Christmas Bells Printable For Counting Activities

Inside: Add some counting to your toddler and preschool circle time with this Christmas bells printable. Works well with favorite books and songs! It’s easy to work on counting skills during circle time using books, rhymes and songs. In fact, it’s one of my favorite ways to build math skills! This Christmas bells printable is a fun (and easy!) way to work on counting during the Christmas theme. Simply download and cut out the bells to use the props during circle time!

Christmas Bells Printable for Counting Activities

Circle time is much more than a teacher reading a book to a group of children. While many teachers find circle time challenging, I’ve learned over the years to add visuals. Props keep the children more engaged, getting them excited about circle time! First, select the activity:

Christmas Bells Songs

Ten Little Bells (The Kiboomers) Five Little Bells (Wee Sing)

Christmas Bells Rhymes

Five Little Bells (DLTK) Ten Bells (Lap Time Songs) Then, prepare your Christmas bells props.

Preparation

You will need a copy of the Christmas bells printable, available towards the bottom of this post. If using with a flannel board, copy on to heavy (card stock) paper or laminate. Cut out each bell and place velcro on the backs. You will want either five or ten bells, depending on the rhyme or song you choose. If not using a flannel board, tape each bell to a popsicle stick (like we did with our gingerbread men props) so you can hold them while counting, singing, or reading. You can also place the bells in a pocket chart that is hung in your circle time area.

The Circle Time Activity

Have your flannel board at your circle time area. Invite the children to help you count each bell as you place it on the flannel board. Then, recite the rhyme or the song while referring to the bells on the board.

Extensions

Match the Number

In addition to 5 or 10 bells (depending on how high you want to count), make an additional set so that each child has a numbered bell, too. Place your 5 or 10 bells in the middle of the circle. Give each child a numbered bell. Method 1: Invite each child to bring their bell to the center of the circle and place it on top of or below the matching numbered bell. Method 2: Pick up each numbered bell that is in the middle of the circle, one at a time. Say: “Who has a bell with a 5 on it?” The children with that bell come up and place it on top of or below the matching numbered bell. Then … Notice if one bell has more matches than the others. Or the bell that has the least matches. (You will want to have different amounts of each number when passing them out.)

Use as an Independent Activity

This can also be used as a table activity to work on number recognition and counting. Counting Activity – Place the desired number of bells on a tray and invite your children to put the bells in numerical order. Matching Activity – Make 2 sets of the printable. Keep one set intact and cut the bells from the second set. Have your children place each loose bell on top of the matching numbered bell on the whole page.