Math Games

If you had asked me if I loved math in middle school, high school, or even college I would have laughed  and responded with a big NO. If it wasn't memorizing a formula or facts I struggled. It wasn't until my oldest daughter entered Kindergarten ( I was room mom) and watched how she was learning number sense. Tens frames and base ten blocks, hands-on learning!! I took what she was learning (and teaching me) to my preK classroom and it sparked joy and creativity in me! I LOVE creating new math games. What I love most I think is how easy they are to differentiate for my students. I can change out the manipulatives or counting cards, I can use one dice with dots or numerals, I can add an extra dice and have them build numbers....there are endless possibilities!

Below I've added some pictures of some of the math games I have created and implemented in my classroom. Many have similar learning goals, I just simply change the materials with the seasons or topics.

 Counting Stews are an activity I heard alot about on preschool Facebook groups. I decided to create some of my own. Color stews, shape stews, fall stews, Bumblebee stews, etc. They are so easy and so much fun! The student grab a "recipe" card and count out the number of items it calls for. Once their pot is full they use a wooden spoon and stir it up (sing a silly song to add to the fun). They are working on number identification and one to one correspondence. You can make it more challenging by asking students to add up all their pieces together or see happens as you remove an "ingredient"

 Counting games can come in a variety of forms. Helping students subsidize  numbers, identify numerals, and manipulate numbers help them build their overall number sense (understanding on numbers and how they work). These games can easily be changed with seasons using things like googly eyes, small erasers, or seasonal cards. Dice are always fun for kids to use and again, you can make it more of a challenge by adding an extra dice.

 Patterns are a lot of fun for kids to explore. The first pattern game is used by collecting different colored baby food pouches lids! (great way to reduce, reuse, and recycle!) The second game uses ice cube trays,, unifix cubes, and pattern cards.

The possibilities with math games are endless! Helping children learn and understand numbers even as young as age four, will help them build confidence in themselves as future mathematicians!