Math Games with Flashcards for Early Elementary Education
Flash cards are a tool that have been used in classrooms for over 100 years. But the way that we use them has evolved. If you are from my generation, you knew it was going to be a good day when you went “Around the World.” But flashcards have a place in small group instruction and two-person games. In fact, math games with flashcards is a great tool for parents at home to practice number sense in base ten, addition, subtraction, and other math skills.
Different types of flashcards (such as dominoes, tally marks, addition sentences, numerals, and written form) can be used interchangeably to reinforce different ways to represent numbers. Subitizing (the skill of being able to determine “how many” by just looking) is an important skill for kindergarten and first grade students to learn!
Matching Games
Memory Match is a classic, but effective, game to play to reinforce number sense and place value concepts. Students begin to equate that a number can be the same even though it can be written or displayed many different ways.
For 2-3 Players: Turn 6-8 matches facedown on your playing surface. Players take turns turning two cards over at a time to try to find two matching values. If a match is found, that player gets to go again. If a match is not found, the next player gets to take a turn.
Try it out with these two free 1-10 decks! Numbers 1-20 Base Ten 1-10
“War” Comparison Game
The classic game of “war” is an excellent game for comparing the value of numbers. For the best success with war, insure that there are multiples of the same numbers. Different types of flashcards (such as dominoes, tally marks, addition sentences, numerals, and written form) can be used interchangeably to reinforce different ways to represent numbers.
(Teachers and parents may choose to avoid “war” situations by not including flashcards that are equal in value. Doing so leads to strictly comparing greater than and less than. However, there will not be a determined winner. Total play time for this type of play should be limited or timed to reduce student frustration of “never winning”.)
Find the full set of flashcards here!
Add It Up
Math problems just seem more fun when there is a little friendly competition involved! This is just a few suggestions on how to gamify three number addition for your first grader learner!
Take turns drawing a card and keep a running score on a separate piece of paper or white board. First person to a predetermined sum wins. (Alternatively, players may play a determined number of rounds and then total their points.)
Click here to find a three-round “Add It Up” worksheet! This download is FREE and perfect to laminate or put into pouches and use with dry erase markers! This keeps it fast paced and practices many different addition problems without the sums becoming to high.
Math games with flashcards can be played with these free decks: Numbers 1-20 Base Ten 1-10