Need some fun ideas to help with number recognition and counting for your elementary students? Be sure to check out this blog post and print the freebie! Practicing numbers and counting is made simple, with these games. They are perfect for small groups, centers, or fast finishers. One game allows for instant differentiation for students who need extra attention. Students will enjoy a change of pace to play a "game", while utilizing their number recognition skills {elementary, counting, freebie}

Do you need some ideas for daily routines to help with number recognition & counting?

Number Recognition Zap

My students love to play ZAP. It doesn’t matter which group or the grade level. It’s simple and fun! I have versions of ZAP for letters, sight words, math facts, and now NUMBERS!

Here’s how to play:

  1. Put number cards and 1-4 ZAP cards in a bag or bucket.
  2. Set a time for the amount of time you would like to spend playing the game. I usually do 5-10 minutes of my small group time.
  3. Students take turns drawing the cards from the bag.
  4. When a student pulls out a card, I require them to say the number they see. I tell them and make them repeat it if they haven’t mastered that particular number.
  5. If they pull out a ZAP card, they have to put ALL of their cards back in the bag.
  6. When the timer goes off, the student with the most numbers in their hand wins!
Need some fun ideas to help with number recognition and counting for your elementary students? Be sure to check out this blog post and print the freebie! Practicing numbers and counting is made simple, with these games. They are perfect for small groups, centers, or fast finishers. One game allows for instant differentiation for students who need extra attention. Students will enjoy a change of pace to play a "game", while utilizing their number recognition skills {elementary, counting, freebie}

Memory Game

Practice numbers and play a good old-fashioned memory game at the same time! I print two copies of number cards and choose pairs of numbers according to the needs of the students I’m working with. I like to choose a combination of familiar and unfamiliar numbers. From there, I put them face down on the table and take turns making matches. I always require my students to say the name of the number or numbers they turn over. If they don’t know the number, I help them and have them repeat the number.
Need some fun ideas to help with number recognition and counting for your elementary students? Be sure to check out this blog post and print the freebie! Practicing numbers and counting is made simple, with these games. They are perfect for small groups, centers, or fast finishers. One game allows for instant differentiation for students who need extra attention. Students will enjoy a change of pace to play a "game", while utilizing their number recognition skills {elementary, counting, freebie}

Ordering Numbers

I have several students who need help understanding the sequence of numbers. Every day, we spend 1-2 minutes putting the numbers in order and verbally counting together. Sometimes, I have one student do it by themselves. Other days, we work together to put them in order.
Need some fun ideas to help with number recognition and counting for your elementary students? Be sure to check out this blog post and print the freebie! Practicing numbers and counting is made simple, with these games. They are perfect for small groups, centers, or fast finishers. One game allows for instant differentiation for students who need extra attention. Students will enjoy a change of pace to play a "game", while utilizing their number recognition skills {elementary, counting, freebie}

Green Beans

This is a simple activity that I adapted from another teacher in my building. Last year, she used this at the beginning of the year to help her students with 1:1 correspondence up to five. I knew my students needed help with this all year long and with larger numbers. So, I created several versions of the recording page for various groups. To prep this, you’ll just need to grab a handful of beans and spray paint ONE side green. If you would like to download the recording pages, click here! 🙂

Here’s how to play:

  1. Place 5 or 10 beans in a cup. The number in the cup will depend on the recording page that you choose to use. I have a page for numbers up to 5, up to 10, and number bonds.
  2. Shake the beans in the cup and dump them on the table.
  3. Count the beans that are GREEN.
  4. Write or trace that number on the recording page
  5. Repeat until one number is completely full.
Need some fun ideas to help with number recognition and counting for your elementary students? Be sure to check out this blog post and print the freebie! Practicing numbers and counting is made simple, with these games. They are perfect for small groups, centers, or fast finishers. One game allows for instant differentiation for students who need extra attention. Students will enjoy a change of pace to play a "game", while utilizing their number recognition skills {elementary, counting, freebie}

Counting Mats

I really love using these number mats to help my students tackle many skills in one activity. Each student receives a mat and a handful of erasers. I show them a number and have them say it aloud. If they don’t know the number, I say it and require them to repeat it. Then, I say, “Show me {insert number}.” They take erasers from the large box and count out the number shown on the card. I require them to say the number aloud as they move the eraser to encourage 1:1 correspondence.

I love this activity because I can differentiate in the moment. I have one student who can count up to fifteen, so he is working on mastering numbers between fifteen and twenty. I have another student who is constantly rotating between 1, 2, 3, and 4 on his mat. He is repeatedly doing those numbers. Each student is working at their level while doing the same task. If you would like to download these recording pages, just click here! 

Need some fun ideas to help with number recognition and counting for your elementary students? Be sure to check out this blog post and print the freebie! Practicing numbers and counting is made simple, with these games. They are perfect for small groups, centers, or fast finishers. One game allows for instant differentiation for students who need extra attention. Students will enjoy a change of pace to play a "game", while utilizing their number recognition skills {elementary, counting, freebie}

Do you know what I love? Prepping ONE set of number cards and being able to use them for three different activities! If this sounds like something you love too, be sure to click the image above to download the number cards. If you are wanting to play memory, just print two sets!