Effective, Simple, Low-prep Number Recognition Game for Preschool and Kindergarten
Kids crave learning by having fun! Parents and teachers need quick activities that don’t take long to prepare. This number recognition game for preschool and kindergarten is the best of both worlds!
Get the Number ZAP! Game here!
In this post:
- Importance of number recognition
- How to teach child to identify numbers
- Number ZAP! Game
Click here to learn more about number recognition in our comprehensive post.
You can have a printable version of the incredibly simple 5-step number recognition routine sent directly to your inbox. Get it below:
Why is number recognition important?
One of the most basic math skills in early childhood is to identify numbers. Since it is so basic, it’s often an overlooked skill.
Before children even start to recognize numbers, they need to understand what a number is. Numbers represent how many and are used in counting.
Of course, we adults understand this, but it is a very abstract concept to young kids.
What to do before children can recognize numbers
To prepare your child for identifying numbers, introduce them to counting. Count the steps it takes to carry them to bed, the number of tomatoes you add to the pasta salad, and the number of wash clothes you fold.
You can count around your baby and toddler to build vocabulary and help them become familiar with the concept of counting. Be sure to emphasize that the last number counted is how many there are.
Encourage your child to count with you, and once they are ready, start having them count out objects for you.
This can be as simple as having them set the table. You can tell your child you need 4 placemats, napkins, plates, etc. and have your little toddler or preschooler count them out.
How to know when children are ready to identify numbers
When your child can count out a given number of objects (within 5), you can start showing them the written numeral. By all means, expose them to numbers before this, but don’t expect your child to remember the numbers.
Children will remember the names of numbers and what they look like when they understand that numbers represent something. That’s why I don’t push number recognition until children can rote count to 5 or 10 and count out a given number of objects.
You will also know your child is ready to start identifying written numbers when they ask questions about numbers and start of recognize numbers in their environment, even if they can’t name them.
How to teach number recognition to preschool and kindergarten children
Teaching number identification to children can be so fun, yet simple!
I have a more in-depth post about teaching number recognition here, but below are some simple ideas for supporting your child’s number identification skills.
- Number matching activities and games.
- Reciting number names with flashcards.
- Sensory activities such as finger writing number in sand, shaving cream, etc.
- Toys and puzzles with numbers
The absolute BEST way to effectively teach children numbers is with my Number Recognition Routine! It is only 5 steps and can be done in 5 minutes or less a day.
Get the Number Recognition Routine by subscribing here:
The Number ZAP! Game helps preschoolers and kindergartners develop number recognition fluency.
Not only do we want children to be able to recognize numbers, but we also want them to be able to do it automatically.
The less time it takes for young children to identify a number, the better they will be able to process other number skills like skip counting, comparing numbers, adding, and subtracting. The Number ZAP! Game combines reciting numbers on flashcards with playing a fast-paced, exciting game!
Click here to get the Number ZAP! Game for yourself!
How to play:
Teachers will choose a lightning bolt card with the target number. The game works best if you have a few of the target number cards in the deck, so you will need to print multiple sheets of the lightning bolt pages.
Mix the lightning bolt target number cards in with the rest of the cards you want students to work on identifying.
Preschool or kindergarten students will form a line and take turns reading the number on the card the teacher shows. Once they read a number, they go to the end of the line.
That is, unless they get a ZAP number! If a child reads the target number, they are “ZAPPED” out of the game.
The fun doesn’t stop there! When students are “ZAPPED” out, they can then enjoy a treat or go play on the playground (if you are playing outside-which is my favorite!)
Students who are out of the game may also write the target number and keep track of how many times it is shown by making a tally mark every time another student gets that number.
The line keeps moving until there is one person left standing!
Everyone wins at this number recognition game!
Even if a child is the first one out of the game, they still get to have fun by enjoying the treat/reward you chose and cheering on their friends.
It’s also fun to see which students tracks the most tally marks on their data recording sheet.
5-step number recogNITION Routine printable freebie:
Some notes about the preschool and kindergarten Number ZAP! Game
You do not have to use all the number included. If you are teaching young preschoolers, you will only want to include number 1-10. This means that you will need to print multiple copies of each number.
As the children become more fluent with number identification, trade out some of the well-known numbers for those more recently learned.
A logical progression is:
- 1-5
- 1-10
- 1-20
- 10-30
- Any combination of number you see fit for your students.
Number ZAP is best for numbers that have already been explicitly taught to students or as a review of previously taught.
I do not recommend using this game to teach numbers to children, because they may not feel successful if they don’t know a number. The point of the game is to HAVE FUN while building fluency, not feeling sad because you don’t know a number.
If students say the wrong number, I prompt them and give them another chance. You can choose whether you let the child continue the game. If figure that the more exposures to the numbers the better, so I keep them playing until they get “ZAPPED!”
Get this simple number recognition game for your classroom!
This game has already been created for you. All you must do is print and cut out the cards!
If you want sturdier cards that will last longer, you can paste the cards on construction paper and cut out leaving a ¼ to ½ inch border. Then laminate, cut out, and your game is ready to go!
Let me know what you think of the Number ZAP! Game!
Leave a comment with the age of children you played the game with and your favorite target number.
