Math Games for Kindergarteners

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1: What math concepts are taught in kindergarten?

Ans: Counting, writing numbers in words, telling time, counting money are some concepts taught in kindergarten which is a must in everyday life. To explore more fun way to learn math concepts, just visit the SplashLearn website and explore and play as many math games on the topics of your desire. 

Q2: How do I teach math to my kindergartener?

Ans: The best way to teach math to your child will be to let him experience and play with the math around him. Make him feel that math is everywhere. Whether you are telling him to count things around him or asking him to learn days and months, math is involved. To explore more, just visit the SplashLearn website and explore and play many math games on the topics of your desire under Kindergarten section.

About Grade K Math

As per kindergarten curriculum, Math learning focuses on two critical areas: (1) representing and comparing whole numbers, initially with a set of objects, (2) describing shapes and space. At kindergarten, the major focus is put on learning numbers and its related concepts than any other topic.

1. Kids are introduced to number names and counting sequence. They learn strategies to solve quantitative problems that include recognizing cardinalities of sets of objects, counting the number of objects in two sets or more and counting the number of objects left in a set after some are taken away.

2. Kids describe objects in their environment using shape, spatial relations, and orientation. They learn to identify and name two-dimensional shapes like squares, triangles, rectangles, circles, and hexagons, presented in a variety of ways and also three-dimensional shapes like cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres. They are able to model objects in their environment using basic shape and spatial reasoning.

Overview of Grade K Domains

Counting and Cardinality:

At kindergarten, the kids develop an enduring understanding of the several ways a number can be represented in pictorial representation, symbolic representation and written representation of numbers.

• Know the counting sequence and the number names: Kids, at kindergarten, learn to count to 100 by ones and tens. Also, they learn to count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence. The kids are also taught to write number names from 0-20.

• Count to tell the number of objects: The kids learn to understand the relationship between number and quantities. They are first taught about one-to-one correspondence where they connect one number with one. They then make their way to understand cardinality, i.e., tell how many are there in a set. They are able to count the number of objects in small sets (up to 20). They understand the number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they are counted. They also develop an understanding that each successive number name is one quantity larger.

• Compare Numbers: The kids also learn to compare numbers presented in different ways. They identify whether the number of objects in a set is greater than, lesser than or equal to the number of objects in another set. By the end of kindergarten, kids are able to compare two numbers between 1 to 10 by their names.

Getting fluency over counting and comparing requires practice. The pictures of some math games that the student can play to strengthen their counting skills are given below.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking:

The kids understand addition as putting together and adding to and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from. The kids are able to add or subtract within 10 using objects or drawings. They also learn to decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in varied ways.

• Understand addition as putting together and adding to: Once the kids have an enduring understanding of cardinality, they learn addition with objects, fingers, expressions or equations. They develop skills to solve word problems requiring addition within 10. The kids are asked to find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number. According to kindergarten math, the kids are expected to develop the expertise to fluently add within 10 by the end of this grade.

• Understand subtraction as taking part and taking from: The concept of addition and subtraction is taught together. The kids are asked how much is left when some of the objects are taken away from a group of objects. They are expected to solve word problems requiring subtraction within 10. By the end of kindergarten, the kids are able to fluently subtract within 5.

Practicing addition and subtraction in an exciting way calls the need for math games.  Some of the thrilling math games for practicing addition and subtraction are given below.

Number and Operations in base ten:

In kindergarten, the common core math benchmark requires working with numbers 11-19. This enables the kids to gain a foundation for place value system. At this level, the student understands 1 is not just 1 and in number like 34, the 3 represents 3 ten and 4 represents 4 one. They understand the numbers are composed of tens and ones.

Understanding tens and ones can be made enjoyable by learning the concept through games. Here is one such interesting kids game that can help boost the confidence of the kids in the place value system.

Measurement and Data:

The kids are taught to identify and describe measurable attributes of the object like length, weight, and height.

• Describe and compare measurable attributes: The kids understand and describe measurable attributes of objects like length or weight. They also learn to describe the several measurable attributes of a single object. They are able to compare two objects with same attributes using the vocabulary like less than/more than, shorter than/taller than, weighs more/weighs less.

• Classify and Count: Kindergarten Math expects the kids to learn to classify objects into different categories and count the number of object in each category.

Learning measurable attributes of objects and sorting them can become engaging when learned through math games.  

Geometry:

The kids learn to describe objects in their environment using names of the shapes. They are able to compare shapes on the basis of their attributes.

• Identify and describe shapes: The kids are taught about the different shapes of the objects in the environment. They learn about the names of the shapes and are able to compare the relative positions of the objects. They are taught to identify shapes as two-dimensional or three-dimensional.

• Analyze, compare, create and compose shapes: The kids learn to analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes on the basis of their sizes and orientations. They use informal language like a number of sides, vertices or corners to analyze and compare the shapes. They are also taught the way to combine simple shapes to form larger shapes.

Identifying the shape of objects in the environment, can undoubtedly, be better learned through pictures of such objects. Learning identification of shapes through the games given below or similar games can make the learning experience enjoyable.

Math Activities and Games

Math is all about understanding a concept and practicing it. The famous saying “the more you practice, the better you get” is apt for math learning. It has been observed that math games and math activities are very productive learning ideas. The kids learn better and faster when they learn a concept while playing or performing an activity. It is an engaging way for kids to get the required practice and develop strong mathematical skills.

Math becomes fun and enjoyable when taught through games or activities. Some of the activities for Kindergarten kids are given below:

Counting Buttons

Objective: A student develops an enduring understanding of cardinality.

Step 1: Take 11 plastic cups and 55 buttons. Write the numbers from 0 through 10 on each cup and mix them up.

Step 2: Tell the student to arrange these cups from smallest to the largest number.

Step 3: Now, ask the student to look at the number on each cup and put an equal number of buttons in the cups. The student should count out loud as he/she puts the buttons in the cup one by one. This will reinforce his/her counting skills.

Once the student develops fluency in counting within 10, the numbers can be increased by increments of five.

Adding & Subtracting Buttons

Objective: A student understands addition and subtraction within 10.

Step 1: Draw a 5×2 table on a sheet of paper. Give 10 buttons and the sheet with the table drawn on it to the student.

Step 2:  Now, the student is asked either verbally or through an equation to add 5 and 4. The student will first place 5 buttons and then place 4 buttons on the table drawn. He or She will then count the total number of buttons on the table.

Step 3: Similarly, the student can be either asked verbally or through an equation to subtract 3 from 8. The student will place 8 buttons and will then take away 3 buttons and count how many buttons are left.

About SplashLearn

SplashLearn is an award winning Math learning program that offers a unique blend of education and entertainment. It provides a comprehensive coverage of common core math for grade K-5. From counting to measurement, from number system to geometry, SplashLearn has it all. Some of the key features of SplashLearn are:

• Self-paced interactive math practice program
• Unlimited Math worksheets covering over 300 skills
• Virtual rewards to retain kids’interest
• Detailed weekly reports to parents about child’s performance and his/her areas for improvement