Identify numbers games

10 Number Recognition Games

Number recognition is a key skill to learn during the early years, and there are many ways in which you can encourage this in your early years setting. We’ve already explored activities to support the development of numeracy skills in general; in this article we’ll concentrate specifically on helping children to learn their numbers.

When planning number recognition activities, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• Make sure you have plenty of relevant resources available (e.g. number beads, blocks, stickers, cutters, stamps etc.), as well as visual cues (e.g. posters on the walls).
• As well as using numerals it’s also helpful to look at other representations of numbers with the children, including words and tallies.
• Try to make number activities fun in order to nurture a positive approach to maths.

Draw lots of chalk circles on the ground outside, with a number inside each (1 to 5 or 1 to 10, depending on how much space you have), distributing them evenly so that you end up with several 1s in circles, several 2s in circles, and so on (make sure you have enough for each child playing the game). Call out a number and each child has to find a circle (bubble) with that number and stand in it. Make it more fun by blowing bubbles over the children in between each round.

Take a small group of children out for a walk around the neighbourhood – or perhaps combine it with a visit to the local park – hunting for numbers along the way. There should be plenty of opportunities for number spotting, for example on front doors, gates, buses, cars, posters etc. Get the children to call them out when they see them.

A number hunt is a great way for children to practice number recognition outside your setting

Make your own giant dot-to-dot in the playground, by chalking numbers on the ground that the children have to connect in the right order to make a shape or picture. For younger children stick to simple shapes using fewer numbers; for older children you can make it a bit more difficult.

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4. Conker count

Go to the park and collect some conkers. Back at the nursery, draw the numbers 1 to 10 on the ground in a row with chalk, using both numerals and words, and get the children to line up the right number of conkers underneath each one. (Obviously outside conker season there are plenty of other objects you could use for this activity, eg petals, leaves or items from inside.)

Take a sheet of card and make a grid of six squares, labelling them 1 to 6 using both numerals and words. Roll a die and keep a tally in the squares of how many times each number comes up. Children could do this individually, each with their own separate grids, or in pairs or small groups using the same grid but their own dice. You could turn it into more of a game by adding a competitive element.

Recognising and tallying the numbers rolled on dice is another good skill to develop

This is a musical variation of the bubble game. Lay out some foam number tiles on the floor, making sure you have plenty for all of the children playing (if you don’t have foam tiles, make your own using some card but tape them down so that they don’t slip). Play some music and get the children to dance around; when the music stops, call out a number and they have to jump onto a corresponding tile.

Using some number shape cutters, make some sets of number biscuits with the children and then use squeezy icing to stick the right number of decorations onto each biscuit (e.g. eight raisins on the number 8, three raspberries on the number 3 etc).

Help the children make biscuits with different numbers of decorations, counting them out as you put them on

Here are a couple of ideas for throwing games to help with number recognition. One is to get a set of buckets and label them 1 to 5 (or 1 to 10), then the children have to try and throw the right number of beanbags into each; another is to use a target mat and the children have to try and land the right number of beanbags in each numbered segment.

For this activity you’ll need ten paper plates, some coloured pens and some coloured beads. Write the numbers 1 to 10 on the plates, using a different colour for each number. Get the children to put the right number of beads onto each plate; this works particularly well using coloured beads that correspond with the colours used to write the numbers, as it gives the children a strong visual cue.

There are lots of ways in which you can incorporate number recognition into craft activities. One idea is to draw some outlines of ladybirds on a piece of paper, then number them and get the children to add the right number of spots to each. A couple of variations on this include drawing birds and sticking on tail feathers, or drawing monsters and sticking on googly eyes.

One option for a number craft is sticking the correct amount of spots on a ladybird

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Number Sense Games for Kids Online

The idea that kids are uncomfortable with numbers is a myth. A lot of it actually depends on how they are exposed to the world of mathematics. Kids develop number sense gradually and with practice.

To understand numbers better, kids need to visualize them in multiple contexts. When students are able to take the numbers outside of their textbooks and apply them in real-life scenarios, their understanding becomes concrete. Math games for number sense accelerate this process by providing children with an interactive environment and using cases that they can connect with.

