Numeral recognition is an important skill that many early childhood students begin to gain in their pre-school years. Some however, will enter the formal years not knowing the single digit names, and will need to develop confidence and familiarity with them before making sense of 2-digit numbers. Games are a great way of providing students with enjoyable opportunities to play with numbers and to build the important skills of reading both single and two-digit numerals. Having a range of different card and board activities available within the classroom allows students to play every day and still maintain enthusiasm for the task, as lots of different games will be selected and become favourites.
Instructions for Preparation:
Each activity needs to be printed, cut and stored for easy useage in the classroom. Most of these games are best printed in colour to maintain their attractive designs, but if this is a problem, try printing different pages onto coloured card to make them more attractive to the users. Cards also feel great when they are laminated, and this can make a difference to the appeal of some games.
Suggestions for Classroom Use:
Try to prepare a few different games teaching the same concepts, so that your students have a nice choice each day and don't find it boring. I have found between 5 and 10 different types of games on the same concept (with students working at 3 or 4 different levels of understanding), has kept a class of prep students very engaged and excited about daily maths lessons! It does take a little while to establish your collection, but it's really worth it once you have a range of resources, and planning and preparation for lessons in the future is made so much easier.
A number and probability game for the whole class to play in teams. Printing onto coloured card makes for a visually appealing game.
Goals: Recognising and reading numerals to 35; recognising the order of numerals; making reasonable guesses using known factors; skip counting by 2s, 5s or 10s.
A game with one board that is shared, and a set of cards that must be placed into the correct category. A poster that reminds students of the rules about odd and even is included.
A game with one board that is shared, and a set of cards that must be placed into the correct category. A poster that reminds students of the rules about odd and even is included.
Two sets of instructions: One game is to reinforce recognition of 3 digit numerals; the other is to practise ordering the numerals -highest and lowest / greater and lesser numbers.
Two sets of instructions: One game is to reinforce recognition of 3 digit numerals; the other is to practise ordering the numerals -highest and lowest / greater and lesser numbers.
A set of cards with numerals 1-10 on the trunks of the trees, and 'apples' to match in the top of each tree. Can be used as a matching activity or as a 'Memory' Game.
A set of cards with numerals 1-10 on birthday cards, and 'candles' on 'birthday cakes'. This is a matching activity with some boards to help emergent learners match the numerals and groups.
Players say the number shown as they take a card, or follow the instruction on the special cards.
Print 1 or 2 extra copies of each of the number pages to make enough cards for this game. There are 12 special instruction cards. With 1 extra copy, the ratio of special cards to number cards will be 1 to 4; With 2 extra copies, it will be 1 to 6.
Players state what fraction is shown on the card they have taken. Keep taking cards until a card with a whole shape is taken, then the next player has a turn.
Players must work out what the lowest equivalent fraction is (a whole, a quarter, a third or a half). There are 20 cards to use with this game, and they show either the numerical fractions or the words so players become familiar with both.
Play with dots or numeral puzzle pieces depending upon the needs of students. Six different boards are included, which are cut to make puzzle pieces. Students roll the die to collect the pieces.
Play with dots or numeral puzzle pieces depending upon the needs of students. Six different boards are included, which are cut to make puzzle pieces. Students roll the die to collect the pieces. Print onto coloured cards.
Play with dots or numeral puzzle pieces depending upon the needs of students. Six different boards are included, which are cut to make puzzle pieces. Students roll the die to collect the pieces. Print onto coloured cards.
A board game to develop automatic recall of the numerals 0-10. Visual support for students who don't yet recognise the numerals is provided on the calling cards.
A board game to develop automatic recall of the teen numbers. Instructions for three games are included, that allow players to explore "1 more" and "1 less" than each numeral on the boards.
Practise reading numerals 11-20. Count a group of objects to 30.
Cut the cards so there is a cake and a numeral on each card.
Cake Shop Cards (0-10)
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the card is a special card, they follow those instructions (miss a turn, free turn, take a card). If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most number cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning. Cake Shop Cards (11-20) Cake Shop Cards (20-50)
Practise reading and understanding the value of numbers to 100.
Train Track and Xylophone Numbers 1-6 Free resource Each player has a board & small counters. Take turns to roll a 1-6 die & place that number of counters on the appropriate number.
Cut the board in half to make 2 different games. Print several copies for groups of students to play together.
Train Track and Xylophone Numbers 1-10
Each player has a board & small counters. Take turns to roll a 1-10 die & place that number of counters on the appropriate number.
Cut the board in half to make 2 different games. Print several copies for groups of students to play together.
8 Ball Card Game (1-15)
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the card is a special card, they follow those instructions (miss a turn, free turn). If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most number cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning.
Donuts Card Game (1-20)
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the card is a special card, they follow those instructions (take a donut, free donut, end of the game). If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most number cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning.
Choose to play using dice with dots or numerals (1-6). Print 6 Teddy Boards, and 6 sets of Teddy pieces on different attractive coloured cards (make a set of pieces with dots and a set with numerals to cater for different levels of understanding). Play as a bingo game, and build the Teddy with each roll.
2-Digit Leaves Practise reading 2-digit numbers
Use: A deck of playing cards with 10s and picture cards removed; a set of same coloured counters for each player. Players take it in turns to take 2 cards and make a 2–digit number. They should say it aloud and place a counter on a leaf if their number matches one of the numbers on the board. The first player to place 3 of their counters on the board wins.
African Animals 50-100 Card Game A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most number cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning.
Use a 1-10 die and a container of small counters. Each player has their own colour. Take turns to roll, then say and cover the numeral rolled on each throw. The board and lines are shared, so there is some strategy involved as well.
(Print enlarged on A3 for a better sized board)
Fill a Line Board 1-6
Use a 1-6 die and a container of small counters. Each player has their own colour. Take turns to roll, then say and cover the numeral rolled on each throw. The board and lines are shared, so there is some strategy involved as well.
Robot Numbers 0-10
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most number cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning.
First player keeps taking cards and reading the numerals aloud until they draw a Yum! card. Then play passes to the next player. At the end of play, count how many numeral cards you have.
(40 numeral cards; 20 Yum! cards)
Ocean Life Numbers Card Game (20-59)
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning. Special instruction cards are included to add interest.
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning. Special instruction cards are included to add interest.
A card game where players take turns to pull cards from the container and state aloud what the numeral is. If the numeral is read correctly, the player keeps it. The player with the most number cards at the end of the game is the winner.
This game provides lots of repetition with the numerals students are learning.
Special instruction cards are included to add interest.
Dragon Dice Roll Game
Doggy Dice Roll Game
Kittycat Dice Roll Game
Car Race 1-10 Game
Snowmen 1-10 Game
Mailboxes 11-20 Game
Horse Race 11-20 Game
Firefighters 11-20 Game
Bus Stops 11-20 Game
Sailboats 1-10 Game
Trucks 1-10 Game
Number Bingo
Teen Bingo
Garden Bugs Game 
Double Digit In-Betweens
