1, 2, 3 count with me! Teaching students how to count and have number sense is an important kindergarten skill. However, it can be daunting to get down the idea of counting let alone number sense. That’s why I love to use ten frame games in elementary.
The Importance of Ten Frames in the Elementary Classroom
Ten frames are great for getting students to recognize numbers without having to count them out. When students can recognize how many there are without counting, they have more number sense which will later make adding and subtracting up to and from ten easier! To help with number recognition on ten frames, I like to play ten frame games in elementary.
Why Use Ten Frame Games in Elementary
Ten frame games are a great way to help students practice counting, number recognition, and number sense. Plus, when you use ten frame games in elementary, your students are going to be super engaged because it’s not your traditional worksheet. Therefore, they forget they are doing work and just start to have fun! When you’re using these games to practice counting and number sense with your students, their skills will grow with ease because the practice will be so much fun.
Ten Frame Games for Elementary Students
If you’re looking for fun, ten frame games for students is a great place to start. What kind of games can you play with ten frames? All sorts.
Card Counting with Ten Frames
The very place students are going to start is counting and recognizing the number. This Fall Count and Cover ten frame game for elementary is perfect! With this game, students draw a card and then cover the number on their paper. Some numbers are on their twice so they will have to keep playing to get each number. With count and cover, you can play a variety of games including bingo as a whole class. If you do this, make sure you display the ten frames on the board so everyone can see.
Once your students have mastered numbers 1-10, you can use count and over with teen numbers with this Winter Ten Frame Game. Just like the fall ten frame, you can do this as a whole group, or you can have students work in pairs taking turns. When students work in pairs, they can correct and learn from each other while learning how to collaborate.
Use Creative Count Games
Another great ten frame game for elementary you can use is all about building numbers, counting objects, and writing it all in. This is great for number formation as well as getting better at ten frames and overall counting. These November activities are great for morning motivators as well as center activities. Remember, when you use these as center activities, they should be something students are already familiar with so they are reviewing already learned skills.
Play a Whole Class Ten Frame Game in Elementary
If your students are getting great at counting and understanding the sequencing of numbers, this “I have, Who has” game is the best! Students get a card and will say, for example, “I have seven.” Then they will ask who has the next number. So, in this example they would say, “Who has eight?” This continues until you have all the ten frames in numerical order. This is great collaboration and helps build a strong community.
You can use ten frame games in elementary in a variety of ways. Whether you are using these activities as morning motivators, a whole group activity, or as a center activity, your students will be so engaged they won’t even realize how much practice they are getting. So, check out these games and all our other great resources at Adventures in Kinder and Beyond.
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