Preschool Activities: Choo Choo Train Counting

By: Deborah Pace Rowley

Preschoolers love linking train cars together and pushing them down a track. Here are some printable trains your little engineers can link together to do number sequencing or simple addition. Simply print out the train cars at the link below. They include numbers from 1 to 20 and several math signs including plus, minus and equals. 

Cut out the train cars out and laminate them for added durability. Then place them in front of your child. Preschoolers can link the numbers from 1 to 10 or 1 to 20 in order, creating a really long train on the living room floor. You can also give your child some pieces of cereal to “load” onto their train. Place three pieces of cereal on the Number 3 car, four pieces of cereal on the Number 4 car etc. 

Older children can link trains by adding or subtracting numbers. You can start the train by creating the first part of the equation such as: 2 + 5 = ____.Then you child can finish the train by putting the caboose with the correct answer on the end. You can also leave off the first car or the middle car in the equation for an added challenge. 

Your child can also make as many trains as he can by linking up cars and creating equations on his own. Time your child as he creates a train. Or try to make a really long train by creating an interconnected equation. 1+2=3+4=7+5=13+6=20-12=8+9=17. How long a train can you make? Have fun thinking up new ways to play.

Thanks to Melissa at  melissa.depperfamily.net for the cute train images. 

Counting Trains