Counting and Matching Numbers Game

     Math has always been one of my favorite subjects to teach kids! I know a lot of kids, who love to play matching games. Brooklee, my 3 year old, loves to play these games. I definitely enjoy taking advantage of this interest. I have done this by adding a learning concept to the game. In this case, I have decided to let Brooklee count and match numbers.

 

I have made some matching cards with:
1) The actual number sitting on top (i.e. 5)
2) The written word of each number. (i.e. five)
3) I placed the correct number of stickers on the card (i.e. five stickers)

Of course; I made matches for each card, from 1-10. Making a total of twenty cards, in all.

Why did I go through all the trouble of adding the number, the written word, and stickers? I wanted my daughter to become familiar with the number, and written word for each number. I also wanted her to continually practice counting each number.

If you have never played a matching game, here are some real simple instructions to follow.
1) Lay out your cards face down.
2) Turn one card over, and  then pick another card to try to make a match.
3) If there is no match, turn the cards back over. (If there are multiple players, it's the next person's turn to play)
4) If a match has been made, the player gets another turn.
5) Repeat the same steps, until all of the matches have been made.

But... with my game:
You will want to lay out the cards face down. The player will turn over a card, but he or she will need to count and/or recognize the number written on the card. He or she will then flip over another card, and have to count and/or recognize what number is on that card. This player will then need to determine if their number cards match. If there is no match, he or she will need to place the cards face down again. Then it's the next person's turn. If a match has been made, the same player will get another turn. Repeat the same steps, until all of the matches have been made.

Below are the pictures from Brooklee and I playing our number matching game. As you can tell, the first picture is a match and the other is not.

I have more fun and exciting math games. If you are interested, you can click here to check them out.