Are your students learning about addition to 10? Are you looking for a fun, hands-on resource to help them develop their knowledge and understanding of addition as well as build their fine motor skills? Allow your young learners to play, explore, count, add and create with these caterpillar-themed addition mats.

This colourful resource offers a playful approach to mastering addition to 10. Each mat features a number sentence beside a bright leaf where students can place their play dough caterpillars. As students roll, pinch and shape their dough creations, they practise one-to-one correspondence, number recognition and addition strategies, all while strengthening the fine motor muscles in their hands and fingers. The combination of sensory learning and maths makes this a meaningful and engaging activity for young learners.

Perfect for classroom rotations, small group support or independent learning, these mats provide a low-prep and versatile way to explore number bonds and build early maths confidence. Whether you're introducing addition to 10 or reinforcing it through playful practise, these mats are sure to be a hit!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Develop fluency with addition facts to 10
• ✅ Build number recognition and one-to-one correspondence
• ✅ Represent addition problems in a concrete, visual way
• ✅ Strengthen fine motor coordination through hands-on modelling
• ✅ Engage in sensory-based learning that supports early number understanding

What’s Included:

• A collection of addition mats featuring:
  • - Addition problems up to 10
  • - Visual leaves for placing caterpillar play dough creations
  • - Colourful and inviting layout to promote engagement
• Printable in A4 format, with the option to enlarge to A3 for more working space

Materials Needed:

• Printed mats (on paper or thick cardstock)
• Play dough in various colours
• Write-and-wipe sleeves or a laminator (optional for reusability)
• Whiteboard markers (optional for number writing if laminated)

How to Use:

1. Print and prepare the mats – laminate or insert into write-and-wipe sleeves.
2. Provide students with a mat and play dough in at least two colours.
3. Students read the addition sentence and model the parts using play dough caterpillars.
4. They place the caterpillars onto the leaf and count the total.
5. Encourage them to say or write the full number sentence to reinforce understanding.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during maths rotations or numeracy stations for hands-on practise.
• 💡 Include in a fine motor station for dual-skill development.
• 💡 Pair with number songs or counting stories for an interactive maths warm-up.
• 💡 Provide as a targeted support task for students needing extra help with number bonds.
• 💡 Use as a quick-check formative assessment tool in small groups.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge mats to A3 size for younger learners or students who need more space to work.
• 💛 Colour-code the dough to represent each part of the equation clearly.
• 💛 Store laminated mats in labelled tubs for easy grab-and-go rotations.
• 💛 Encourage students to describe what they did using mathematical language like “plus” and “equals”.

Make & Add to 10 Play Dough Mats: Caterpillars are a playful, sensory-rich way to support early addition, making maths fun, accessible and engaging for every learner in your classroom!