Math games with circles
Math Circle Time Games – The Essential Guide (20 Ideas) – Early Impact Learning
Children really enjoy fun math circle games, and they develop lots of skills during them that they can then transfer and apply in their play and in their lives.
Some of the best math circle games use puppets, songs, or simple props to bring them to life.
Having taught children from the ages of 3-5 over a ten year period, I have created and trialled literally hundreds of math circle time games. In this article I will describe my favourite twenty of these games. With these twenty games in your repertoire, I guarantee your adult-led math sessions will go to the next level.
So, if you want to find out what these twenty games are, with a detailed description of how to play them, then read on.
1. Fishing for numbers
What you need for this are some number flashcards. What you do is to stick a few paperclips in a line in one spot on the back. Just stick a piece of Sellotape over the paperclips.
Then get a fishing rod. A stick with string tied to it is all is required. Get a magnet to tie to the end of the string. You now have a magnetic fishing rod.
Put the numbers face down in the middle of a circle of children. Pick one child to go first. They fish a number using the magnetic rod.
They say what it is, then they do that number of jumps. All the rest of the children count and clap as they do it. Then repeat for other children.
2. Numbers numbers all around
This is quite possibly my favourite math circle time game.
Have some number flashcards face down in the middle of the circle. Pick one child to come into the middle of the circle to go first.
Then you all sing the song that goes:
Numbers numbers all around!
All around! All around!
Numbers numbers all around!
What have found?
The tune I use is that of the song Mary Had a Little Lamb.
After you sing the song, the child picks up a number and shows it to everyone.
For example, it might be seven. This child then does seven slow jumps. Every time their feet hit the floor, the other children clap and count. The trick is to try to stop when you get to seven! Repeat for different numbers.
This is one of the games in my favorite 21 circle time games for preschool article.
3. Counting to an instrument
Get an instrument like a drum or tambourine, and simply hit is slowly a number of times. The children count the strikes.
To get them to all join in, give them number fans or get them to write it down on whiteboards if they are at that level.
Giving the answer verbally for younger children is fine.
4. Counting with a puppet
Puppets are fantastic for a range of math games and strategies. To read my in-depth article about how puppets can be used for math then click here.
To summarise, puppets can help you count in a range of ways. Some of the most important are:
- Counting past ten
- Counting on from a given number not one
- Counting backwards
- Counting backwards from a given number
- Missing number problems
5.
Counting songs with number bagsThese are one of the most effective math circle times. Have some toys in a bag that link to a song. A good example is Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer with five little alien toys.
Put the Little Aliens in the middle of the circle, count them, and then sing the song. After every verse count them, take one away, and see how many there are left. A great way to introduce counting for a purpose, one less, and it also makes number very visual as well.
This is one of the best ways to teach one to one correspondence (for the full guide on what one to one correspondence is and how to teach it, check this out).
6. Quiz Quiz Trade
This is a game of cooperation. It is good to play for number recognition or counting.
If you play for number recognition, then what you do is give out one number flashcard to each child. Get the children to stand up and then they each find a partner. The idea is to say what your partner’s number is, and your partner says what your number is.
Then you swap your cards, and go and find a new partner.
Try to do as many partners as you can.
This game could also be played with spots on the cards which the children have to count, or it could be holding shapes for your partner to recognise.
7. Pass the number round the circle
This is a good number recognition game, and is good for more skilful children that know lots of numbers, as well as being possible for children who know much fewer numbers.
You simply pass number flashcards around the circle. A child holds the number, says what it is, and then passes it to the person next to them who repeats this process. Have lots of numbers on the go at once.
It is great practice for children who recognise lots of numbers, but OK for those that don’t because they can just listen in to the person next to them and copy the number name.
8. Count round the circle
This is good for laying the foundations for counting on from a given number.
One child says ‘one’, then the next child says ‘two’, and you just continue around the circle as far as possible.
You could give them a toy to hold to focus them. You say the number when you are holding the toy, then pass it on.
An extension to this game is to try to count backwards around the circle.
9. Count with a partner
This is similar to the last game, and again is a good one for beginning to learn how to count on from a given number.
Sit facing a partner. One child will say ‘one’, the other says ‘two’, and keep counting as far as you can go. Games like this are good for one child to coach the other and teach them new skills, as there will usually be one child that can count further than the other.
To read a full article about how to count on from a given number, then go here.
10. Zoom Zoom Zoom song
This is my favourite learning to count backwards activity.
