Beat the Teacher! Competition Math Games for Kindergarten and First Grade

Each week we will focus on a different math concept with fun, competitive games. I will teach the game to the class. Then the class will work as a team to try to beat me. In larger classes. I may ask some students to join my team so everyone can have more turns. In addition to learning math, they will learn to demonstrate good sportsmanship no matter who wins that week. My one rule is "No Crying" which is hard to do if your team is not the winning team, but such an important skill. 

A few days before class a printout or supply list will be provided. Below is the list of the basic items you will need. They are usually items found in your home or easy to get (such as dice, playing cards, coins, etc). The printout can be easily handwritten if you do not have access to a printer. If you do not have a supply, come anyway. You can use my cards or dice as we play on the big screen. 


Week of Dec 2 - HUNDRED'S CHART GAME (adding and counting to 100, subtracting 5 and adding 10)
Supplies: printout, 2 dice, game piece

Week of Dec 9 - WHERE DOES THIS NUMBER GO? (order and sequencing)
Supplies: blank paper, scissors, pencil

Week of Dec 16 -  GUESS MY NUMBER (bigger than/smaller than up to 100)
Supplies: 100s chart printout (make 3 copies) and pencil

Week of Dec 23 - PATTERNS (What is next? What is missing?)
Supplies: printout (optional), a bunch of colored items (plain M&Ms/skittles/beads/etc), and some toothpicks

Week of Dec 30 - COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH (subtraction)
Supplies: printout, playing cards/uno cards (1-10), game pieces. 

Week of Jan 6 - TEEN BINGO (recognizing numbers by their numerals as well as with pictures 1-20)
Supplies: printout (all 3 pages)

Week of Jan 13 - MONEY TREE (working with coins)
Supplies: printout (2 pages), lots of pennies (20+), nickels (10+), dimes (10+), and quarters (4)

Week of Jan 20 - MY TREE IS GROWING (adding on)
Supplies: printout, regular dice, pencil, crayons (orange & green)

Week of Jan 27 - BIGGER IS BETTER (bigger than/smaller than up to 10)
Supplies: Deck of cards (#1-10) 
- We will also work on addition (adding two cards) and estimation (guess who won without counting)

Week of Feb 3  -  PLUS OR MINUS (knowing which way to go on a number line)
Supplies: printout (please make the cubes before class), game pieces. 

Week of Feb 10 -  DOUBLE TROUBLE (adding double numbers)
Supplies: printout, one dice, 2 colors chips/ small coins to show the 2 teams (such as pennies and dimes)

Week of Feb 17 - DOUBLES PLUS ONE (double numbers and adding one more)
Supplies: printout, playing cards (#1-10), pennies or other small game pieces

Week of Feb 24 -  RACE TO THE TOP  (making 10)
Supplies: 1 dice, printout, (cut out the second page for the game pieces - or bring 10 pennies/button and 4 game markers - red, blue, green, yellow. ) 

Week of Mar 3 - MAKE 10 (what 2 numbers make 10)
Supplies: playing cards (#1-10)

Week of Mar 10 - MAKE THE BIGGEST NUMBER (place value)
Supplies: playing cards (#1-9)

Week of Mar 17 - COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH (subtraction)
Supplies: printout, playing cards/uno cards (1-10), game pieces.