Hop into Math: How Hopscotch Builds Early Math Skills Through Hands-On Learning
If you’ve ever watched a child play hopscotch — jumping, laughing, and counting aloud as they land in each square — you’ve seen multisensory learning in action. This classic game isn’t just about playground fun; it’s also a powerful tool for early math development.
At TouchMath, we believe learning math doesn’t have to happen behind a desk. In fact, some of the best math moments happen in motion. Hopscotch is a great example of hands-on math that helps children engage with numbers in a way that’s meaningful, memorable, and fun.
With a little creativity, you can turn hopscotch into one of your go-to math activities for PreK and early elementary students — especially during the summer months when movement, sunshine, and play are in full swing.
What Makes Hopscotch a Math Tool?
Hopscotch naturally supports multisensory math — an approach that engages visual, auditory, and tactile-kinesthetic pathways to help students build number sense and mathematical fluency.
When children jump from one square to another while counting or skip counting, they are:
- Seeing the numbers on the ground (visual)
- Saying the numbers out loud (auditory)
- Moving their bodies in rhythm with the numbers (kinesthetic)
This kind of learning sticks. It builds neural connections by linking concepts with real-world actions, making it easier for children to recall and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom.
The Math Behind the Movement
Hopscotch can be used to teach and reinforce several early math skills, including:
- Number recognition
- Counting forward and backward
- Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s
- Even and odd numbers
- Simple addition and subtraction
- Ordinal numbers and sequencing
With a few simple modifications, you can turn any hopscotch grid into a hands-on math experience.
For example:
- Use chalk or shells to label the spaces with skip counting numbers.
- Make a game of calling out a number and having students jump to it.
- Leave a few blank squares and challenge children to say what number belongs there.
- Use colored squares for odd and even numbers and create pattern recognition challenges.
Why Multisensory Math Matters
Early learners (especially those in PreK through 2nd grade) benefit most when math is active and engaging. According to research, multisensory math instruction enhances memory, deepens conceptual understanding, and improves long-term retention — particularly for students who struggle with abstract reasoning or benefit from nontraditional learning styles.
A few key findings:
- Movement anchors learning. Studies show that combining physical activity with academic content improves working memory and cognitive flexibility in young children (Pesce et al., 2016; Donnelly et al., 2016). When children jump, tap, or move in sync with numbers, they create stronger neural connections.
- Play-based, tactile math builds number sense. According to Clements & Sarama (2014), engaging young children in physical, visual, and auditory tasks leads to deeper math understanding and improved performance — especially in early number concepts like counting, patterning, and spatial awareness.
- Multisensory learning boosts engagement. Research from the National Center for Improving Literacy (2020) confirms that incorporating visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile elements into instruction increases attention and learning outcomes for early learners and students with learning differences.
So, what happens when we use hands-on math games like hopscotch?
- Students retain more. Movement-based learning helps anchor math concepts in the body and brain.
- They’re more engaged. Learning feels like play — not pressure.
- They build confidence. When students experience success through game-based learning, they bring that confidence into other math contexts.
That’s why we recommend hopscotch and similar activities in every toolkit of math activities for PreK and math activities for summer learning. It’s fun, effective, and research-backed.
Summer Is the Perfect Time for Hands-On Math
Summer is often filled with fun, free time, and (let’s be honest) screen time. But what if just a few minutes of play could keep math skills sharp without feeling like schoolwork?
Our favorite math activities for summer are the ones that blend learning with play — and hopscotch fits the bill. Whether you’re using sidewalk chalk outside, painter’s tape on the floor indoors, or labeled shells at the beach, this game is portable, flexible, and full of possibilities.
Some summer variations you can try:
- Skip Counting Splash: Add water balloons to a skip counting hopscotch! Jump on the number and toss a balloon to a bucket labeled with the next number in the sequence.
- Nature Numbers: Use rocks, shells, or pinecones to create the hopscotch path.
- Mystery Numbers: Add a twist with blank spaces or question marks and ask kids to figure out the missing number as they hop.
These hands-on math activities keep students active and engaged, and also give families an easy way to build math skills without a worksheet in sight.
Designed for Early Learners
PreK students are still developing body coordination, number recognition, and attention span. Hopscotch supports all of these developmental areas while keeping math playful and pressure-free.
Use hopscotch for:
- Number identification (just 1–10!)
- Learning to jump and land on two feet (motor planning!)
- Practicing counting forward and backward
- Early exposure to math patterns like skip counting
Since hopscotch can be simplified or scaled, it’s ideal for inclusive environments and differentiated instruction.
Ready to Get Started?
This summer don’t just review math — move through it! We’ve created a free printable hopscotch skip counting game you can use at home, in the classroom, or even at summer camp.
Your download includes:
- Skip counting by 2s up to 10
- Skip counting by 10s up to 100
- A fun, visual hopscotch layout
- Instructions for play + variations
It’s the perfect way to turn summer sunshine into math success. Let the math (and the jumping) begin!