First you have to pick your five astronauts to go in the spaceship. Count back from 5 whilst pointing at one child in turn in the circle – ‘Five, four, three, two, one, zero!’ When you get to zero, the child you are pointing at is an astronaut.
Repeat that process until you have five astronauts in the middle of the circle.
Then we all need to get our space helmets on! Get your space boots on! Zip up your space boots! This bit really brings it to life.
Then sing the song:
Zoom zoom zoom
We’re going to the moon!
Zoom zoom zoom
We’ll be there very soon!
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Blast off!
Everyone pretends to blast off into space.
11. Parachute math games
Using parachutes is one of the best ways of developing cooperation skills and teamwork in the early years, and they are also fantastic for math.
One great game you can try is called Dive! Put lots of numbers underneath the parachute. Then get all the children to hold the parachute. Pick a child to go first. Then say, ‘1,2,3. Lift!’ You all lift the parachute so that it mushrooms up into the air. Shout a number, and the child has to dive under the parachute, grab that number and bring it out.
Repeat for different children and other numbers.
To find out my all-time favourite 14 math parachute games, take a look at this article.
12. Counting in different voices
Children really love this simple game. I have a character voices dice. It has six different characters on it – a ghost, an alien, a tiger, a princess, a robot and a giant.
You simple roll the dice and count in whatever voice you roll.
To make it harder you can roll two dice. Have a character voice and a number dice. Roll both, and then count on from the number you get in the voice that you roll. For example, start counting on from 12 like a robot. Silly but fun and effective!
13. Actions to a number
For this I use two dice. One has actions on – e.g. clapping, jumping, hopping etc. The other one has numbers.
Roll both. You will get something like 3 and hopping. Hop three times! Then repeat.
An excellent game for counting actions, which is a very different skill to counting objects.
14. Skywriting numbers in air
Put some pumping music on, and get the children to stand up!
Using their index finger, get them to draw big numbers in the air to the beat of the music. You could potentially get them to hold streamers or torches to make it even more exciting.
15. Dancing numbers!
For this I roll a numbers dice. For example, you may get a three.
Put some pumping music on, and then simply do a dance moves that number of times. For example, groove to right three times, then groove to the left three times. Reach up three times, then reach down three.
Then roll the dice again. Repeat the routine for the different number.
16. Sharing toys/sweets between two puppets
Have two puppets and some fruit or sweets or something similar.
This is an excellent introduction to sharing.
Say that we need to share out the sweets/fruit equally between the two puppets, but they don’t know how to do it. Can we help them?
Model how to give one item to one puppet, and then one to the other.
Continue until all are gone.
It is easier to start with even numbers for this. When the children get good at this, you can move on to odd numbers. The thing about odd numbers is that you will end up with a ‘remainder’ – an odd one out.
17. Matching numbers
Have matching pairs of number flashcards and one odd one out. Give out the flashcards.
The children stand up and try to find their matching partner. Hopefully they will all find a partner who they can stand next to.
However, one child will be by themselves. They are the champion!
When you’ve played it once, get the cards back in, given them out again and play it once more.
To extend it, you could give out matching shapes, or matching cards with dots on that they have to count.
18. Counting stick activities
Counting sticks are probably the best introduction to a number line.
I like to use a homemade counting stick with Velcro stuck onto a broomhandle.
You can stick numbers onto the counting stick, and try counting in different ways.
You can also play games like ordering numbers or finding missing numbers.
To find out my favorite 17 counting stick activities for simple math, then take a look at this.
19. Boo game
This is one of the very simplest, but most enjoyable math games. Also this game can be adapted in lots of different ways.
Have a bag and put some number flashcards into it. In with the numbers, you also put a picture of a ghost on a card.
The children pass around the bag, taking out a card. If it is a number they try to say the number, then they pass it to the next person. If you get the ghost card out of the bag then you shout ‘Boo!’ and try to scare everyone. You are the champion!
Put the cards back into the bag and repeat again.
20. March counting
You quite simply get them on their feet and start marching whilst counting in different ways – forwards, backwards, or counting on from a given number.
You can mix it up a bit. Instead of marching you can try stamping like a giant, or hopping, or jumping – still counting as you do it.
Conclusion
Math should take place throughout your provision, and be part of daily life. However, the skills that children learn can be taught first through exciting math circle games. Use props, puppets and songs to really bring games to life.
Children will often ask for some games they really like to be played again. These can become a part of your repertoire, and usually the more children play a game the better they become at it.
