There is nothing better than delicious ice cream on a warm, summery day! Ice cream is one of my favorite themes to end the school year on. It also is a fun theme to use during birthdays. Our free printable ice cream counting mats are the perfect addition to any ice cream or restaurant theme!

Ice Cream Counting Mats

This free printable ice cream counting mats set includes 12 ice cream cone cards. Each card has a number in the lower corner.

To prep the ice cream counting mats, print the file from the pink button below. Cut the cards apart on the gray dotted lines. Laminate the cards for added durability and if you choose to use play dough or dry erase markers with the cards.

Count & Play

After the ice cream counting mats are prepped, simply add a small manipulative of some kind to the set. I like to add the cards to a bright colored plastic tray. I add the small manipulatives to a cup or small bowl.

There are some great options for manipulatives for these printable math mats. My go-to options include: beads, buttons, mini erasers, pom poms, play dough, dried black beans, and even dry erase markers.

I love simple counting cards and mats! In my classroom, I use these as independent learning centers and partner work.

My preschoolers will identify the number on the card. Then they will take the same number of beads and count them out one by one on the ice cream cone. Who doesn’t love sprinkles on their ice cream? I know I do!

After the beads are counted out, I insist that they count them one more time making sure to touch and count each one.

Then they clear the card and pick another one!

You can easily add kid-friendly squeezer or scoopers to add even more fine motor work to the ice cream counting mats.

There are 2 of our favorite printable sets that we cannot live without in my classroom. I use the Ice Cream Fine Motor Busy Bins as welcome work, for early finishers, and when one of my preschoolers needs just a little extra fine motor practice. No one complains about the “hard work” involved while strengthening those fine motor muscles because each activity is fun!

We also are huge fans of the Ice Cream Literacy & Math Centers. Between the ice cream themed words cards and the write the room options, to the different options available in some of the activities depending on which letter or initial sound skills are being focused on, these centers are perfect for the 4-5 year-old kiddos!