Number recognition games, number sequence games, counting games, writing numbers games, skip counting games, place value games, etc. can help improve your child’s understanding of numbers greatly.

Some other math games that you can explore are: addition games, fraction games, decimal games, geometry games, measurement games, algebra games, etc.

Number sense is a concept that some people can find challenging to define. In today's time, children are exposed to a variety of concepts and activities that help them develop more clarity.

Number sense includes knowing the relationship between the number and the quantity, understanding the concept of more or less, and larger than and smaller than, understanding the order of numbers in a list and identifying if there are any missing numbers, understanding symbols and number vocabulary. Number sense math games for kids can be used to introduce and teach number sense related concepts in a way so that children can have absolute mastery over the subject.

Number sense can be made fun for kids by using gamified learning tools. These tools enhance the learning experience by making it more immersive and relatable. Through math games for number sense, children are encouraged to practice number sense using real-life situations in order to have a more practical knowledge of the concept.

Number sense math games for kids help students to deepen their understanding of number sense. They help children to identify and recognize numbers, count and compare objects, sequence numbers, compose and decompose numbers, recognize patterns, match numbers and use math operations like addition and subtraction to enhance their number sense skills. 

Several times, parents may not be as comfortable with number sense and may lack the teaching methods to help their kids develop this skill. This is where gamification can make a considerable difference. Interesting online games can help your child develop a natural liking for the subject. Number sense games are wonderful to learn and practice the concept of number sense with ease.

In the absence of number sense, kids tend to rely on lengthy procedures and can get unnerved when they see a new problem. They are also unable to figure out if their answer is reasonable and logical or not. In such scenarios, there are high chances they may start disliking math. Learning numbers games can be used to teach and develop a strong number sense.  They can help children become more comfortable with numbers, their relationships, and calculations.

Number sense math games can be used to teach your child the concept of number sense. They help children visualize numbers in different contexts and make your child comfortable with numbers and their values. Online number sense games gently take kids out of their comfort zones only to make them more confident in their mathematical skills. They make practicing number sense easy while making learning fun and enjoyable.

Online games help students to apply the concepts of number sense better. Children need considerable practice to become comfortable with number sense, spotting patterns, and predicting outcomes. Math games for number sense help in building these skills with ease. As kids move across levels, their learning gets reinforced. These games provide a platform for children to explore numbers at a pace they’re comfortable with.

Math activities to practice number sense may include counting and grouping a set of objects, using a number chart or flashcards, solving number puzzles, building numbers using ten-frames, etc.

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Outdoor games for schoolchildren

Currently, we can state the formation of stable negative trends in the dynamics of the health status of modern schoolchildren. The incidence is growing, the physical development of children in this age group is deteriorating. Up to 60% of schoolchildren can no longer go in for sports for health reasons. One of the reasons for this situation is a sedentary lifestyle, a lack of physical activity.

Outdoor games are a serious and affordable help in solving the problem of children's physical health.

Outdoor play is one of the essential needs of a growing child and adolescent.

The game implements the active development of the muscular system, the release of accumulated energy, ingenuity and dexterity.

The result of an outdoor game for children is not only to win, although this is important, but also to feel the joy of movement, physical effort when overcoming various obstacles in the game.

The attractiveness of outdoor games is in their competitive nature, in movement filled with some kind of meaning.

Small children especially love outdoor play. Boys and girls of elementary grades do not have a sharp difference in addictions. However, there are still some differences. So, girls are more fond of round dance games with rhythmic movements, boys have some advantage in playing for speed, with elements of wrestling, as well as in games with throwing a ball, bats, etc. at a target and at a distance.

Adolescents have the same interests in outdoor games, which is explained by the characteristics of a rapidly growing organism.

Each movement in the game serves as an expression of an inner feeling, as it were, the completion of a certain mood of the player. In outdoor games in children, movements are natural, uninhibited. That is why outdoor games are an important source of development.

Outdoor games can be of low, medium and high mobility, as well as multifaceted. Some games give a lot of stress to the legs - for example, such as "Classics", games with a skipping rope. Others develop the muscles of the hands - numerous games with the ball, bat, etc. Still others are universal: they “include in the work” the entire body of the child.

