Math Games: Building a Strong Mathematical Foundation at the Beginning of the School Year

September 7, 2023

As educators of young children we have the opportunity to lay the foundation for a lifelong love of mathematics. Our students bring great curiosity into our classrooms. We can build on their enthusiasm by providing fun math experiences.

Counting and Number Recognition:

COUNT! COUNT! COUNT! Make counting fun by incorporating it into your daily routine. Here are some ideas:
- count how many students are present each day
- count the writing tools at their table: how many crayons? how many markers? how many pencils?
- count the furniture in the classroom: how many chairs? how many tables? how many bookshelves?
Shapes and Patterns: Young children love shapes! The classroom is packed with objects and visuals - from windows to wall tiles, to ceiling panels. Also, do not limit their experiences to the basic shapes. Children are excited and able to learn to identify 3D shapes like spheres, and rectangular prism! Here are some ideas:

shape sorting games
building with blocks
nature walks to identify shapes in the environment

Story Problems and Sorting:

Story Problems: Kindergarteners LOVE to tell stories. Grab some of those stories and turn them into math story problems! They get really invested when those stories problems are related to their own personal experiences. Here are some ideas:
- Snacks Counting mats~ how many crackers would each friend get? How many are left?
- Role Playing~ Engage students in role-playing scenarios like running a pretend bakery where they can buy treats using play money.
- Visuals ~ scenarios are great for math talk and sharing mathematical observations and questions.
Sorting: Offer a great way to build problem-solving and organizational skills. Here are some ideas:
- Texture Sorting ~ provide a collection of different textures (e.g., smooth, rough, sticky, soft) for students to sort.
- Nature Finds ~ Go on a nature walk and collect various natural objects such as leaves, sticks, rocks, and flowers. Students can sort these objects based on their characteristics.