Have you ever thought about how often we play subitizing games in the real world? Last night I was playing a board game with my daughter, and I realized how many games we have in our home that could be used in the classroom to support number sense! I couldn’t wait to jump on here and share some of the ideas running through my head once I started thinking about it! 🤣
Math can be a lot of fun when you incorporate games into your lessons. One of the most important aspects of math is building number sense, and subitizing is a great way to do that. Subitizing is the ability to quickly recognize the quantity of a set of objects without actually counting them.
Here are five exciting subitizing games that your students will love:
By incorporating these games into your lessons, you can help your students build their number sense skills while having fun at the same time. Happy teaching!
Subitizing War: Number Sense Games for Kindergarten
My students would play Subitizing War all day if I let them. Have students draw a card with a subitizing pattern and then race to see who can correctly identify the quantity of objects on the card the fastest. The person with the largest quantity is the winner.
Subitizing Bingo: The Most Valuable Player of Subitizing Games
Subitizing Bingo was voted the best math center last year. Students loved taking turns spinning the spinner and covering up the quantities. To play, students will spin the spinner and then cover up the picture that shows that quantity. You can grab this set of BINGO cards here!
Roll and Cover: Subitizing Games in Small Group
Roll and Cover is an easy and low-prep game that can be used to teach many concepts. Students roll a die and then cover the corresponding subitizing pattern on their game board.
Subitizing Games: Memory Match
Memory Match is one of my favorite math centers. Once I teach the rules, students are able to play this game in partner groups. Create a memory match game with subitizing patterns (or grab one here) with different representations of each quantity. Students will use their knowledge of numbers to match the quantities.
Write the Room
Write the Room has a permanent place in my weekly lesson plans. Tiny people need lots of opportunities to move; this activity gives them an engaging and meaningful way to do it. In this subitizing version, different representations are posted around the room, and students move around the room to record their answers on the recording sheet.
Developing Number Sense with Counting Activities
Okay, so picture this – counting during snack time, playtime, and even when you tidy up the classroom! Yep, that’s how you connect numbers to their everyday lives, making math more relatable and useful for the kiddos. When they see that numbers are everywhere, from the number of cookies they have to the crayons they use, they’ll start to understand that math is a part of their world. It’s like they’re little math detectives exploring the mysteries of numbers!
Hands-on Math Activities for Kindergarten
We all know how much kindergarteners love playing with toys, right? Math manipulatives are the perfect tools to help students develop number sense because they see them as tiny toys! Try using colorful objects like counting cubes, linking chains, and number cards to teach math. These cool manipulatives help them understand tricky math concepts more concretely. When they can touch and feel the numbers, it’s like magic – suddenly, addition and subtraction don’t seem as daunting! It’s learning disguised as play!
Math Games for Kindergarten Classrooms
I am a firm believer in using games in my classroom. “Number Bingo,” “Counting Relay,” and “Shape Scavenger Hunt” – these games will have the kids giggling and learning at the same time. You’ll see their eyes light up with excitement as they compete and collaborate with their friends to solve math challenges. And the best part? They won’t even realize they’re doing math because it’s just so much fun! It’s like a secret math party in the classroom! Do you need some ideas? Check out the link to this blog post here. (link to games in classroom blog post) You can also grab some pre-made math games and activities here. ( link to math centers)
Counting Games for Kindergarten
Do you know what’s awesome? Teamwork! Research shows that students learn faster by teaching others. Place your students into partnerships or small groups, and give them some counting games. Not only will they begin to develop number sense, but they’ll also pick up some crucial social skills along the way. Working together fosters communication skills, sharing of ideas, and how to support each other academically. It’s like a math party where everyone’s invited, and the friendships they build will last way beyond kindergarten!
Keep Track of Progress
Don’t forget to keep an eye on how they’re doing. Observe them casually, and jot down some anecdotal notes to track how they’re rocking those numbers. It’ll help you personalize their learning experience and keep the momentum of their growth. By monitoring their progress s, you’ll know which areas they need more help with and which areas they excel in. This will allow you to mix up their partnership groupings to differentiate, and they’ll feel like math superstars with you as their guide!
With these seven tips, you’re all set to create a magical math wonderland in your classroom! Embrace the fun, be creative, and let the kids discover the joy of numbers. You’ve got this! Happy t aching and high- fives all around! 🎉
Grab these subitizing games for your classroom!
Other math resources you might like!
- Kindergarten Math Centers
- 5 Things You Need to Know About Kindergarten Number Sense: Easy and Engaging!
- Fun Fall Activities
Michelle Staley
Hi! I’m Michelle!
I am a first-grade teacher from Connecticut. I’m living my best life as a wife and mom to two adorable and hilarious kids. In my spare time, I create resources that make life simpler for teachers and school fun for kids. Thanks for spending some of your valuable free time here with us!
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