On this page
Class is in session on this math coloring page. A wise owl in a flat cap stands at the front of the room, pointing a long stick toward a chalkboard full of sums and shapes. The board has three problems to read, plus a triangle, a square and a circle. Number flags from 1 to 0 hang above, and the desk holds an abacus, two towers of counting cubes, a ruler and a calculator.
It suits ages 4 to 9 and takes about 25 minutes. Younger kids can count the things on the desk. Older ones can check the owl's work.
Color choices for the classroom
Green is the traditional color for a chalkboard, so start there. Leave the numbers white and they will look like real chalk. To help them stand out, color around each digit slowly with a sharp pencil. Dark green around white digits looks great.
The shapes on the right can each get a bright color, or you can match them to the colors of the abacus beads. The owl has a brown body with a cream chest, big yellow eyes and an orange beak. Keep the cap navy, with a yellow tassel hanging down.
The abacus uses five rows of beads, and each row has one more bead than the last. Give every row its own color. The cubes are fun too: five on one stack and three on the other, so kids can pick a pattern such as red, blue, red.
Tips that add up
- Color one number at a time on the flags, and say it out loud as you go.
- Check each sum on the board before you color it. A tick beside it feels great.
- Color the desk last, with wood marks that run along its length.
- Press firmly on the board, since a smooth dark color makes the digits shine.
Crayons cover the board well, but they take a while. A dark green marker is faster. Test it first on a scrap of paper, and put a spare sheet under the page.
Math facts worth knowing
The equals sign has a birthday of sorts. A Welsh math writer named Robert Recorde made it up in 1557, because he was tired of writing the words "is equal to" over and over. He picked two lines of the same length, since he felt nothing could be more equal. You can see the story on Wikipedia's page on the equals sign.
People have used tools like the abacus for a very long time, and traders counted with them for centuries before anyone had a calculator. Some children still learn to do fast sums on one today.
A triangle always has three sides, and its angles always add up to the same amount: 180 degrees. Now your child knows a secret about the shape at the top of the board.
Number games with your math coloring page
The owl left the bottom of the page open for you. Three apples sit next to a large 3 at the front of the desk. Ask your child to draw one more apple. What number comes next? Keep going until the row is full.
Use the ruler as a real tool, too. It has marks along the top, so kids can measure how tall the owl is on the page. Older kids can make up three new sums and test a parent, who has to answer before the crayon is put down.
In class, this makes a good morning work sheet. Students can solve the board, then write one problem of their own and swap with a partner.
Keep on counting
You can find more early learning sheets in our preschool coloring pages. The number train is good for counting to ten, and our color by number pages mix math with art. The owl would also be glad to see you try the science lab next.
Questions
Are the sums on the board correct?
Yes. They read 2 + 3 = 5, 4 x 2 = 8 and 9 take away 6 makes 3, so kids can check each one.
Is it right for a 4-year-old?
Yes. A young child can count the beads and apples, while older kids work through the sums.
Can I write new sums on it?
Yes. Color the board dark, then write new problems on a sticky note or with a white gel pen.
