This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #168, Recited Counting 1-10, Lesson #173, Receptive Numbers 1-10, Lesson #174, Expressive Numbers 1-10, Lesson #175, Receptive Numbers 11+ and Lesson #176, Expressive Numbers 11+. Download a free copy of lesson 168, lesson 173, lesson 174, lesson 175, and lesson 176, and learn more about the ARIS curriculum.
Developing early math skills is crucial for a child’s later success. Games, stories, rhymes and songs provide engaging ways to teach children early math skills. For children with autism, the following games, stories, rhymes and songs can also provide opportunities for developing social and emotional skills by using these resources in small group situations or one-on-one therapy or teaching settings.
Research suggests that a child who displays adequate early math skills tends to do better as they matriculate to higher grades, and eventually to the labor market 1. In fact, this same research suggests that out of literacy, math skills, and attention skills, early math readiness has the greatest predictive power of a child’s later educational success 1. In addition, adequate development of early math skills can support a child’s critical thinking and reasoning abilities 2.
Thus, it is extremely important that students develop a sense of math readiness at an early age. While math can be challenging for many students, it may present unique challenges to students with autism. Some students with autism may find math calculation relatively easy, while other students may find math application problems much more challenging. Regardless of a students’ academic abilities, engaging in math skills early on can support students’ academic development, and grow their confidence in math.
ARIS Connection and Early Math Skills
As the most complete autism education curriculum available, the Language Builder – Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS), is founded on the principles of ABA therapy and utilizes the Language Builder Picture Card sets to effectively support holistic student learning. Coupled with the Language Builder Picture Cards, ARIS includes 202 detailed lessons for teachers and parents to use to effectively support their child’s language development, functional routines, approaches to learning, reading and writing, mathematics, social emotional, and motor skills.
The Math Readiness content category explicitly focuses on supporting a student with autism’s early math skills and includes six subcategories:
- Patterns
- Numbers and Counting
- Operations
- Geometry
- Measurement and Data
- Time and Money.
All of these categories follow a standards-based learning progression and specifically relate to the Common Core State Standards. The lessons in the Math Readiness content category are created to provide a foundational understanding of early math skills to effectively prepare students for critical life skills such as measuring, comparison, time, and money.
Below is a carefully selected collection of games, stories, rhymes, and songs that can not only make math more engaging, but that also aid in effectively teaching a child early math skills. These resources can be used to supplement ARIS lessons to provide additional support for math readiness.
Games that Support Early Math Skills
Educational math games are great resources to use in the classroom to help develop a child’s math skills. For students with autism, games can be a great way to support their engagement and attention, while also learning key social skills. The games below are examples pulled from the ARIS lessons on Math Readiness.
Pattern Card Game
This game supports students with autism in understanding patterns. In order to play, you will need to create a deck of cards using construction or patterned wrapping paper.
Using blank, white index cards as a template, trace 10 to 15 of each color or pattern. The number of colors or patterns that are included in the card deck depends on the student’s mastery of the skill. - Create the cards by gluing or laminating together one white index card and one colored or patterned piece of paper to form cards that are blank on one side.
- Take all of the cards, blank side up, and shuffle them to form a deck. Draw 3 or 4 cards to establish the pattern. Then, each player should take 5 cards. The remaining cards are stacked in the center.
- Take turns placing the next card in the pattern from your hand. If none of your cards fit the pattern, draw from the remaining cards until you have the right card. Continue until someone runs out of cards or until all of the center cards have been drawn!
Number Line Jam
This game allows students with autism to work on their number and counting skills. In order to play, you will need to create a number line from 1 to 10 on the floor using masking tape. Begin by playing music and dancing with the student, and then pause the music and hold up a target number flash card. The student will then have to walk, hop, jump, skip, or crawl to the number and say the number name out loud. This can be repeated until you have reviewed all numbers from 1 to 10 with the student.
Chain Addition
This game allows students with autism to explore operations, specifically addition. In order to play, you will only need a standard deck of cards.
- Begin by separating out all of the numbers that the student is comfortable adding, and then set those cards aside as Deck 1.
- For the remaining cards, make sure to only include cards the student is able to add. This will be considered as Deck 2. At first, you can remove the jacks, queens, and kings, but once the game rules are familiar, feel free to make up what jacks, queens, and kings represent (i.e. each jack equals a reward).
- Once your decks are separated, begin playing by asking the student to pull a card from Deck 2 and then Deck 1. Then, ask the student to add the numbers together. If they get it correct, they can keep the card. If not, the card goes back in the deck. Continue this game until all of the cards have been pulled.
Shape Attribute Hunt
This game allows students with autism to work on identifying attributes for various shapes. In order to play, begin by giving the student a specific attribute to look for, such as something with four sides. Then, walk around the classroom, school, or physical area with the student as they search. Once the student finds the object, you can spend time naming the shape and its attributes. To mix it up, switch roles with the student!
Clock Walk
This game allows students with autism to practice their math readiness skills as it relates to telling time.
- First, tape one set of digital time flashcards onto the wall.