READ MORE
What Is Ordering Numbers (And How To Teach It)
Number Recogntion – The Best 16 Games To Try
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Math games with circles - NurtureStore
When you’re working on math with younger children it’s really important to start with real things – objects they can hold in their hands and use as they play and work with mathematical ideas. They need to have a solid understanding of the concept that a written down ‘1’ actually means one car, or one block, or one bottle top. Using toys and other items as manipulatives is great to help them understand this, and adding in new manipulatives every so often keeps the math games fun and interesting. So today, here’s an idea for a really quick-to-make set of DIY manipulatives, and lots of ideas for how you might use them.
Math games with circles
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To make our set of shape manipulatives all you need are some sheets of craft foam and a pair of scissors.
Draw round some lids and cups to make circles: we went with three different sizes of circles on each colour sheet.
We added in a few long thin rectangles and some small triangles too, giving us a set of shapes to play with.
math game #1 : shape art
Simply play with the shapes and see what pictures you can make.
This lets kids explore the properties of the shape they’re working with, turning it over and seeing how it fits with the other shapes available. With very young children you can introduce the words round, circle, big and small.
Math game #2 : classify
You could sort the circles into piles by colour or by size. This sort of classification game is an important skill that later helps children with other math and language learning. You could also give each person a colour and see who can collect 10 circles of their colour the fastest – and then count each one.
Math game #3: size ordering
You could see if you can line up some circles in size order and use the words small, medium, big, smallest, biggest, first, second, third.
Math game #4: repeating patterns
You could try patterning using the colours of the circles, repeating a sequence to form a line.
Math game #5: add some digits
You could use a permanent marker to write some numbers on some of the circles.
Then pick a number, see if you recognise the number, and then see if you can count out the right number of circles to go with the digit you’ve picked.
Math game #6: make a picture
Challenge the kids to try and make a picture from the shapes available. Can they make a flower? A face? A house? A creature?
Math game #7: number flowers
Use the extra rectangles to make some flower stems and add a number circle in the centre. See if you can count out the right number of petals to go with each number flower.
Bonus math game: math in the bath!
If you use foam sheets to make your shapes the extra bonus is that they will stick to the side of the bath tub. Just dunk them in the tub and the water will make them stick to the side – then you can play all these games with added splashing. Math in the bath!
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Didactic games with Lull's circles. Mathematics for preschoolers | Article on mathematics:
Didactic games with Lull's circles.
Mathematics for preschoolers
Slide 2-Mathematics for preschoolers is a rather difficult science that can cause difficulties during schooling. After all, not all children have a mathematical mindset, and not everyone has a natural craving for the exact sciences. The maximum effect in the formation of elementary mathematical representations can be achieved using entertaining exercises, didactic games, tasks, interesting and vivid manuals.
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Slide 3-In the 13th century, the French philosopher Raymond Lull created a paper machine in the form of paper circles built according to ternary logic - Lull's rings. Subsequently, the authors of TRIZ technology recognized them as very effective.
Slide 4-The simplicity of the design allows you to make them yourself and use them in kindergarten, both in organized and independent educational activities of children. In a preschool institution, it is advisable to use no more than four circles of different diameters with the number of sectors from 4 to 8. An arrow is added to the circles on a common rod, which shows the connection of the sectors. nine0004
Lull's circles can be used in working with preschoolers not only as a method of developing imagination, but also as a device for reproductive activities to get acquainted with the environment, develop speech, mathematics, etc. representations of preschoolers:
- compose and solve simple arithmetic problems for addition and subtraction on a visual basis;
- fix the composition of the number of two smaller numbers; nine0004
- name the next and previous number to the one named or indicated by a number, determine the missing number;
- recognize geometric shapes regardless of their spatial position;
- to develop geometric vigilance in children: the ability to analyze and compare objects in shape, to find objects of the same and different shapes.
Slide 6 - GAMES WITH "CIRCLES OF LULL" CAN BE CONDITIONALLY
DIVIDED INTO THREE TYPES
PAIRING - clarification of existing knowledge in certain areas
with elements of randomness in the installation of rings
Games for the development of creative imagination
for this manual developed didactic games:
“Compose tasks”,
“Who are the neighbors?”,
“Continue the chain”,
“Choose number”,
“Find the figures”;
"What a number consists of", etc.
