Playing games is an engaging, developmentally appropriate way to support children's mathematical learning.
Games are motivating. In kindergarten and preschool math games provide meaningful contexts for children to apply mathematical ideas and skills while reducing the fear of failure and error, since children can always play again.
One of the most powerful things we have done in our classroom to help children enjoy math is to play math games. Because playing 'memory' with dot cards is fun, kids want to do this on their own, and I have seen their fluency with number composition—the idea that four can be one and three or two and two—increase.
Kinder and preschool math games can increase children's access to mathematics. Most games have few language barriers. And children operating at different levels of thinking can play together and learn from each other.
Another benefit of math games is how they can build home/school connections when families are encouraged to play games at home. Share the fun today!
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April 29, 2019
Here you can download cards and simple-to-learn game ideas to help young children build their understanding of early math concepts such as cardinality, composing and comparing numbers, and allowing them to subitize.
This bingo-like game allows children to think about numbers in different ways. It focuses children on the attribute of quantity of small sets and helps them build a more robust number sense.
This game played with a hula hoop and bean bags demonstrates all the math that can be explored with a simple tossing game. Each round gives children practice seeing and naming smaller parts of a…
Halla Jmourko discusses two innovative instructional tools for integrating language and math concepts in the classroom, The Cubing Game and Three Way Tie.
Creating grid games from classroom materials can be a great opportunity for fun and mathematical discussions involving small sets.
Grid games can be some of the earliest experiences children have with board games. And they can be both fun and mathematical.
Instructor Lisa Ginet explains how to make tangram puzzles, an ancient Chinese game made from seven shapes cut from a square. Over 6500 different arrangements can be made from these seven simple shapes!
A quick matching game with dot cards is a fun way for preschoolers to practice recognizing small sets without counting.
The sessions included an overview of foundational math concepts as well as hands-on early math games and activities for the classroom.
A Chicago-area library used the Collaborative's Foundational Math Concepts to create math fun, games, and activities.