NUMBER RECOGNITION
Number recognition, or unitizing, is the act of instantly knowing a number when shown an image. For example, a child who is proficient at number recognition can roll a 5 and say 'five' instantly, rather than counting the dots '1, 2, 3, 4, 5'.
Playing games can help children begin to recognize numbers and conect them to their everyday life.
DICE GAMES
What's My Number?
Instructions:
Roll 1 die and ask children to tell you (or draw) what number it represents.
Variations:
Use dice with numbers, words and dots
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
I Like to Move it, Move it!
Instructions:
Roll 1 die onto the 'movement board' and have children perform that action that many times.
Examples:
Roll a 5, and have them do 5 jumping jacks!
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- connect numbers to real life experiences
- get up, move and energize your brain
High/Low to 10
Instructions:
Each person rolls 1 die, the highest number gets a point. First one to 10 wins!
Variations:
Count backwards from 10 - first to 0 wins!
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- counting to 10 / counting back from 10
TENS!
Instructions:
Each person rolls 10 dice. After the first role, put aside all of the dice of one number (for example - 5 - 4's).
Once everyone has selected their dice, yell '3-2-1-Go!' and everyone starts rolling their remaining dice, putting aside the dice every time they roll their number. The first person to get all 10 of their dice to their number wins!
Hint:
Use different coloured dice for each player to help keep dice separated!
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- hand-eye coordination
One More Bingo:
Instructions:
Roll 1 die and cross off the number on the bingo card that is 'One More' than the number they rolled.
First person to cross off 5 in a row wins!
Variations:
Cross off numbers that are 1 less than the number they rolled.
Extend the game by trying to clear the entire board.
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- adding 1
- subtracting 1
Click here to download
'One More' Bingo Boards
First to 50:
Instructions:
Roll one die and cross off that many sqaures (ex: roll a 4, cross off 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Roll again and cross off the next set of numbers (ex: roll a 6, cross off 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). Continue until you reach 50!
Variations:
Start at 50 and work backwards.
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- counting to 50 / counting back from 50
Click here to download
'First to 50' Boards
DOMINO GAMES
Game, Set, Match!
Instructions:
Divide the dominoes between all players. Turn all of the dominoes face up.
The first players places a domino into the centre. the next player has to match either end of the domino.
The first player to place all of their pieces wins!
Hint:
Use different coloured dice for each player to help keep dice separated!
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- hand-eye coordination
War of the Dominoes
Instructions:
Divide the dominoes between both players. Turn all of the dominoes face down.
At the same time, each player should flip over one domino, and add up the two sides.
The player with the highest number wins the dominoes. Continue until all of the dominoes have been flipped over. The player with the most dominoes wins!
Variations:
Add your winning dominoes back into your pile. Play until you have won all of the dominoes.
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- adding to 12
First to 50:
Instructions:
Roll one die and cross off that many sqaures (ex: roll a 4, cross off 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Roll again and cross off the next set of numbers (ex: roll a 6, cross off 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). Continue until you reach 50!
Variations:
Start at 50 and work backwards.
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- counting to 50 / counting back from 50
Click here to download
'First to 50' Boards
CARD GAMES
**For all of these games, use a basic deck of cards with the face cards (Jack, Queen and King) removed.
Memory
Instructions:
Separate A-10 of two different suits (20 cards). Flip all cards over. Take turns flipping two cards over - if the numbers match you win those cards.
However collects the most cards in the end, wins!
Variations:
Use all 40 cards for a longer game.
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- matching numbers of different colours
I Like to Move it, Move it
(to 10)!
Instructions:
Flip one card over and have children perform an action that many times.
Examples:
Flip a 5, and have them do 5 jumping jacks!
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- connect numbers to real life experiences
- get up, move and energize your brain
High Card Battle
Instructions:
Deal out the cards evenly. At the same time, each person flips over 1 card. High card wins both cards. First person to collect all of the cards wins!
Variation:
Flip 2 cards at a time to make a 2-digit number (ex: flip a 4 and an 8 - make 48 or 84)
Skills:
- quickly recognize numbers (unitizing)
- understanding 'more than' and 'less than'
- problem solving