Child psychiatrists, faced with health problems, especially with mental disorders, make a diagnosis: "Children did not play enough in childhood." There is even such an expression - "playing dystrophy of children." There is a branch of medicine and psychology - game therapy. Play can diagnose and cognize a child, play can approve and encourage a child. With the help of the game, you can correct important mental properties in children, human personal qualities and simply delight children.

Game preparation

• When preparing the place for the game, it is necessary to check everything around so that nothing interferes with the participants and could not cause injury to them.

• Do not play on public roads. Ball games should be played away from windows, dustbins, clothes hung out to dry, flower beds and beds.

• You need to play honestly, together, following the established rules.

• Remember the law of all games: one for all, and all for one. Put the interests of the team ahead of your own.

• Don't get excited, show more imagination and ingenuity.

• Do not get angry if you are accidentally pushed or stepped on during the game.

• Play boldly, with initiative, coordinating actions with comrades.

• In order not to get tired of playing, offer and introduce new rules into the games, various game options.

• Starting the game, first discuss its entire course. A pre-planned game helps to assess your strengths, develops a sense of mutual assistance.

• Report to the team captain: he is the senior in the game.

• In games - fights, choose opponents who are equal in strength.

• Winning is not to be arrogant (because you can play better). Don't make fun of losers. Remember: in the game you are rivals, outside the game you are comrades.

• Do not lose heart after losing. Thank the winner and try to win in the next game.

• Respect and obey the referee's decision. Both the winners and the losers must be satisfied with the judge.

Protect your play equipment. Make sure that they are always in good condition and beautiful.

In order to avoid disputes and strife in the game, lots are thrown. One of the players, for example, holds a pebble in his fist, the other guesses which hand it is in. Guessed - it's true, the end of the argument.

1. Keep your back straight. There is such a game - a competition for good posture. Who can carry a bag of sand on his head 30 steps without dropping it?

2. Draw a gradually widening stream on the site. Jump over it, trying to jump over the widest point.

3. "We are grasshoppers." Draw different flowers on the playground (roses, daisies, bluebells, tulips, etc.). Jump like grasshoppers on both legs from flower to flower or jump over 1-2 flowers. Wherever you want.

4. Children run two by two along a flat track up to 30m long. Whoever runs to the finish line sooner wins. You can run by jumping over a short rope, hitting the ground with a volleyball or small ball with your hand, driving a puck or kicking a ball with a stick.

5. Owl. One of the players - "owl" (leader) is in a small circle - in the "nest". The rest freely run and jump, depicting bugs, butterflies, frogs. At the words of the leader: “The night is coming!” everyone stops, and the "owl" flies out to hunt. Noticing a moving player, the owl takes him by the hand and takes him to his nest. The leader says, “Day!” and everyone starts moving again. After 3-4 repetitions, a new owl is assigned. The most dexterous and cautious are the players who have never hit the nest.

Rules: 1. Owl has no right to watch the same player for a long time. 2. You can’t escape from the owl. 3. If the leader says the word "day" before the owl notices the player moving, then she flies into the nest alone, without prey.

6. Each of the players is in his own small circle - "home". The driver invites the players one by one for a walk - to leave his house. As soon as the driver shouts: "It's raining!", Everyone runs to occupy any free circle. The player left without a circle leads.

7. Everyone, except the leader, is threaded through the collar along the ribbon, the one left without the ribbon becomes the leader. The driver, having caught up with the runaway, pulls out a ribbon from him and threads it through his collar. The player left without a ribbon becomes a tag.

8. "3 bears". 3 players - “bears” climb “to eat honey on trees” (they stand on benches, stumps located in different places). Players arrive - "bees" and try to "sting" (sting) the bears. They run away to their "dens" (circles drawn on the ground). A bee cannot sting in a bear's den. A bear stung more than 3 times is out of the game.

9. The leader is holding a dove made of paper. The players stand behind the line in front of the leader, who loudly commands: “March!” and launches the dove forward. Players quickly run forward and try to catch a dove in flight. The player who catches the dove wins and goes to drive.