- Then, scatter a matching set face-up on the floor, with enough space between each card for the student to walk around.
- Next, play kid-friendly music and ask the student to walk around the room. Pause the music, and then ask the student to find the nearest card on the floor. Then, instruct them to match the card on the floor to the one taped on the wall. Continue playing until all of the cards have been matched.
Stories that Support Early Math Skills
Math stories are another great resource to use for students with autism. In addition to supporting students’ math readiness, picture books can also support vocabulary development, story analysis skills, and sentence structure skills. The math stories below are great resources to support a child with autism’s early math skills by not only deepening their understanding of different math concepts, but also supporting their curiosity and increasing a positive perception towards math.
The Waterhole by Graeme Base
The Waterhole by Graeme Base is not only a beautifully illustrated book, but it supports students’ skills in numbers and counting. This book also serves as a great example of the relationship between cause and effect: as more and more animals come to the waterhole to drink, the amount of water in the waterhole decreases.
Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell
Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell is another counting book that details a family’s experience as they shop at the grocery store and prepare for a family meal. This book contains great pictures and easy-to-read text that utilizes rhymes and rhythmic patterns.
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
Inch by Inch is a book that supports a students’ early math skills in the measurement and data subcategory. In this clever book, an inchworm expresses how it can measure all things. However, when asked to measure a song, the inchworm has to figure out how to respond. Students with autism will love this book and learn about a unit of measurement in the process!
Mr. Noisy’s Book of Patterns by Rozanne Lanczak Williams, illustrated by Kathleen Dunne
Mr. Noisy’s Book of Patterns is an engaging, fun, and whimsical book that allows students to learn more about patterns. While the text is written using patterns, the illustrations are also examples of patterns!
The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns, illustrated by Gordon Silveria
The Greedy Triangle is a creatively written book about various polygons. Not only will it allow students with autism to better understand the differences between shapes, but it will also help students recognize shapes in real-life objects.
2 Comparisons Books:
Now What? A Math Tale (Robie H. Harris) is about Puppy, who wants to build a bed out of blocks. This book is a wonderful introduction to comparing shapes, sizes, and lines. Puppy uses his blocks to explore how shapes can be the same, different, and work together.
Big and Small (Britta Teckentrup) is a book of beautifully illustrated comparisons in nature. This book uses related items, fruits, and animals in nature to compare their sizes. This book serves as great practice for your child to receptively and expressively make comparisons, exploring same/different, small/big, short/long, and more.
2 Skip Counting Books:
The Skip Count Song (Rozanne Lanczak Williams) is a repetitive, predictable story to introduce skip counting. Count by two’s, five’s, and ten’s and explore number patterns through this high-contrast illustrated book. This book rhymes, so it is easily set to music and stays with kids.
Count on Pablo (Barbara deRubertis) follows Pablo as he helps his grandmother sell vegetables at the farmer’s market. Pablo counts the produce by twos, fives, and tens and learns simple tricks for counting large amounts. This heartwarming story is a perfect way to introduce skip counting to your child.
Rhymes that Support Early Math Skills
All of us can name a nursery rhyme or two, no matter how long it has been since we heard it! Rhymes that focus on math concepts and skills are wonderful for students with autism. They can be an engaging and fun way for your child to remember key math concepts and skills. Try out some of the rhymes below to use when supporting your child with their math readiness.
Shape Rhymes (from www.teachingmama.org):
Circle circle nice and round
Curve to the left till you come back around
Find the circles, just look and see!
Moon, sun, clock, and a yummy cookie!
3-sided triangle is easy to make!
Slide down, across, and up
And you’ve made the shape!
Find the triangles, just look and see!
A pizza slice, a flag, and a sailboat on the sea.
A rectangle has 4 sides, but they are not the same
Two sides are long
Two sides are short
Together they make a frame!
Find the rectangles, just look and see!
A computer screen, a door, and dollar that’s for me!
Rhymes for Numbers and Counting:
“1, 2 – Buckle my Shoe”
1, 2 – buckle my shoe.
3, 4 – knock at the door.
5, 6 – pick up sticks.
7, 8 – lay them straight.
9, 10 – a big fat hen.
To support with writing numbers (see all from Ms. White’s Wild Things):
Number 1 is like a stick,
A straight line down that’s very quick!
Around and around,
Just like a bee,
That’s the way to make a 3
Make an L, but wait
There’s more, add a
Stickman to make a 4
Telling Time Poem by Fit to be Firsties
I’m the tortoise hour hand,
Short and stout.
I tell the hour and I give a shout.
I’m the hare minute hand,
Big and tall.
I tell the minute and that’s all.
We can Measure! by Samantha Kelly
*This rhyme can be sung to the tune of “Jingle Bells”)
12 inches in a foot,
3 feet in a yard,
Using different units
Doesn’t have to be too hard!
100 centimeters
In a meter stick, you know
We can measure anything
Anywhere we go!
Songs that Support Early Math Skills
Similar to rhymes, songs can be a great resource to support math readiness. Not only are songs engaging, but they can also be a great resource upon which students can develop social skills. Check out some of the so
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