Looking for a crafty way to check your students’ subitising skills? Then you need our cupcake-themed Subitising Cupcake Sprinkles: Subitising Craft to bring a little number fun into your classroom!

This playful and hands-on craft gives students the chance to demonstrate their subitising knowledge while creating an eye-catching cupcake display. By matching numbers to quantities using bright and colourful ‘sprinkles’, learners get to combine creativity with maths in a meaningful, memorable way.

With two versions included – a worksheet option and a full cut-and-paste craft – you’ll be able to differentiate for ability and time. Whether students glue down buttons, sequins, or pom poms to represent quantities, or colour in dot patterns, the result is a vibrant and personalised cupcake that shows off their subitising success!

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Subitise quantities to 10 using structured visual representations
• ✅ Match numerals to dot patterns and objects
• ✅ Reinforce number sense through art and hands-on learning
• ✅ Develop fine motor skills through cutting, pasting and manipulating objects
• ✅ Express understanding in a creative, student-led format

What’s Included

• Crafty cut-and-paste cupcake templates
• Worksheet option for a simplified version
• Backing templates for mounting or display
• Printable ‘Subitising Sprinkles’ banner for classroom walls
• Step-by-step instructions for both versions

Materials Needed

• Printed templates (A4 or enlarged to A3)
• Buttons, pom poms, sequins or stickers for sprinkles
• Coloured card or paper for backing
• Glue sticks and scissors
• Markers or crayons for colouring (optional)

How to Use

1. Choose which version of the craft your students will complete – the worksheet or the full cut-and-paste version.
2. Print the templates for each student. For a visual pop, use coloured card for the backing template.
3. Have students write a number on each cupcake and then add the matching number of sprinkles using buttons, pom poms, or drawn dots.
4. Encourage creativity – students can decorate their cupcakes with extra details or patterns.
5. Mount the finished pieces onto the backing templates and add the ‘Subitising Sprinkles’ banner for a themed display.
6. Use the display to prompt number talks or review number sense concepts.

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Incorporate into a maths rotation as a subitising fluency activity
• 💡 Use as an early years numeracy assessment to observe subitising and matching skills
• 💡 Set up a craft station with different sprinkle materials to allow for choice and creativity
• 💡 Use the display as a springboard for oral language tasks – students can explain their number choices
• 💡 Integrate with a cupcake or baking theme across other subjects for cross-curricular fun

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Print the templates on coloured card to save time on decorating and add instant visual appeal
• 💛 Enlarge the templates to A3 size for a bigger, bolder craft perfect for classroom displays
• 💛 Swap buttons for finger painting, dot markers, stickers or coloured paper to suit your materials
• 💛 Encourage students to mix and match materials for a multisensory experience
• 💛 Pair this craft with subitising games or songs for a full-themed lesson

Subitising Cupcake Sprinkles: Subitising Craft combines creativity and number recognition in one sweet activity – helping students express their maths thinking with colour, craft and confidence!