I have made up a few games to aid in number recognition skills that my class LOVES! I want to share them with you because they are cheap, easy, and enjoyable… and they work to teach children their numbers 0-100.
Number Recognition Game- SMASH
This game was my creation and may sound complicated, but it is easy once you play.
I bought a pack of Trend 1-100 flashcards cards at a school supply store since they are thick and durable.
They have lasted several years. You can buy or make your own. I wrote on my cards using the 25s as special cards.
To begin, I start by teaching my kids one number a day during calendar time. I show them each number card each day. We also talk about skip counting by 5’s. This is the key. Once we get to the number 10, we start to play.
1. Mix cards.
2. All students stand up. I start in the same spot and give each child a chance to tell me the number on the card. If they are correct, they stay up. If they are wrong, they sit.
3. Go to the next card and the next student. If a student gets the SMASH card or a number that is a skip count by 5’s, the NEXT student sits, even though they did nothing wrong. (This is the variable to ensure the same kid can’t win each time. It is also good practice for losing.) It is fun for the WHOLE class to say “SMASH” when this happens.
4. Continue on with the game, reusing cards when the pile has only a few cards in it.
5. Students can get saved with 0, 25, 50, or 75. (This is good to keep interested in the game, even if you are sitting down, AND to learn 25s.)
6. The last student up, wins.
7. You can also allow the person who gets the number of the day to also be a winner. For example, today was the 83 day of school and we learned about the number 8. The person who gets card 83 automatically wins, although the game continues.
You can see me explain this game in the video HERE.
Number Recognition Game- Guess My Number
I didn’t create the game, but this is how I use it.
I buy two matching 100’s charts and laminate them whole.
(The one on the right was used LOTS last year,
so I decided to buy a new matching one (on the left) and cut up my old one.)
I like this chart because it is suitable for 6 and 9 confusion and shows odd and even numbers so well.
Here are the numbers in the storage bin.
(I also kept my old numbers from last year, so now I will have double them.
My number 100 was worn out because the kids LOVED it so much.
Plus, this keeps it more fun.)
(I also kept my old numbers from last year, so now I will have double them.
My number 100 was worn out because the kids LOVED it so much.
Plus, this keeps it more fun.)
I pull a number from the tub.
Each student gets to ask ONE yes or no question to find my number.
I use a dry-erase marker to cross out the numbers it is not on the whole 100 charts posted for all the kids to see.
(This age group needs a visual, but older kids could keep up with it on their own chart.)For example, if a student asks me,
“Does your number have a 3 in it?”
If it doesn’t, I answer with a yes or no, then I cross out the numbers that begin with a 3 and the numbers that end with a three.
I also add a tally mark to the top to count the guess made.
I mark a tally for double questions.
The student who figures out the number wins, and I show them the number I pulled.
If everyone guesses and no one gets it, I win. I usually allow the winner to erase the board.
YES- they love that job! Isn’t it funny!?!
If I win, I choose the student who asked the best question to erase.
Each student gets to ask ONE yes or no question to find my number.
I use a dry-erase marker to cross out the numbers it is not on the whole 100 charts posted for all the kids to see.
(This age group needs a visual, but older kids could keep up with it on their own chart.)For example, if a student asks me,
“Does your number have a 3 in it?”
If it doesn’t, I answer with a yes or no, then I cross out the numbers that begin with a 3 and the numbers that end with a three.
I also add a tally mark to the top to count the guess made.
I mark a tally for double questions.
The student who figures out the number wins, and I show them the number I pulled.
If everyone guesses and no one gets it, I win. I usually allow the winner to erase the board.
YES- they love that job! Isn’t it funny!?!
If I win, I choose the student who asked the best question to erase.
Number Recognition Game- 20 Questions
My latest set of number games includes this set of 20 Questions Numbers pack.
Hope these games help you!
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Live Love Laugh Everyday In Kindergarten
Love these games! Thanks for sharing!
Peace, Love and First Grade
Hi Mary,
I can’t wait to play SMASH with my kindergarten. I have a question about the directions. What is the SMASH card? Is it randomly assigned?
Thanks! Have a great day?
Every count by 5 number makes the next player SMASH. There is no actual SMASH card.