10. Players stand near one (common) line. Each of them has a paper airplane in their hands. On a signal, the players launch their planes towards the "landing area" (a circle drawn 20-25 steps from the common line) and run after them until they fall to the ground. Each player picks up their plane and launches it again. Whose plane reaches the landing site first, he will win.

11. Wolf in the Forest . The driver - the "wolf" should hide behind a tree or bush. The guys run around the site and shout: "I'm not afraid of the wolf!". The wolf waits, jumps out of its hiding place at a convenient moment and tries to catch up with one of the guys. Each player has a bunch of grass in their hand. When the player feels that the drag is about to grab them, they can throw the grass on the ground and yell "Your grass, wolf!". The wolf must pick up the grass. In the meantime, he does this, the pursued runs away. You can only throw grass once. The player caught by the wolf is out of the game. Maybe 2 wolves. The last player caught becomes the wolf in the next game.

12. Lifesaver. One of the players, with his eyes closed, stands by the magic wand and loudly but slowly counts up to 20. At this time, the rest of the players scatter and hide. After finishing the count, the driver opens his eyes, knocks with a wand and says: “The wand came, did not find anyone,” and goes to look for the hidden players, leaving the wand in place. Noticing the first of them, he loudly says: “ Found the magic wand” (calling the name of the one found) - and runs to the wand. The found player also runs towards the wand. If he runs first and has time to say: “Wand help me out!” then it is considered rescued, if it is late, it leaves the game. The driver tries to find all those hiding and take them out of the game.

13. “12 sticks. The leader kicks the free end of the plank with his foot and 12 sticks, laid on the other end, scatter in different directions. While the leader collects the sticks and puts them back on the edge of the board, all players hide. Then the driver goes to look for the hidden players. At this time, anyone can run out from behind cover, kick the board and shout: “Air!”. Then the driver collects the sticks again, and everyone hides again. If the driver noticed one of the hidden players, he calls his name, runs to the board, hits it, shouts: “Air!” and hides, and the discovered player becomes the driver, and now he has to collect the scattered sticks and look for the hidden players.

14. It is necessary to throw the ball high, high. Who catches from the summer, he now throws. No one managed to catch - again, as before, throw! Whoever throws the ball more often wins!

15. Round shoe. Players of one team are on both sides of the court and salute the ball to the players of the other team running in the middle of the field. The offending player is out of the game. After all the players have been defeated, the teams change places.

16. Players run around the court, throw the ball to each other and try not to get it into the hands of the driver. As soon as the driver catches the ball, he says loudly: “Stop!” - and throws the ball at one of the players. The salted player goes to lead. The ball flies past - the driver remains the same.

17. Each of the players stand in one of the drawn small circles arranged in a circle. The leader commands: "For a walk!". Everyone leaves the circles inside a large circle and takes a leisurely walk (you can listen to a song you have learned). At the command of the head: "To new places!" the players run, and each of them tries to take a new circle. The last player to place is the loser.

18. Gather 10 spruce cones. Place a bullseye target on the stump. Try to hit the bull's-eye with spruce cones. Whoever knocks down the bullseye with fewer throws wins.

19. Plant a capercaillie made of rags on a high branch. Take turns "shoot" at the capercaillie (throw 3 cones). The one who knocked down the capercaillie is the most accurate hunter! Plant the capercaillie on the branch again. The game continues.

20. Fifteen (tags). One of the players - the leader (tag) picks up a bright handkerchief (a piece of cloth or ribbon) and stands in the middle of the court before the start of the game. The rest of the players take any places on it. At a predetermined signal, the driver raises his hand with a handkerchief up and shouts loudly: "I'm a tag!". After that, the driver tries to catch up with one of the players and touch with his hand (feel). The player, whom the driver taunted, becomes a tag, a handkerchief is handed over to him. The former driver joins the game and, along with the rest of the children, runs and dodges the new tag.

Rules: 1. The player who is touched by the handkerchief must, before catching up with others, raise his hand with the handkerchief up and shout loudly: "I am a tag." 2. The new tag is not allowed to immediately touch the previous driver, who has just handed over the handkerchief, with his hand.

