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 1st-grade 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. Time Travel Game
Introduce your learners to telling time with this simple online game! Your kids will practice setting a clock so they can travel through time to save their cat. With four different difficulty levels plus a practice level, as well as options for both digital and analog clocks, it’s easy to tailor your students’ practice to address exactly what they need.
Learn more: ABC Ya
2. Kitten Match Addition
Make math fun by adding in a cute kitten-themed game. The aim of the game is for your kiddos to collect balls of yarn that add up to the desired number in the middle; developing foundational addition skills. The timer at the top adds a little pressure to this exciting game—making otherwise simple equations seem a little more daunting!
Learn more: Math Playground
3. Basketball Fans’ Delight
Addition and subtraction will become fun activities when your students are practicing these concepts in a basketball-themed game! The rules are simple: have your learners pick a basketball and solve the problem on the reverse side. If they answer correctly, they can keep the ball; the person with the most balls at the end of the game wins.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
4. Place Value Machine Game
Muggo has a computer that needs computer chips to work. He’ll tell your students how many he needs and they’ll have to feed in the corresponding amount. This digital addition activity is perfect for teaching your kids how to break down two-digit numbers into smaller factors of tens and ones—an essential 1st grade math skill.
Learn more: Education
5. Shape Spotter
Your kids can practice their shape recognition skills while sitting poolside! To play, they’ll have to find familiar shapes in various sizes and orientations; a great way to get them thinking creatively and noticing small details. Who knew the pool was such a good place to learn geometry?
Learn more: Education
6. Compare Numbers
Recognizing numbers is one thing, but understanding their value in relation to one another requires a whole new set of math skills. Make a comparison mat with some scraps of paper by fastening two strips of paper in the middle with a pin to form a moveable “greater-than” symbol. Using UNO cards, add numbers to either side. You can then invite your students to move the paper strips to show which direction the symbol should point.
Learn more: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard
7. Geometry-Themed Math Game
Help your kiddos discover the properties of 3D shapes with the help of a few friendly animals! This site has a variety of free online geometry games so you can simply pick the best ones for your students based on what they most need to practice.
Learn more: Splash Learn
8. Do You Have Enough Money?
Challenge your students’ understanding of money-related concepts by sending them to a virtual shop. They’ll need to 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 increase their familiarity with real-life money and help them get to grips with adding and subtracting as they would out in the real world.
Learn more: IXL
9. Clever Coin Counter
Here’s another excellent money-focused game! Your students will practice their addition skills as they count the value depicted on their card and then place a clothespin on the correct answer.
Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
10. Cavern Addition Game
This online addition game is twofold in its benefits. First, your students will have to swing across the cavern to collect gemstones before solving a math equation related to the stones they’ve rounded up. To make it more challenging, a new bat is added after each level—your kids must avoid swinging into these pesky critters on their fun-filled adventure.
Learn more: Toy Theater
11. Roll and Record
Picture graphs are part of the 1st grade curriculum and should be introduced in a fun yet simple manner. These data-related worksheets are designed to challenge your students to accurately answer questions about the data they’ll capture on their bar graphs.
Learn more: The First Grade Roundup
12. One-Meter Dash
Once kids understand the concept of meters and smaller units like centimeters, they should be urged to practice their skills! With this quick measurement game, your students will have an opportunity to do just that! Task them with writing down three items in the class that they think will add up to one meter when positioned one on top of another. By using real-world objects instead of 2D shapes your students can better understand the practical implications of math.
Learn more: AMSI Calculate
13. Grow Your Garden—The Perfect Springtime Garden Game
Calling all green thumbs! Have your students roll a die and plant as many artificial flowers as it depicts. This simple and tactile activity is an engaging way to build early counting skills.
Learn more: Fun-A-Day
14. Skittles Graph
Who wouldn’t like to eat some Skittles while learning? Give each group of your students a bag of Skittles that they can count and log on a graph. The whole class can then compare their graphs by calculating who had more of a particular color, who had less of another, and which color was the most or least popular.
Learn more: Golden Gang Kindergarten
15. Building Blocks Matching Activity
Prep for this activity by tracing toy blocks on a piece of paper. Once you’re all set up, challenge your learners to race to match the 3D shapes to their outlines. Once they’ve matched up all their shapes, spend time discussing each one and its attributes.
Learn more: Hands On As We Grow
16. Bouncing Sums
Time to get hands-on with numbers—literally! Have your students stand in a circle and gently toss a numbered beach ball around. Whoever catches it must add up the numbers that their thumbs are touching or closest to. This is an easy way to practice basic mathematical skills—and motor skills too!
Learn more: Saddle Up for Second Grade
17. Subtraction Sentences
This online game allows your students to listen to audio as they read. This story-type learning is engaging for your auditory learners and can help your kids better understand math in real-world situations.
Learn more: IXL
18. Bowling Pin Math
You can adapt this 1st grade math game in a wide variety of ways, but one thing is certain: it will always deliver tons of fun. Use a set of pins with numbers on them and let your students do the math as they bowl—adding or subtracting the numbers on the pins as they knock them down. Keen on upping the ante? Get them to try to knock down pins adding up to a number that you give them.
Learn more: Just Cara Carroll
19. Picture Addition
Here’s a great game for your kiddos to enjoy at home and get in some extra addition practice! Cheery animals will help your students practice adding one-digit numbers to create two-digit numbers in this colorful online game.
Learn more: Splash Learn
20. Dice Wars
This simple math game for 1st graders doesn’t require any fancy classroom toys. If you have a set of dice, you’re ready to roll! Have two of your 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 wins. You can always make it more difficult by adding dice or instructing your players to subtract the numbers instead.
