With many parents now having to educate their children from home, the demand for educational games is ever-increasing! We understand that having to follow a curriculum can, at times, be tough - especially when your child needs to practice a variety of skills such as in Math. That's why we've compiled a comprehensive guide to tackling 1stgrade math by using interactive games to practice a variety of skills. Browse our collection of games and have loads of fun in the process!
1. Clock matcher
Students are asked to match digital clocks to their matching analog clocks. Math skills developed in this matching game: telling half-hour time.
Learn more: education.com
2. Kitten Match Addition
Make math fun by adding cute kittens diving for some yarn. The aim of the game is to collect balls of yarn that add up to the desired number in the middle, developing foundational skills. The timer at the top adds a little pressure to this exciting game, making simple equations seem a little more daunting. Maths is also a little more abstract when there are no symbols involved, making the little ones think in a more abstract manner in many online math games.
Learn more: mathplayground.com
3. Basketball fans delight
Turn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division into fun activities whilst revising these concepts on an online basketball court!
Learn more: math4childrenplus.com
4. Place Value Machine Game
Muggo has a computer machine that needs some computer chips to work in this colorful game. He will tell you how many he needs and students feed the chips into the computer. This digital addition activity teaches them to break down 2 digit numbers into smaller factors of tens and ones. This is one of the most essential 1st Grade math skills that you can quickly practice with this game after a lesson.
Learn more: education.com
5. Shape spotter
Kids practice their shape recognition skills whilst sitting poolside and enjoying this fun game. Review geometric shapes with your young ones whilst on Summer vacation!
Learn more: education.com
6. Compare Numbers
Knowing numbers is one thing, but understanding their value in relation to one another is a whole new set of math skills. Make a comparing mat with some scraps of paper by fastening 2 strips of paper in the middle with a pin. Using UNO cards, add numbers to either side of the "greater than" simple or swing the arms to show which direction they should point.
Learn more: thekindergartensmorgasboard.com
7. Geometry-themed math game
Discover the properties of 3D shapes with the help of a few friendly animals!
Learn more: splashlearn.com
8. Do You Have Enough Money?
Challenge students' concept of money by sending them to a virtual shop. They must count the coins to see if they have enough money to buy a given item. Seeing the face of the coin rather than its value will teach students to do addition and subtraction as abstract concepts. If they answer incorrectly, there are also great instructions helping them reevaluate the answer and work on the identification of coins.
Learn more: ixl.com
9. Clever Coin counter
Students practice their addition skills in this simple game as they count the value depicted on their card and then place their peg on the answer.
Learn more: 123homeschool4me.com
10. Cavern Addition Game
The online cavern addition game is twofold. First, students must swing across the cavern to collect gemstones, and then they must solve a math equation regarding the stones. To make it a more challenging game, there will be a new bat added after each level and students must avoid swinging into these pesky critters on their fun-filled adventure. It is a fun cave climbing game that develops addition and subtraction skills, laying a good foundation for math skills.
Learn more: toytheater.com
11. Roll and record
Picture graphs are part of the 1st grade curriculum and should be introduced in a fun, yet simple manner. The data-related questions that follow are designed to challenge students to accurately answer questions regarding the data captured on their bar graphs.
Learn more: thefirstgraderoundup.com
12. One Meter Dash
Once students understand the concept of 1 meter and smaller units like centimeters, they should be urged to do additions to measure up to 1 meter. With this quick measurement game, students should write down 3 items in the class they think will together add up to 1 meter and see who can come closest. By using real-world objects instead of 2-D shapes students can better understand the practical implication of maths.
Learn more: calculate.org.au
13. Grow your garden- The perfect Springtime garden game
Students roll a dice and plant as many flowers as the dice depicts.
Learn more: fun-a-day.com
14. Skittles Graph
Who wouldn't like to eat some Skittles while learning? Give each group of students a bag of skittles that they can then count and log on a graph. The whole class can compare their graphs, calculating who had more of which color, who had less of another, and which color was the most or least popular. It is a colorful data game that helps develop essential math skills.
