Pre-K and Kindergarten Family Math Night Games

Memory Match (Concentration) (5-7 years) 2 players Materials: Twelve dot cards, consisting of six pairs of cards showing two different arrangements of a particular number of dots, from 1 to 6 dots.  Rules: Spread all the cards out face down. The first player turns over any two cards. If they are a pair (i.e. have the same number of dots), the player removes the cards and scores a point. If they are not a pair, both cards are turned back down in their places. The second player then turns over two cards and so on. When all the cards have been matched, the player with more pairs wins. Variations/Extensions 1. Increase the number of pairs of cards used. 2. Use a greater number of dots on the cards. 3. Pair a dot card with a numeral card.

Colored Cereal Counting 1 player Materials: Colored “o” cereal, mat labeled with colors at top. Rules: Take a bowl of colored “O” shaped cereal. Sort the cereal by color and place under correct category. When all cereal is sorted, count how many are under each color. Return to bowl when finished.

Egg Carton Counting 1 player Materials: Empty egg carton; beans or counters; number cards Rules: Draw a card. Place it face up. Say the name of the number aloud. Count the number of beans/counters putting one in each egg carton cup until you reach the number on the card.

Number ID Game with Dice Any number of players Materials: Dice, Number Cards, beans/pasta/counters Rules: Roll the dice. Count the dots. Find the matching numeral. Cover the numeral. Continue until all numbers have been covered. Variation of this game is to provide your child with counters, like buttons, dry pasta, or large bolts and have him roll the dice and count the dots, then count the same number of counters to place on top of the matching numeral.

Name it to Claim it Players: 1 child and 1 adult Materials: Number Cards 1-100 Rules: One student plays this game with one adult. The adult shows a number to the student. If he/she can name it, it goes in his/her “win” pile. If the student cannot name it, the adult names it for the student and then puts it in the “2nd chance” pile again.

After & before Players: The more the better Materials: Number cards Rules: One student picks a card (or two cards if working on 2 digit numbers, etc.) shows them to student on the left, and says 1 after (or 2 after or 1 before, whatever you choose, or it could be student choice). Students tell the number that is 1 after (etc.) and picks a card and repeats the play. Continue until all students have had a turn.

Ten in a Row Players: 2 Materials: Playing Cards (J-K removed) Object: Sequence cards 1-10 in order. Rules: Each player gets 10 cards and lays them face down in a row. The remaining cards are placed in a face-down pile in the middle of the table. The first player draws a card from the deck and replaces a card in his or her row of 10 by placing the drawn card face-up in the correct position in the row. The replaced card is turned up and is used to replace another face-down card if possible. Play continues until a space is not available. The card not able to be played begins a face-up discard pile. Players take turns either drawing a new card or using the top card of the discard pile to replace cards in his or her row. The first plater to replace all of his/her cards is the winner.

Plus Players: 2 Materials: Playing cards (10-K removed) Object: Collect cards by counting on 1, 2, or 3 mentally. Rules: Choose one “plus” card (1,2,or 3) from the deck and place it face-up next to the rest of the deck placed face down. The first player turns over the top card and place it next to the “plus” card, The first player states the addition fact, e.g. 6 plus 1 is 7. The second player turns over the card and states the addition fact. When the addition face is a double (2+2, 4+4, etc.) the player who turned over the card gets to keep the stack of cards, leaving the “plus” card for further play. Play continues until the deck is gone. The winner has the most cards.

Battle (War) Players: 2 or more Materials: Playing Cards (J-K removed) Rules: Remove the face cards from the deck Split the deck in half. Each player turns over a card at the same time. Read out your number. The person with the highest number wills all the cards! If you put down the same number card you battle! Place 2 cards face down and then turn over the 3rd. Highest number takes all. Variation: Play where the lowest number wins!