Learn more: Miss Giraffe’s Class
21. Number Battleships
Transform the classic game of Battleship into one of the best educational math games to teach basic skills to your kiddos. Using 100s charts as game boards, your students can place colorful objects on the charts as their ships. By calling out the numbers as guesses they’ll learn to quickly find them on the chart and associate the words and written form of numbers to 100.
Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
22. Monster Match
This online game is a fun mash-up of math and memory. Your students will have to match the equations (add/subtract/multiply/divide) to the correct answer. What could be better, you ask? You can change the settings to focus on the math skills your kiddos need the most practice in!
Learn more: ABC Ya
23. Balance the Scale
Plunge your grade 1s into learning how to form figures that are equal to one another! To do so, have them practice balancing the scale by adding the right number to the missing spot in this simple online game.
Learn more: Toy Theater
24. Make 10
This quick game will get your kids thinking differently about numbers and the realm of addition. Every player will be given four one-digit numbers. Working quickly, they’ll need to add two numbers at a time to reach a total value of 10—carefully trying their best not to exceed it!
Learn more: Toy Theater
25. Birthday Candle Counting
Here’s a fun twist on the classic “happy birthday” activity! This festive game asks your kids to count the candles on each cake and then select the correct answer displayed on a balloon. After five correct answers, they’ll get a chance to decorate their cake as they please!
Learn more: ABC Ya
26. Grow Your Number Worm
Who wouldn’t want a pet number worm? Your kids can engage with different sums by moving their number worms across the screen to answer questions by “eating” the right equation or number. But they’ll need to be quick so as not to let their worm get eaten!
Learn more: Math Games
27. Balloon Pop Subtraction
This cute game introduces subtraction by having your students formulate different subtraction equations with balloons. This is a great way to strengthen their grasp on this area of math and get them more comfortable visualizing math problems.
Learn more: ABC Ya
28. Minus Mission
What could be better than slime and subtraction combined? In this online game, your kids will have to shoot the slime with the equation that matches the number in the laser before the bubble bursts—or else get slimed!
Learn more: Cool Math 4 Kids
29. Snakes and Ladders
This one’s a classic—with a catch! To play, your students will roll the die to move their pieces as usual, but they’ll only get to move up the board if they answer their math questions correctly!
Learn more: Futuristic Math
30. Fruit Weighing Game
Here’s a fun game for introducing your kiddos to the metric system. Simply have them look at the scales to figure out which fruit weighs the most. Start them off at a lower level to gauge their understanding of the concept and then up the ante by increasing the level of difficulty.
Learn more: Cool Math 4 Kids
31. Pirate’s Gold Coin Count
Ahoy there, adventurous educator! Lead your kiddos on a virtual treasure hunt where each gold coin is a math problem just waiting to be solved. Encourage them to think critically about counting, addition, and subtraction as they collect their bounty. This engaging escapade lets your learners anchor themselves in the world of numbers while enjoying the thrill of the hunt.
Learn more: Tot Schooling
32. Caterpillar Count
Nourish the minds and souls of your young learners with this online game! Invite your students to take on the role of caregiver by feeding a virtual caterpillar the correct number of leaves. While they feed their critters, initiate a conversation about the importance of one-to-one correspondence in math. What a heartwarming way to cultivate early numeracy skills!
Learn more: TVO Kids
33. Ice Cream Scoop Sums
Who can resist the allure of ice cream? Stir your students’ imaginations by letting them stack pom-pom scoops to create their own ice cream cones. Each scoop represents a sum to solve—making this a delectable and educational experience. Just like your favorite sundae, this game is packed with layers of learning!
Learn more: Toddler at Play
34. Alien Addition Invasion
Ready, aim, calculate! Welcome your learners to the cosmic battlefield, where their quick addition skills are humanity’s last defense. Encourage them to act quickly to solve single-digit addition problems to fend off the alien invaders. It’s not only a test of wits but also a lesson in quick mental math.
Learn more: The Kindergarten Connection
35. Penguin Place Value Plunge
Dive right in, educators! Guide your learners in an icy activity where they mix and match representations of numbers to create adorable penguins. Use this opportunity to discuss the concept of place values while focusing on tens and ones in two-digit numbers. It’s a wintry mix of fun and foundational math!
Learn more: Math Kids and Chaos
36. Fraction Fun With Food
Let the party begin! Transform your classroom into a fiesta of fractions where your students will split virtual pizzas, cakes, and more. As they divide their treats into halves and quarters, you can engage them in a discussion about the importance of fractions in daily life. Colorful and educational—a perfect combination!
Learn more: Coko Games
37. Zoo Animal Sort
Embark on a virtual safari! Let your students be the zookeepers—sorting animals based on their characteristics like size, color, or type. This activity provides not only a wild experience but also an excellent opportunity to introduce sorting and classification skills. Who knew learning could be this roaringly fun?
Learn more: Fairy Poppins
38. Stargazing Shapes
Encourage your kiddos to reach for the stars with this next idea! Have your students connect celestial points in the virtual night sky to identify geometric shapes. As they embark on this stellar journey you can guide them in recognizing the geometric shapes that compose our universe. A magical, educational tour of the cosmos awaits!
Learn more: YouTube
39. Magic Number Bonds
Let the magic begin! Here, your students will complete number bonds to unlock spells and potions in this enchanting game. As they pair numbers that add up to 10 they won’t even realize that they’re practicing their addition and subtraction skills. It’s like stepping into a world where arithmetic and wizardry collide!
Learn more: Twinkl
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