Homemade Math Games for Kindergartners

Paper Games

• Make a math bingo game for kindergartners by writing numbers in the bingo squares. For an easy game, simply call out numbers and have the children mark their card. The first child with a bingo who yells "I love math," wins a prize. For a more difficult game, call out an addition problem like "2 + 2." The children must mark the number four on their bingo card. After each problem, make sure the children have the correct answer marked. If not, they must remove their bingo marker from the card and wait for the next addition problem. Alternatively, play the game with subtraction problems.

Match Games

• Create a match game by writing the numbers 1 through 10 on index cards, twice. Place the cards face down and have the children play a game of math match. The child who finds the most pairs wins the game. Make the game more difficult by writing an equation (1 +1) on one card and the answer on another card. The student must correctly match the equation to the answer. The child who finds the most correct matches wins the game.

Tossing Games

• For a math tossing game, write the numbers 1 through 10 on disposable plastic cups and scatter the cups on the ground. Kindergarteners must toss balls, block or small coins into the corresponding cup. For example, hand the first player two pennies. Then hand him two more pennies. He must toss the pennies into the cup marked "4." Another idea is to mark cups "1," "5," "10" and "25." Hand each player a coin. If you hand him a quarter, he must toss the quarter into the cup marked "25." This game also teaches the children the value of coins.

Other Games

• Use clean half-gallon milk cartons to make another counting game. Cut the milk carton tops off and cover with construction paper. Draw a door on each carton with a number on the door. Give the children Popsicle sticks or wood craft sticks to use as people. They must place the correct amount of people in the corresponding house. If a house has a three on the front door, they must place three people in the house. For added decoration, allow the children to draw faces and hair on the wood craft sticks.