Building Numbers with Snap Cubes

Snap Cubes are the perfect hands-on learning manipulative for helping develop simple math skills and learning numbers.

Hands-on learning is highly beneficial for kids. Having hands-on learning resources and manipulatives readily available in your home or classroom will make teaching, and learning, more fun and meaningful. Snap Cubes are a must-have math manipulative that every homeschool should have. Snap Cubes can help build foundational math skills like color recognition, sorting, counting, learning numbers, and even simple addition and subtraction problems.

Sometimes called linking cubes or counting cubes, Snap Cubes are not only a great experiential learning resource, but they can also provide hours of imaginative play for kids who enjoy building and being creative.

Related: Patriot Color by Number

What are Snap Cubes?

Snap Cubes are colorful little square blocks that click, or snap, together. They have been around for quite sometime and are a staple in many classrooms. Homeschoolers love them too.

Each cube interlocks with its neighbors, creating an interactive experience that captures young imaginations while building educational value. They may be simple, but their educational value is significant. Add the creativity value to that and you have an educational tool that kids love.

Recommended Snap Cubes:

Learning Resources Snap CubesLearning Resources MathLink Cubes Big BuildersMath Manipulatives Counting CubesMath Linking CubesMath Linking Cubes

Snap Cube Number Worksheets

These Snap Cube Number Worksheets are perfect for pairing up with snap cube playtime to help your child develop number literacy.

This printable pack includes 21 pages. Each page focuses on a different number. The numbers covered in this pack are numbers 0-20.

On each page, there is a diagram showing how to build that number with Snap Cubes. Each page also includes handwriting practice and counting practice.

Preparing the Worksheets

You’ll need the following supplies to get these pages ready to use. Here is what you’ll need:

• Snap Cubes
• Printer Paper
• Printer
• Pencils
• Crayons

Learning Resources MathLink Cubes Big BuildersPrinter PaperWireless Color All-in-One PrinterTiconderoga Wood-Cased Pencils64-Pack Crayons with Sharpener

Once you have your supplies, this is what you’ll need to do:

1. Scroll down to the end of this post to the form where you can input your email address. Put in your name and email to request that the snap cube number worksheets be sent to your inbox.
2. Find the email with the file in your inbox (if you don’t see it, check your junk mail), download it, and save it.
3. Open the file on your computer and print out the worksheets. When you print, you may need to choose the setting ‘Fit to Page’ or a similar setting to make sure it fits the page.
4. Sit your child down at a table with a pencil, crayons, snap cubes, and one worksheet at a time. Explain to them what to do, how to build the numbers with the cubes, and how to do the rest of the worksheet. Be available in case your child has any issues or questions.

Related: Number Writing Practice Pages

Teaching Numbers with Snap Cubes

Snap Cubes provide an interactive way to teach preschoolers the basics of numbers and counting. By building the actual number with Snap Cubes, children are able to visual and recognize the shape of each number and get a sense of how each number is formed.

By playing with the cubes, children can visually and tangibly understand the concept of quantity. For instance, teachers and parents can use simple exercises like forming single-digit numbers by snapping together the appropriate number of cubes. This can then lead to simple addition and subtraction problems.

Additional Snap Cube Learning Activities

Here are several activities you can use to make learning with Snap Cubes both fun and educational:

Counting Practice: Children can snap cubes together to match a number card or number you write down, reinforcing counting skills and number recognition.

Pattern Building: Create simple patterns and ask children to replicate or extend them. This activity promotes understanding of sequences and sorting.

Basic Operations: Demonstrate addition and subtraction by physically adding or removing cubes from a set, making abstract concepts more concrete.

Exploring Shapes & Colors: Use Snap Cubes to build various shapes, helping children to recognize and name them. You can also sort the cubes by color, helping with color recognition.

More Resources for Learning Numbers:

If you’re looking for even more ways to work on number recognition, number writing, simple math, or just learning numbers in general, be sure to check out some of the resources below.

• I Spy Counting Pages
• Roll and Cover Numbers
• Number Writing Practice Pages
• Number Playdough Mats
• Learning Numbers with the Bible

And here are more great educational toys and resources that focus on numbers.

Magnetic Color and Number Maze Magnet Puzzle BoardSmart Counting CookiesWooden Number MagnetsSelf-Correcting Wooden Number PuzzlesSmart Snacks Number PopsClassic Wooden Abacus

From the basics of counting to the joy of snapping the last cube into place on a creative build, the benefits of Snap Cubes in preschool education are many, covering cognitive, kinesthetic, and creative learning.

If you would like to get the Snap Cube Number Worksheets, simple fill out the form below and they will be sent to your inbox.