Why Math Games?

Math games provide a structure and process for children to engage in problem
solving in order to reach a particular goal or objective. Reaching that goal might
be challenging, but the challenge is also what makes game-playing fun. In a
game, children can play alone or with a group, they can make their own
decisions about the moves they will make, and they can play over and over again
trying out different strategies.

In addition to all the foundational mathematics learning going on while they play
games, children are building their confidence as problem solvers and practicing
important social-emotional skills. Games in the preschool classroom also provide
teachers the opportunity to gain insights into children’s developing mathematical
thinking.

Persistence and problem solving Games are an ideal vehicle for children to
practice persistence and problem solving as they try out new strategies and
encounter difficulties. They can see what works and why, and try again without
the pressure of doing it “right.” Teachers can support the development of
children’s persistence at challenging games and of their confidence as problem
solvers.

Social-emotional development Playing games with classmates fosters social

and emotional skills like being patient, taking turns, and solving problems
collaboratively. Games with an element of competition also give children an
opportunity to practice winning and losing graciously and with respect.

Teacher observation As children engage in game-play, preschool teachers

have a rich opportunity to observe children’s thinking, reasoning, and math skills
at work. For example, as a child moves a game piece along a number path in a
board game, the teacher can observe whether the child can recite the number
sequence accurately and maintain one-to-one correspondence.

Repetition and practice Finally, games give children repeated practice, as they
enjoy playing the same games over and over.

What's the Math?

Using games as a foundation for learning, and with input from over one hundred
Head Start teachers, EDC’s Games for Young Mathematicians has developed a
set of instructional materials for preschool teachers that are fun, engaging,
and easy-to-use. Games and accompanying resources on the Young
Mathematicians site focus collectively on counting, operations, algebraic thinking,
and geometry.

These games are designed to be adaptable, with multiple entry points so they
are appropriately difficult for all children. For example, children who are at the
beginning of their mathematics learning can engage with small numbers and
simpler versions of the games; children who are further along are challenged with
additional choices (e.g., you can add or subtractthe quantities on a die).

Below is a sample of games focused on number sense. Number and operations

skills are foundational for later mathematics learning [1] and represent a large
portion of early childhood math learning standards. The following games are
examples that highlight these key number and operation skills:

 recognizing and knowing the number word list ,

 subitizing (knowing how many in a small set immediately),
 cardinality (knowing that the last number of objects counted is the number in
the set),
 one-to-one counting correspondence (pairing one object with exactly one
number word),
 written number symbols,
 comparing numbers (more, less, same), and
 composing and decomposing numbers (addition and subtraction).

Games with Fingers

Simple games with fingers focus on key skills including counting, cardinality,
subitizing, and combining and taking apart sets. New research shows that using
fingers plays an important role in learning and understanding arithmetic (despite
what we might’ve been told!). [2] You can also play finger games at any time—
since your fingers are always with you!

Try this simple finger game. Hide your hands behind your back, then show your
hands holding up a few fingers on each hand. For example, show three fingers
on your right hand and two fingers on your left hand. Children love it when you
chant a little rhyme before revealing your fingers: “Fingers, fingers, 1,2,3, how
many fingers do you see?” Children then call out how many fingers you are
holding up.

To make the game a little more challenging, ask children to use both hands and
show five in a different way. You can also ask children show you on their fingers
one more or one fewer than the number of fingers you held up. As children get
older and have more practice, you can even ask them how many fingers you
are notraising.

Games with Dot Cards

Dot cards provide a wealth of game options for young children to practice
subitizing, counting, and cardinality. Children use cards that have from one to
tenblack dots arranged in different configurations—linear (straight line),
rectangular, dice pattern, circular, and scattered. The dots are arranged in
different configurations because the variety helps children develop many mental
images of quantities. Children need practice with objects in lots of different
arrangements. In particular, circular and scattered arrangements are harder to
count one-by-one.

Children can also play with these cards in different ways: covering dots, copying
the patterns, matching cards, finding a certain card, and figuring out one more or
one fewer. For a book link, we suggest the picture book Ten Black Dotsby
Donald Crews. Children can use this as inspiration to make their own illustrations
with dots at the art table. For a home link, teachers can send home the mini-
book Can You Find?for children to read with their families. On each page
children try to find the card with a certain number of dots.

Jumping on the Lily Pads

Children play Jumping on the Lily Pads with a lily pad number-path board, dot
cubes, and frog game pieces (or other tokens). This game helps children develop
a mental number line and understand that whole numbers are spaced equally
along a number line. The more that children develop a mental number line, the
more prepared they are for the math tasks that await them in kindergarten. [3]

To play the game, children take turns rolling the dot cube and moving their frogs
along the game board. The goal is to be the first to reach the pond. While playing
this game, children are practicing numeral recognition, using one-to-one
correspondence (when moving on the board), and using vocabulary such
as before, after, closer, further. Jumping on the Lily Pads give students
experience with a mathematically crucial tool—the number line—and strategic
use of that tool.

As you introduce more math into your classroom, be positive! Your attitude
matters, so have fun introducing and integrating math activities. Use books and
games to promote playful math experiences. It’s as easy as playing finger
games, card games, and board games to build young children’s understanding of
number and the number line!

Kristen E. Reed is a senior project director and mathematics educator at

Education Development Center.

Jessica Mercer Young is a senior research scientist and developmental and

educational psychologist specializing in early learning at Education Development
Center, in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Cover photo: Yen Thieu, EDC

NOTES
[1] National Research Council. 2009. Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood:
Paths Toward Excellence and Equity. Washington, D.C.: The National
Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12519.

[2] Berteletti, I., & Booth, J. R. (2015). Perceiving fingers in single-digit arithmetic
problems. Frontiers in Psychology, 6,
226. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00226

[3] Siegler, R. S. & Ramani, G. B. (2009). Playing Linear Number Board Games –
But Not Circular Ones – Improves Low-Income Preschoolers’ Numerical
Understanding. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(3), 545–560.
Math games are a playful way for young children to engage in foundational math
thinking. Photo: Burt Granofsky, EDC
Simple games using fingers can help children learn math skills. Photo: Yen
Thieu, EDC
Reference: https://dreme.stanford.edu/news/math-games-excite-young-minds

Dot cards provide a wealth of options for young children to practice subtilizing,
counting, and cardinality. Photo: Yen Thieu, EDC
Preschoolers can play the game Jumping on the Lily Pads with a simple game
board--or they can play the real jumping version! (See above.)

These short, printable books give families a fun way to practice mathematics and
deepen learning at home.