Having trouble downloading or printing?” You’ll find a solution there. 🙂

    Reply to this comment
    • Stacy

      February 1, 2016 at 9:09 am

      I tried that way too and it gives me an error message when loading the document too.

      Reply to this comment
      • Anna Geiger

        February 1, 2016 at 9:18 am

        Could you be more specific? What did you try when you got an error message?

        Reply to this comment
        • stacy

          February 1, 2016 at 9:23 am

          The webpage does not load when I click on the link here or when I go to the site with all options, that link too does not open. Does that help?

          Reply to this comment
        • carly

          April 3, 2016 at 9:05 am

          Hi I have today tried downloading this great activity but I keep getting an error message which says there is no pdf file or it is corrupted I have tried the troubleshooting tips but these aren’t working to get it either 🙁

          Reply to this comment
          • Anna Geiger

            April 3, 2016 at 12:20 pm

            What happens when you right click on the download link?

            Reply to this comment
          • theresa

            April 4, 2016 at 2:14 pm

            This is what I’m getting when hitting “here”…

            “Couldn’t open PDF

            Something’s keeping this PDF from opening.”

            Reply to this comment
  11. Ashley

    October 17, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    Hey, Anna! I love your printables, but most importantly, my KIDS do! Is there any way you could make a roll and build chart to go with this? I would like to get more use out of these CUTE bugs! 3Dinosaurs made a roll and build Easter basket, Chrismas Tree, and Farm that I ADORE as the same game pieces cover an array of ages/activities. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but the child rolls two dice and adds (or multiplies) a specific game piece based on their answer. Then the child also has to record what they rolled and the answer. I like this as opposed to adding 12 items (or whatever) to the chart at a time. Saved space and allowed the game to run longer, I thought anyway. Just trying to get the most use out of your materials! Thanks so much for all of your hard work!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      October 17, 2015 at 9:00 pm

      Thanks for the idea, Ashley! I am planning to work on bug activities in the spring, so I will put this one on my idea list. Have a great weekend!

      Reply to this comment
  12. Nicholle

    June 12, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Thank you. These are just wonderful!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      June 24, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      You’re very welcome, Nicholle!

      Reply to this comment
  13. Library Lady

    May 18, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Thank you for the free printable, and for thoughtfully including the library in the permissions page! It was nice to know I was safe to use these in my preschool storytimes. Adorable printable! Thanks again!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      May 23, 2015 at 9:39 am

      You’re very welcome – I’m so glad you can use it!

      Reply to this comment
  14. Brenda Shaw

    April 26, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Hi! I have been looking all through the site and have been unable to locate the printable for the Bugs in a Jar counting activity. When I click on Free it takes me to the site where it tells me what I can and cannot do. Very frustrated! Would like to use this activity this week with my preschoolers

    Thanks
    Brenda

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      April 26, 2015 at 12:16 pm

      Hi Brenda,
      For all my printables (at least the ones I’ve shared in the last year) you need to click on the word HERE.

      Do you see where it says… “Get your free printable HERE” ? It’s near the bottom of the post.

      Sorry it was confusing!

      Reply to this comment
      • Jessica

        January 11, 2019 at 12:25 pm

        I’m confused. I click where it says ‘click here for free printable’ but it asks me to subscribe first. After I subscribe it just goes back to the list of activities and doesn’t give me to file to print. What I’m I doing wrong?

        Reply to this comment
        • Kate Dowling

          January 12, 2019 at 1:58 pm

          Hi Jessica!

          This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. After you enter your email address, the file is sent to your email. The screen says something like, “Almost there! Check your inbox.” So if you haven’t found it yet, please go check.

          Enjoy your free activity!

          Reply to this comment
          • Sherrie

            January 23, 2019 at 7:40 pm

            Thank you so much! I was having the same problem. I didn’t realize it was being sent to my e-mail.

            Reply to this comment

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