Here are some addition games that you can play at home with your child. We will play all of these games in class. This is just a chance for you to reinforce your student's learning by playing at home. You can substitute any counters or cubes required to play the games with things like buttons or beans or anything else handy.
There are many strategies to find answers to addition problems. Whatever your child needs is fine. However, while using fingers is okay, we want students to move onto higher thinking strategies. Here are some goals we are working toward in first grade when adding:
- Say the bigger number and count on the smaller number. For example, if you turn over an 8 and a 3, you would say: “8 and then 9, 10, 11.”
- Recognize that any time you add 1, it is just the next number in counting
- Recognize that 0 doesn’t change the amount, it’s the easiest number to add
- Recognize combinations that make 10 (we call them 10 friends): 0 and 10, 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, etc.
- Use 10 friends when adding. When you have 8+3, you know that 8+2 is 10, so 8+3 has to be 11 because 3 is one more than 2.
- Use doubles (3+3=6, etc) and near doubles when adding. When you have 7+6, you know that 6+6 is 12, so 6+7 has to be 13 because 7 is one more than 6.
If your child needs a number line to help with adding--here you go! A number line is a great strategy, but encourage your child to use more efficient strategies as the year progresses.
We use these Number Cards for many Addition Games. You are welcome to print and use these cards but you can also use face cards, Rook cards or any other cards you might already have that have numbers on them. These Number Cards are nice because they have pictures on the cards that correspond with the numbers. So if your child needs a concrete representation of a number, these cards have them. Here are some ways to use Number Cards. Feel free to modify these games in any way and know that we don't use the Wild cards at school.
Double Compare:
The kids have a partner. As one partner pulls out two cards and adds them together. Then the other partner does the same. The partner with the highest cards says “me” and clears the cards. We play with the highest card partner saying “me” for a while and then we change and the partner with the lowest card says “me.” You may want to try the game "Compare" first. Look for instructions under the Number Sense section.
When your child masters Double Compare, try Triple Compare and add three numbers together.
Make Ten:
Using number cards, lay out 5 rows of cards with 4 cards in each row (20 altogether). Cards should be placed face up. Take turns matching two cards to make 10. Towards the end of the game, you might match three cards to make 10.
Tens Go Fish:
Simply, play go fish. However, instead of just matching numbers that are the same, match numbers that make 10. This is a great way to play a fun game while still practicing ten friend facts.
Double Compare:
The kids have a partner. As one partner pulls out two cards and adds them together. Then the other partner does the same. The partner with the highest cards says “me” and clears the cards. We play with the highest card partner saying “me” for a while and then we change and the partner with the lowest card says “me.” You may want to try the game "Compare" first. Look for instructions under the Number Sense section.
When your child masters Double Compare, try Triple Compare and add three numbers together.
Make Ten:
Using number cards, lay out 5 rows of cards with 4 cards in each row (20 altogether). Cards should be placed face up. Take turns matching two cards to make 10. Towards the end of the game, you might match three cards to make 10.
Tens Go Fish:
Simply, play go fish. However, instead of just matching numbers that are the same, match numbers that make 10. This is a great way to play a fun game while still practicing ten friend facts.
Five in a Row:
This game can be played with partners or without. Each partner takes turns rolling 2 dice. They add the numbers together and cover that sum on the gameboard. If that number is already covered, they get to roll again. The game is over when all of the numbers in one row are covered (kind of like Bingo).
This game can be played with partners or without. Each partner takes turns rolling 2 dice. They add the numbers together and cover that sum on the gameboard. If that number is already covered, they get to roll again. The game is over when all of the numbers in one row are covered (kind of like Bingo).
Roll and Record:
The game can be played with partners or without. Each partner takes turns rolling 2 dice. They add the numbers and record the sum on the recording sheet. The game is over when one column is full (or one number “wins”).
The game can be played with partners or without. Each partner takes turns rolling 2 dice. They add the numbers and record the sum on the recording sheet. The game is over when one column is full (or one number “wins”).
Heads and Tails:
This game can be played with a partner or alone. Decide how many pennies to play with and record this number on the recording sheet. Drop the pennies. Count how many are heads and how many are tails. Record the two numbers on the recording sheet. Keep dropping the pennies and recording how they land. The game is over when the grid is full.
This game can be played with a partner or alone. Decide how many pennies to play with and record this number on the recording sheet. Drop the pennies. Count how many are heads and how many are tails. Record the two numbers on the recording sheet. Keep dropping the pennies and recording how they land. The game is over when the grid is full.
How Many Am I Hiding?:
This game is played with a partner. Decide how many cubes (or other objects) to play with and record this number on the recording sheet. Make a tower with that many cubes. Player 1 hides some of the cubes, but shows the rest. Player 2 figures out how many cubes are hidden. Record the numbers on the recording sheets. Keep playing with the same tower until the grid is full.
This game is played with a partner. Decide how many cubes (or other objects) to play with and record this number on the recording sheet. Make a tower with that many cubes. Player 1 hides some of the cubes, but shows the rest. Player 2 figures out how many cubes are hidden. Record the numbers on the recording sheets. Keep playing with the same tower until the grid is full.
Counters in a Cup:
This game is played with a partner. Decide how many counters to play with and write the number on the recording sheet. Count out that many counters. Player 1 hides some of the counters under the cup. Player 2 figures out how many are hidden. Record the numbers on the recording sheet. Keep playing with the same set of counters until the grid is full.
This game is played with a partner. Decide how many counters to play with and write the number on the recording sheet. Count out that many counters. Player 1 hides some of the counters under the cup. Player 2 figures out how many are hidden. Record the numbers on the recording sheet. Keep playing with the same set of counters until the grid is full.
Story Problems:
Create basic addition story problems. Have your child show/tell how they figure it out using our template. The top box is for the story problem. Underneath is a box for the number sentences or equations. Finally, the biggest box is to show work. We want students to use numbers, words and pictures to show work. We encourage any strategy necessary, but we want to label with numbers and explain step by step what was done.
Create basic addition story problems. Have your child show/tell how they figure it out using our template. The top box is for the story problem. Underneath is a box for the number sentences or equations. Finally, the biggest box is to show work. We want students to use numbers, words and pictures to show work. We encourage any strategy necessary, but we want to label with numbers and explain step by step what was done.
Marble Math:
Play this game! This allows students to use virtual marbles to count and add numbers.
Play this game! This allows students to use virtual marbles to count and add numbers.
Jet Ski Addition:
Play this game! Students will race to find answers to addition problems. The more he/she gets right, the faster the jet ski goes.
Play this game! Students will race to find answers to addition problems. The more he/she gets right, the faster the jet ski goes.