Rules: Spread all the cards out face down. The first player turns over any two cards. If they are a pair, the player removes the two cards and scores a point. If they are not a pair, both cards are turned back down in their places. The second player then turns over two cards and so on. When all the cards have been matched, the player with more pairs wins. Change the pairs of children often.

Rules: Spread out 10 cards face down and place the rest of the cards in a pile face down. The first player turns over the card on top of the pile and places beside the pile. They then turn over one of the cards spread out. The player works out the difference between the number of dots on each card, and takes that number of counters. (E.g. If one card displayed 4 dots and the other 9, the player would take 5 counters.) The spread card is turned face down again in its place and the next player turns the top pile card and so on. Play continues until all the pile cards have been used. The winner is the player with the most counters; therefore the strategy is to remember the value of the spread cards so the one that gives the maximum difference can be chosen.

Materials: 4 players, 12 ten-frames with dot arrangements on them, a blank ten-frame for each child, counters.

 

Rules: One child shows a ten-frame for a count of three, then hides it while the other children place counters in the same positions on their frames from memory. The 'flasher' shows the card again and helps each child check their display. Change the 'flasher' often, until everyone has had a turn.

 

1. Points can be awarded for each correct response. The child with the most points wins.

Materials: 3-4 players, blank ten-frames (2 per child), counters, dice

 

Rules: First child rolls a dice, places that number of counters onto their ten-frames, then announces the total number of counters on the frames. Then the next child takes a turn and so on. The winner is the first player to fill all twenty spaces.

 

Materials: 2 players, blank ten-frames, counters, a large hard-cover books to form a barrier between pairs of children.

 

Rules: One player secretly arranges some counters on a ten-frame. The other player asks questions that can be answered yes or no, trying to gain enough clues to work out the arrangement of counters. For example: Is the top row full? Are there 8 counters? Is there an empty box in the bottom row?

 

1. As players become more skilled, the number of questions can be counted. The player asking fewer questions wins.

Each section contains an engaging, curriculum-related activity to engage your students. The tasks are switched out regularly so that your students always have new tasks to choose from.

Below is a sample Math Choice Board for 1st class