You can play tag in different ways:

a) On one of the sides of the playground, you can draw a circle with a diameter of 1m. This is the "home" for players to rest. In the house, the driver does not have the right to salt the players. You can't stay in the house for a long time.

b) The site can be divided into 2, 3 or even 4 sections. For each of them, one tag is selected, which can only run within its own area. The rest of the players have the right to run around the court. On each site, one circle can be marked - this is a rest house for players who are tired of running. The player who was touched by the tag becomes the driver in the area where he was touched.

c) 2 drivers are selected who have the right to run around the entire site. In this case, the site is not divided into sections, but 3-4 places for players to rest are allocated on its different sides.

d) Triple tags: the new tag becomes the player who was touched by the previous driver 3 times in a row, counting: “One, two, three”.

e) Squat Fifteen: the hand of a player who is crouched must not be touched.

e) Spots on one leg: A player standing on one leg and holding the other bent leg with both hands must not be touched by the hand.

g) Spots from the ground: the player who does not touch the ground with his feet is safe (stood on a bench, stump, tree root, etc.).

h) Fifteen with revenue: if one of the players runs between the runner and the driver, then the fifteen must catch the player who crossed the road. Another option: you can escape from the tag by holding hands with one of the players.

i) Fifteen - notes: the player who touches a wooden, iron, stone (depending on the condition) object (bench, door handle, stone wall, etc.) with his hand is safe.

j) Fifteen Christmas trees : you can not salt those players who stood with their backs to each other and spread their arms to the sides and slightly down, depicting a Christmas tree.

21. Burners. Players become pairs one after another, and the driver is in front of them. He needs to be on the lookout. As soon as the guys finish reading the rhyme aloud, the first couple separates their hands and runs forward to reconnect. The driver must have time to catch one of the players, otherwise he will have to drive again. With the one who is caught by the driver, he becomes a couple behind everyone. The other player from the pair becomes the leader.

S.Ya. Marshak wrote the following counting rhyme for the game of burners:

If you shod,

Wolves will not find a hare,

will not find you a bear,

Come to burn you,

You burn!

22. "Icicles". A circle with a diameter of 3 m is drawn on a trampled snow area. In the center of the circle, a hole is made with

sloping walls, into which several pieces of ice the size of an apple are placed. The driver, being in a circle, guards the ice. The rest of the players try to kick the ice first out of the hole, then out of the circle. But this is not easy to do. The driver tries to touch (salt) with his hand those who penetrate the circle. Defeated players are out of the game. The driver wins if he takes everyone out of the game and does not allow the ice to be pushed out of the circle. If the attackers free the circle from the ice, then they are considered winners and the former player remains to drive.

Find a regularity and continue the series - mathematical regularities

A regularity is a regular stable relationship in the quantities, properties and phenomena of objects. In a mathematical pattern, you need to find an algorithm according to which in a chain of numbers they are repeated, changed or replaced in accordance with the established rule.

What is the meaning of the game?

Games of this kind develop the ability to identify patterns in a series of elements. To do this, you first need to carefully consider the task: compare neighboring objects and try to determine the rule of regularity.

You can solve the problem with the help of a simple calculation, generalization on some basis, or a simple analysis of a picture, text or diagram.

How to teach a child to find patterns?

Little children need only ingenuity and imagination to solve problems in search of patterns. It is enough just to explain how you can establish a pattern between the links of the series. If the problem cannot be solved, then instead of direct prompts, additional questions should be asked without revealing the solution of the problem in full.

In any case, it will be more useful if a child solves at least one problem on his own than an adult simply tells how to solve it.

Consider ways to help your child understand patterns and sequences in tasks.

Instructions for solving number sequences :

• Find the difference between two adjacent numbers
• Define sequence construction algorithm
• Apply the algorithm to the next pair of numbers
• Use an algorithm to determine the next number in a row

Instructions for finding patterns in tasks with geometric shapes:

• Examine the shapes and divide them into repeating groups
• Determine which element has changed in group
• Decide which piece is missing or redundant.

Assignment 1

Color the tracks for the bunny and squirrel, keeping the pattern.

