Free Shark Ten Frame Play Dough Mats

These free shark ten frame play dough mats are the perfect addition to your shark week activities. If there’s one thing that never fails to make my students light up, it’s SHARK WEEK. There’s just something about those toothy grins and the thrill of the ocean that gets kids (and let’s be honest, teachers too!) totally hooked. So if you’re looking for a super fun, hands-on way to bring some ocean-themed magic into your classroom while reinforcing early math skills, you’re going to LOVE these free shark ten frame play dough mats.

These play dough mats combine the magic of sensory play with essential counting skills, and they’re so easy to prep and use that you’ll be patting yourself on the back for squeezing in a bit of math fun without breaking a sweat. So let’s dive in (pun totally intended) to everything you need to know about this fin-tastic resource.

Why Shark Week is the Perfect Classroom Theme

Shark Week isn’t just a great excuse to pull out all your ocean-themed resources, it’s also a golden opportunity to build cross-curricular connections. You can weave in science (ocean animals!), literacy (shark stories and writing prompts!), and of course, math!

What I love most about tying in themed activities like these is that students become so much more engaged when the content is fun and meaningful. Suddenly, learning how to count becomes a game. Practicing one-to-one correspondence? Totally thrilling. Because when it involves play dough and sharks? You know it’s going to be a hit.

What Are the Shark Ten Frame Dough Mats?

The shark ten frame play dough mats are exactly what they sound like: printable mats featuring adorable sharks and a ten frame grid. Students are asked to use play dough to create little fish and place them into the ten frame to “feed” the shark.

Each play dough mat includes:

A shark illustration with a number in their mouth (hungry and waiting!)
A ten frame layout
Space for hands-on counting
Clear visual prompts

These are designed to be laminated (or slipped into dry-erase sleeves) so you can use them over and over again. Whether you’re working on numbers 1–10, early addition, or just fine motor skills, these mats are a super versatile addition to your classroom.

Why Ten Frames Matter in Early Math

Ten frames are a powerful visual tool for helping students understand number sense. They:

Support subitizing (recognizing numbers without counting)
Encourage one-to-one correspondence
Provide a strong foundation for addition and subtraction
Help build mental math strategies

When we embed these concepts into fun activities like feeding a shark with fishy play dough blobs, we’re reinforcing those skills in a way that sticks. It’s math disguised as play, and that’s always the best kind.

Instructions: How to Use This Resource in Class

Here’s a quick guide to get your Shark Ten Frame Dough Mats up and swimming in no time:

1. Print the Mats

I recommend printing on cardstock for durability.

2. Laminate or Use Dry-Erase Sleeves

Laminating makes them long-lasting and wipeable, because we all know play dough gets a little wild sometimes. If you’re in a time crunch, pop them into a plastic sleeve!

3. Prep the Play Dough

You can use store-bought play dough, or make your own if you’re feeling crafty (I like to use blue, green, and orange for a fun under-the-sea vibe). Portion out small chunks for each student.

4. Explain the Activity

Tell your students: “Our shark is hungry! Can you make some fish and feed them to the shark? Then you need to put play dough into the ten frame!”

Model the first one so they understand how to count out each fish and feed them to the shark, and how to fill in the ten frames.

5. Let Them Explore

This is where the magic happens! Some students might go full creative and start shaping detailed fish. Others may just roll little blobs. Either way, it’s all good. As long as they’re counting and engaging with the frame, they’re learning.

6. Extend the Learning

Ask students to count how many spaces are left.
Challenge them with simple addition (e.g., “If you add 2 more fish, how many will you have?”).
Pair with number cards so students have to build specific quantities.

Pro Tips for Making the Most of It

Use it as a morning bin activity – quiet, engaging, and sets the tone for a fun day.
Pair with ocean-themed books for a literacy connection.
Add it to math centers so students can work independently or in small groups.
Incorporate counting songs (like “Baby Shark,” naturally!) before or after the activity to keep the energy fun and focused.

BONUS: Targeting More Than Just Math

This resource is sneakily working on other skills too:

Fine motor strength (rolling and shaping dough)
Visual-spatial awareness (placing items in a grid)
Following directions and task initiation
Sensory input regulation (for students who benefit from tactile tasks)

So it’s not just math, it’s a whole sensory-rich learning experience in one simple mat!

Where to Download This Freebie

Get this resource and over 200 others for free by joining up to my (FREE) resource library.
If you’re already a member of the free resource library, just log in here and download your resource.

Wrap-Up: A Simple, Fun, and Effective Shark Week Activity

Whether you’re planning a full-blown Shark Week celebration or just want a quick and engaging math station, these Shark Ten Frame Dough Mats are a no-fuss way to bring joy and learning together.

They’re:

Easy to prep
Great for early math skills
A sensory and fine motor dream
Totally free!

I hope your students have as much fun feeding their sharks as mine always do, and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram if you use them in your classroom. I LOVE seeing your little learners in action!

Download Now

Get this resource and over 200 others for free by joining up to my (FREE) resource library.
If you’re already a member of the free resource library, just log in here and download your resource.

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