Slide 7 - Didactic game "We compose problems"
Purpose: to consolidate the ability to compose and solve arithmetic problems. nine0004
Game progress: Place subject pictures on the lower ring, numbers 1 or 2 with a sign for addition or subtraction on the middle ring, numbers from 1 to 9 on the top ring. Unroll the rings and use the arrow to determine what task will be. For example, the arrow showed: balls, +1, 6. Children make up an addition problem about balls.
“Masha had 6 balloons. Dad bought another one. How many balloons did Masha have?
Slide 8-Didactic game "Find the figures"
Purpose: to develop geometric vigilance in children, to consolidate the ability to determine what shapes an object consists of. nine0004
Game progress: Let's decompose the images consisting of geometric figures into the lower ring, separate geometric figures into the middle and upper rings. Using the arrow, select the image, then combine with it the geometric shapes on the middle and upper rings that it consists of.
Slide 9- Didactic game "Pick up the number"
Purpose: to consolidate the ability to correlate the number and the number of objects.
How to play: Use two rings: large and medium. On the middle ring we lay out the numbers, on the bottom - pictures with objects. Use the arrow to select a number. I suggest that the children consider the number, name it correctly, then pick up a picture on the bottom circle, the number of items on which corresponds to this number.
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Slide 10 - Didactic game "Continue the chain"
Purpose: to develop logical thinking.
Game progress: Place cards with a chain of geometric shapes on the lower ring, individual geometric shapes on the middle and upper rings. Use the arrow to select a card and continue the chain, turning the middle and upper circle
Slide 11-Didactic game "Who are the neighbors"
Purpose: name the next and previous number.
Slide 12- Didactic game "Guessing"
Target. Fix the signs of objects, use the information received, based on experience. Develop imagination, fantasy
1 circle - images of any man-made objects
2 circle - sign
3 circle - sign value
Real tasks: choose an object (dress), pick up a sign (material), and find the sign value ( the cloth).
Slide 13 - Didactic game "On the contrary"
Purpose. Identify a couple, consolidate knowledge of antonyms, develop speech skills, logical thinking.
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Slide 14-Didactic game "When does it happen?"
Purpose. Determine the time of day, introduce the clock, develop speech skills, logical thinking
Slide 15-Didactic game "Seasons"
Purpose. Consolidate knowledge of the season, develop speech skills, logical
Thinking
Also, for the development of thinking, elementary logic, the ability to use the available information, I offer the didactic game "Erudite"
On a small circle - images of objects of the world (cherry branch, briefcase , car, etc.), on the middle circle - the standards of geometric shapes (triangle, oval, circle, etc.), on the large circle - numbers. nine0004
Realistic tasks: choose an object (cherry twig), choose the geometric shape (circle) it corresponds to, and the number of objects to consider (two cherries).
Tasks for the development of imagination: on a branch - triangular cherries in the amount of 8 pieces. Practical significance: it is convenient to put such fruits in a box, a triangle to a triangle gives a rectangle, which saves the area for laying the crop.
Fantastic task: randomly select one indicator from each circle and explain the practical significance of this object. The following sectors turned out to be under the arrow: glass, chair, spaceship, crimson color. The situation is discussed: a raspberry-colored glass chair is urgently needed on a spaceship, because ... (children's answers: because it resembles a delicious raspberry, because it is a warm color, because it is the daughter's favorite color, because it is light, and raspberry, so that it one could immediately see: after all, a glass chair would simply be transparent and invisible, etc.). nine0004
Slide 16 - Lull's circles have allowed me to make learning fun and effective by creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
Math games for preschoolers and first graders
The development of a child's mathematical abilities is one of the aspects of preparing for school. It can be difficult for a preschooler to operate with numbers, so experts advise starting a child’s acquaintance with numbers and mathematical calculations from games.
Complex and sometimes boring examples and tasks do not cause rejection in the baby when they are presented in the form of interesting colorful tasks. nine0004
If a child understands at an early age that mathematics is exciting and fun, it will be much easier for him to master the school subject. By the way, mathematical games develop not only the skills of working with numbers, but also logic and non-standard thinking. What are the mathematical games for preschoolers - in our material.
Math games for 4-5 year olds
Math games for preschoolers 4-5 years old include simple math examples for addition and subtraction within 10.
1. Mathematical game "Labyrinth"
In this mathematical game, the child is faced with the task of seeing the pattern, passing the maze and helping the squirrel find the acorn.
Print the picture. Give the child a pencil. Let him draw a path along which the squirrel can get to the acorn.
The squirrel has started its journey.