Solution: A squirrel and a bunny run along different paths. Each track has its own pattern. The bunny repeats 3 colors on the track: red, blue, yellow, and the squirrel has 4: green, brown, purple, yellow.

In this task, you can pay attention to the fact that both tracks consist of 12 circles. But the number of repeating colors is different.

Task 2

Find a pattern in a series of geometric shapes.

Solution: In this row, you need to pay attention to the size of the figures, and not to the color and shape. First there is one large figure, followed by two small ones, then they repeat.

Task 3

Draw the correct answer in the fourth square.

Solution: Looking closely at the picture, we will see that the circles in the squares disappear one by one, counterclockwise. In this problem, only the location of the circles in the square matters. So in the last square we have to draw one blue circle in the bottom left corner.

Task 4

Following the pattern, continue the series of numbers up to 10. Formulate a rule that operates in this pattern. Using this rule, come up with your own pattern.

• 2, 4, 6,…

Solution: In this series, each digit increases by 2 relative to the previous one - we calculated rule for this pattern. So, to continue the series, we will add 2 to each next digit. The answer will look like this: 2,4,6,8,10.

To come up with a similar pattern, you need to use the rule formulated above: for example, 1,3,5,7,9.

Tasks for Grade 2

Task 1

Find a pattern and draw the required number of circles in an empty square.

Solution: In the table in the first horizontal row the number of circles increases by 1. In the second row it increases by 2. Thus, we can assume that in the third row the number of circles will increase by 3 and the answer will be 9. It can be seen that this pattern is repeated in the vertical rows.

Task 2

Find a pattern in the chain of numbers and fill in the missing numbers

• 95, 90, 85, 80, 75,_, 65,_, _,50

Solution : In the chain of numbers, pairs can be distinguished: 95 -90, 85 - 80 and beyond. Each time, in a pair, the number decreases by 5. So, after 75 we write 70, after 65 - 60, and then 55.

Task 3

Find the pattern and continue the sequence.

• 2, 3, 5, 8, …, …, …, …

Solution: In this chain of numbers, the previous one is added to each subsequent number. 2+3=5+3=8+5=13+8=21+13=34 and so on.

Task 4

There are geometric figures in the train. Draw the figures in the fourth car, observing the pattern of their location.

Solution: Geometric figures are traveling in the train: square, triangle, rectangle and circle. In three carriages, all places are occupied by figures, in a certain order. Let's arrange them in the fourth car: The circle in it will be located in the lower left corner, the square in the upper left corner, the triangle will go in the lower right, and the rectangle in the upper left corner.

Tasks for grade 3

Task 1

Look at the picture and find a pattern in the problem.

Solution: In the table we will see the following pattern:

8-5=3, that is, the number has increased by 3; then 14-8=6, respectively, the number increased by 6. In the last bunch 23-14=9, the number increased by 9. We conclude that each next number increases by the previous value+3. So the next number increases by 9+3=12. 23 + 12 = 35. Answer: 35.

Task 2

Insert geometric shapes into empty cells, keeping the pattern.

Solution: To complete the task, you need to arrange the figures in order, one after another, following the sequence. This means that after the rectangle there is a circle, a triangle and a square, etc.

Task 3

Find a pattern and continue the rows:

• 12, 23, 34, 45, 56 ...
• 13, 24, 35, 46…

Solution : In this problem, each subsequent digit increases as follows: tens by one tens and units by one unit. 12=10+2, 23=20+3, 34=30+5, etc.

Task 4

Continue the series, keeping the pattern.

• 12, 36, 13, 39, 14, 42, 15,…

Solution: In the numerical chain, select pairs of numbers. First pair: 12 and 36. 12×3=36, then in order: 13×3=39. Multiplying each time by 3, the numbers following in order (12,13,14,15 ...), we continue the sequential series. Answer: 45.

Tasks for grade 4

Task 1

Find the mistake in the beads.

Solution: In the first beads, a square and a circle are repeated, which means an extra sixth circle. In the second beads, the pattern is repeated: a circle, two triangles, two circles, an extra one - the eighth, in a row, circle.

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