Learn more: kindergartenafunplacetobe.blogspot.com
15. Building blocks matching activity
Paint toy blocks and then race to match the 3D shapes to their outlines. This fun math activity can further be used to teach your student about shapes by attributes.
Learn more: handsonaswegrow.com
16. Bouncing Sums
Toss a numbered beach ball around the class and have students call out the number they touch with their right thumb. Each number should be added to the previous number and the cycle must stop once there is a mistake. Log the number the class can reach each day and see if they can beat a previous day's record. It is a super fun game that helps develop basic mathematical skills.
Learn more: scholastic.com
17. Subtraction sentences
This online game allows students to listen to audio as they read. This story-type learning can be used to further develop student progress by assessing their ability to deduce answers from broader contexts.
Learn more: za.ixl.com
18. Bowling Pin Maths
Use a set of pins with numbers on (you can add sticky dots yourself) and let students do the math as they bowl. They can add or subtract the numbers on the pins, or try to knock down pins adding to a number you give them. This 1st-grade math game can be adapted in a wide variety of ways but will always deliver tons of fun.
Learn more: justcaracarroll.com
19. Picture addition
Students learn to add one-digit numbers together to create two-digit numbers.
Learn more: splashlearn.com
20. Dice Wars
This simple math game for 1st graders doesn't need any fancy classroom toys. A set of dice is all that is needed for this exciting counting game. Two students go head to head by rolling the dice and calculating the sum of the numbers. The student with the highest total after a few rounds win. Make it more difficult by adding dice or instructing students to subtract the numbers.
Learn more: missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com
21. Multiplication bingo
Multiply the numbers on the board and look for the answer on the virtual bingo counter.
Learn more: turtlediary.com
22. Number Battleships
Transform the classic game of battleships into one of the best educational math games to teach basic skills. Using a 100s chart as the game board, students can place some colorful objects on the chart as their chips. By calling out the numbers they will learn to quickly find them on the chart and associate the words and written form of numbers to 100.
Learn more: 123homeschool4me.com
23. Monster match
This game required that students match the equation (add/subtract/multiply/divide) to the correct answer.
Learn more: abcya.com
24. Balance the scale
Practice balancing the scale through addition.
Learn more: toytheater.com
25. Make 10
Place numbers in a Sudoku-like square and ask your learners to add or subtract values to get to 10.
Learn more: toytheater.com
26. Birthday candle counting
Teach your child to count and then decorate their cake. Vary your counting by counting in 1s, 2's, and 5's.
Learn more: abcya.com
27. Grow your glow-worm
Answer equations to help your glow-worm grow, crawl along, and avoid enemies as he goes.
Learn more: za.mathgames.com
28. Balloon pop subtraction
Pop your balloons by selecting the correct answers.
Learn more: abcya.com
29. Time Punch
Choose the correct analog time so that it matches the time depicted on the clock face.
Learn more: hoodamath.com
30. Minus mission
Shoot the slime that matches the answer in the laser before the bubble bursts.
Learn more: coolmath4kids.com
31. Snakes and ladders
Answer the questions, roll the dice if you are correct and move up a snake.
Learn more: kidsmathtv.com
32. Fruit weighing game
Answer the question by selecting the right answer. This game is fantastic for introducing students to the metric system.
Learn more: coolmath4kids.com
33. Tractor multiplication
Play tractor tug of war by answering the multiplication questions that appear on the screen.
Learn more: coolmath4kids.com
Concluding Thoughts
Teaching or reinforcing class content through the use of games has been shown to develop positive attitudes to learning and help facilitate better long-term memory storage. Students learn to activate what they have learned by practicing the concepts and rules of maths in a fun manner. Games in the classroom, or at home, should therefore not be underrated.