“Children have to build the idea that whole numbers are spaced equally along the number line,” says Young. And parents can play an important role by asking questions, such as, “Who is further ahead?” and “How many more spaces does the frog have to jump?” There is advanced mathematics hiding within this game, making it a great way for children to stretch their math muscles. The goal is to be the first whose frog reaches its lily pad. In this game, children take turns rolling a number cube and moving a “frog” along the game board. Young children might enjoy a game that helps them develop a mental number line: Jumping on the Lily Pads. Skills practiced: subitizing, composing and decomposing number, comparing numbers 4. “You can really play this game anywhere.” Now ask: How many are hiding?Ī fun variant of this game is to play it on your hands: “Put up a few fingers on each hand, and then ask the child to figure out how many fingers you are not raising,” says EDC’s Jessica Young. Ask children to count the assortment, and then cover some up with your hand. To play, lay out a small assortment of coins on a flat surface.
WHEELY 9 COOL MATH HOW TO
This game is especially appropriate for preschool students who already know how to count. How Many Are Hiding? is a quick game that helps children practice identifying how many items are in a collection without needing to count every item singly-math educators call this subitizing. Skills practiced: algebraic thinking, naming shapes, building patterns 3. Teachers can vary the complexity of the pattern by adding more blocks or even repeating some of the blocks in the series. “This is a fun game that children can easily play with each other.”īuilding simple patterns-even as basic as rhombus, square, rhombus, square-is appropriate for even the youngest children. “Children are naturally drawn to patterns, and pattern recognition is a key component of algebraic reasoning,” says EDC’s Kristen Reed.
To play, work with a child to build a pattern, and then ask the child to continue the series. What’s My Pattern? is another engaging game involving pattern blocks.
Skills practiced: geometric reasoning, building patterns, naming shapes 2. The best part about this activity? It is designed with a wide range of students in mind, from children who are just practicing placing the blocks to those who can complete a challenging puzzle on their own. “These activities help children see the world as being made up of shapes and also prepares them for later mathematical ideas.” “Building with pattern blocks is all about putting things together and then taking them apart,” says Goldenberg. While playing Animal Puzzles, a pattern block game, children also explore rotations and reflections, thus building their spatial skills. ANIMAL PUZZLESĬreating designs out of pattern blocks-those multicolored trapezoids, hexagons, and triangles that are a mainstay in most preschool classrooms-is a great way for children to build geometric thinking. So, what are some simple games that can pique young mathematicians’ interest? Educators from EDC’s Games for Young Mathematicians project pick five favorites. Research has shown that informal math puzzles and games can help prepare students for the mathematical tasks they will face in kindergarten and beyond. “Even better, children love them.”īut playing games isn’t just all about fun. “Playing math games with children-even ones that we adults perceive to be simple-can help spark important mathematical ideas,” says EDC’s Paul Goldenberg. Looking for some fun, easy games to play with a preschooler? Try math.
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