She took two steps. What is the difference between 3 and 1? How much more is it? And the number 5 compared to 3? It is desirable that the child himself see the pattern (adding 2 to each previous number). But if it doesn’t work out, don’t worry — explain. Calculate the next step together, and then let the baby go on his own. nine0004
2. Math crossword
If a child can count to 10, they may be interested in doing a math crossword.
Print out the crossword. Tell your child how to work with a mathematical crossword puzzle, how the numbers fit into it. You can explain such concepts as "horizontal" and "vertical".
Explain that each row and column must have correct equalities. Emphasize that a mathematical crossword puzzle differs from the usual example in that an unknown number can appear anywhere in it. nine0004
Show that in a crossword it is better to solve the examples not in an arbitrary sequence, but by moving from one intersection to another. And it is very important to do everything right, because a mistake in one place will lead to inaccuracies in another.
3. Mathematical game "Count the beads"
As in other examples, the picture can be printed.
There are two different tasks here.
On the left picture there are beads that you need to count and write the answers below, as shown in the first picture. Do not give the child the task right away - invite him to think about what the numbers below (in the first picture) mean. Perhaps he himself will find a correspondence between the number of beads and the number below. In this case, he will easily enter all the correct answers. nine0004
On the second, right block of pictures, the number of beads is the same everywhere, and the number of filled beads is signed below. The kid can also guess about this on his own. After that, he will gladly color the required number of beads in each picture.
With this activity you can explain to your child what an abacus is and how to use it.
4. Mathematical game “Take the bear to the bear cub”
Examples are written on the ice.
In this game, the child must complete each task and write the answer on the ice. After that, you can pave the way of the bear to the bear cub along the ice, on which the numbers 1, 2, 3 are written, and then in order up to 10.
Math games for preschoolers 6-7 years old
Math games for children 6-7 years old are a bit more difficult and suitable for kids who can count to at least 20 and solve addition and subtraction problems in two steps.
1. Mathematical game "Insert the missing number"
The meaning of this mathematical game is to insert numbers into empty cells that come in sequence before, between or after a given number.
Thus, the child's idea of the "number line" is formed. nine0004
For convenience, you can first draw this line, on which numbers are indicated from left to right, increasing each time by one. Then the baby will understand what “before”, “between” and “after” means, and will easily do all the exercises.
2.
Mathematical game “Put fruits in baskets” Print the picture, cut out all fruits and baskets separately. The kid must solve a mathematical example that is written on a fruit and "put" it in the correct basket.
These examples show the child that the same number can be obtained in several ways.
Note that the example does not show the same number of ways to get different numbers. So, 7 is obtained by five options: 4 + 3; 7 - 0; 1+6; 2+5; 14 - 7. And 18 - three: 9 + 9; 20 - 2; 12 + 6.
Explain that there are other ways to get the number 18. Give an example or have the child come up with their own.
3. Mathematical game "Find a suitable umbrella"
In this math game, you need to match an umbrella to each cloud. To do this, the child must solve the examples written inside the cloud and the umbrella, and then place the cloud over the desired umbrella.
In this task, you can not cut anything, but simply connect pictures with the same answer.
Each cloud corresponds to one umbrella.
Math games for grade 1
Math games for schoolchildren are suitable for children who can count up to 30, complete examples in several steps and have a basic understanding of fractions. nine0004
1. A chain of mathematical examples
On the path of the butterfly to the flower, do all the suggested actions. Some of the numbers are already in circles, others must be entered by solving the examples given above.
This math task is not for the little ones: here you need to be able to count to at least 30.
2. Math game "How much does a salad cost?"
The picture shows vegetables and their "value". Below are plates with a different set of vegetables. Invite the child to calculate how much each salad “costs”. nine0004
3. What is the fraction in the picture?
Pictures will help explain to your child what fractions are.
The images show circles divided into equal parts.
Some of them are painted over. First you need to calculate how many parts there are. Next - how many of them are painted over.
The essence of a fractional number is easy to explain in this way.
For the first example: the circle is divided into 4 parts; three out of four are shaded, i.e. three-fourths. This is referred to as 3/4.
Second example (below): there are 6 beats in a circle, four of six are shaded - four sixths, 4/6. nine0004
Such an algorithm will allow the child to choose from the options presented the answer corresponding to each circle. To check how the kid understood the material, ask him to show an integer (not a fractional) number on one of the circles, painting over the required number of parts. He will cope with the task if he figured out how a fractional number is formed and how a fraction differs from a whole.
Umnasia offers a large number of mathematical problems for logic and ingenuity for primary and secondary school students.
