BEYOND COUNTING: ENHANCING NUMBER SENSE AND EARLY MATHEMATICAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH STORYTELLING AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

Building strong numeracy skills in kindergarten goes beyond memorizing numbers; it requires meaningful, engaging, and hands-on learning experiences. This study, titled “Beyond Counting: Enhancing Number Sense and Early Mathematical Understanding Through Storytelling and Hands-On Activities,” examines the potential of integrating storytelling and interactive activities to strengthen foundational mathematical competencies among 11 kindergarten learners at Galintuja Elementary School. Employing a quantitative preexperimental research design using a one-group pretest–posttest approach, the study focuses on number recognition, counting skills, number sequencing, number–quantity correspondence, and quantity comparison. The intervention combines mathematical storytelling, counting games, manipulatives, and interactive exercises to make learning more relatable and enjoyable. Simulated results demonstrate an increase in the overall mean score from 19.36 in the pretest to 41.73 in the posttest, indicating potential improvements across the assessed competencies. However, these figures are hypothetical and require validation through actual classroom data. The study highlights the potential of transforming traditional numeracy instruction into an engaging, learner-centered experience that connects mathematical concepts with real-life situations. Its proposed findings may guide teachers in developing creative, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate instructional strategies that encourage active participation, strengthen mathematical understanding, and build confidence among young learners while supporting future classroom-based intervention research