Bring a bit of the beach into your classroom with these hands-on Sandcastle Counting Mats. Designed to help students practise making collections from 1 to 20, these bright and simple mats support early counting skills, one-to-one correspondence, and number recognition in an engaging, visual format.

Each sandcastle mat features a number from 1 to 20 and a space for students to create a matching collection. Whether you're working with real-world items like shells, pebbles, and gems, or using the included printable counting pieces, students will enjoy the tactile and visual nature of this activity. The beach theme adds a playful twist that encourages engagement and helps bring numeracy to life.

These mats are perfect for small group work, independent counting practice, or fine motor stations. Simply print and laminate for long-term use, and you’ll have an easy-prep resource ready to use year-round. They pair beautifully with other beach-themed resources and can be integrated into sensory play or counting corners for added variety.

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Practise counting and making collections from 1 to 20
• ✅ Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence when placing objects
• ✅ Match quantities to numerals through hands-on exploration
• ✅ Develop fine motor skills using small items to build collections

What’s Included

• 20 sandcastle-themed counting mats (numbers 1–20)
• Printable counting pieces (shells, jewels, stones)
• Instructions and setup suggestions

Materials Needed

• Printed and laminated counting mats
• Printable or real-world items (shells, beads, gems, stones)
• Storage tub or ziplock bags for easy organisation
• Optional: tweezers or tongs for added fine motor challenge

How to Use

1. Select mats based on your current number focus or student needs
2. Provide students with a collection of objects to count
3. Students place the correct number of items onto each mat
4. Encourage students to count aloud as they place each item
5. Rotate mats for ongoing counting practise or target specific number ranges

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Use in numeracy rotations with a beach or summer theme
• 💡 Include in a fine motor station with tweezers and small items
• 💡 Pair with number songs or books about counting at the beach
• 💡 Use as part of a counting intervention group for extra support

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Laminate mats for durability and reuse across the year
• 💛 Store themed counters in matching tubs or bags for easy set-up
• 💛 Use real shells or stones to create a multi-sensory learning experience

Great to use alongside our Sandy Beach Play Pack.