Are your students learning numbers to 20? The Make & Count Play Dough Mats 1-20: Caterpillars resource is the perfect way to combine early number skills with sensory, fine motor fun. These colourful caterpillar-themed mats invite students to count, create, and build collections using play dough, helping to strengthen one-to-one correspondence, number recognition, and counting fluency.

Designed especially for young learners, this hands-on resource encourages exploration and tactile learning. As students roll, squish and shape their caterpillars, they’re also developing finger strength and coordination, which are key foundations for handwriting. With minimal prep and maximum engagement, these mats are a must-have for your maths centres or early years rotations.

Make & Count Play Dough Mats are ideal for use in early years classrooms, intervention groups, or one-on-one support. Use them to reinforce counting, support students with emerging number knowledge, or provide a calming, hands-on task to start the day. Just add play dough and watch your students’ number confidence grow!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Recognise and identify numbers from 1 to 20
• ✅ Practise one-to-one correspondence when counting objects
• ✅ Develop fine motor skills through play dough manipulation
• ✅ Build number sense in a visual, tactile way
• ✅ Strengthen early maths confidence through hands-on exploration

What’s Included:

• 20 individual caterpillar-themed counting mats (numbers 1 to 20)
• Bright visuals with number prompts and matching leaf designs
• Clear layout for building caterpillar bodies using play dough
• Printing and use suggestions for classroom setup

Materials Needed:

• Printed mats (preferably on thick cardstock or A3 size)
• Play dough in various colours
• Optional: write-and-wipe sleeves for durability and reuse

How to Use:

1. Print the counting mats and insert into write-and-wipe sleeves or laminate.
2. Provide each student with a mat and play dough.
3. Students identify the number on their mat and create a matching number of caterpillar segments from play dough.
4. Each segment is placed on the leaf to form a full caterpillar model.
5. Encourage students to count aloud as they build to reinforce oral counting skills.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during maths centres to reinforce number sense through play.
• 💡 Pair with number songs or counting stories to add a literacy link.
• 💡 Set up as a morning work task to build routine and fine motor skills.
• 💡 Introduce as a small group task when targeting early counting concepts.
• 💡 Extend by asking students to build two caterpillars and compare numbers.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge the mats to A3 for more space and easier manipulation for younger learners.
• 💛 Use scented or textured play dough to add a sensory dimension.
• 💛 Laminate the mats for easy wipe-down and long-term reuse.
• 💛 Provide mini whiteboards alongside for students to write the number they built.

Make & Count Play Dough Mats 1-20: Caterpillars are a joyful and engaging way to bring early numeracy to life. With their vibrant theme and hands-on appeal, they’ll quickly become a favourite in your early years classroom!