What Maths Games Are Good for Teaching Year 1 Children?

Teaching maths to young children can be a challenging task, but it is an important skill that lays the foundation for their future learning. One effective way to engage and motivate children in learning maths is through the use of maths games. 

Games provide a fun and interactive way for children to practice maths skills such as counting, addition, subtraction, and more. In this article, we will discuss five games that are particularly effective in teaching maths to year 1 children (ages 5-6).

Counting Games

Counting is a fundamental maths skill that children should master fast. Counting games can help children develop their counting skills and improve their ability to recognize numbers.

One counting game for year 1 children is “Roll and Count.” In this game, the children roll a dice and then count out that many objects, such as beans or blocks. This game helps children practice counting and also introduces them to the concept of “more” and “less.”

Addition and Subtraction Games

Once children have mastered counting, it is important for them to learn the basic concepts of addition and subtraction through maths games. Cazoom Maths has several addition and subtraction worksheets to use together with various maths games for addition and substation. 

“Fish Bowl Addition” is a great example. In this game, the teacher or parent writes simple addition equations (such as 3 + 2 or 4 + 1) on small slips of paper and puts them in a fishbowl. The children then take turns drawing a slip of paper and solving the equation. 

Measurement and Geometry Games

Measuring and understanding basic geometric shapes are important maths skills for year 1 children to learn. There are several games that can help children practice these skills in a fun and interactive way.

If you are looking for a great example, “Treasure Hunt” is just perfect. In this game, the teacher or parent hides small objects around the room and gives the children clues to help them find them. The clues can involve measuring and comparing objects using non-standard units.

Number Sense Games

Developing a strong sense of numbers and understanding how they relate to each other is an important maths skill for year 1 children. There are several games that can help children practice this skill in a fun and interactive way.

A great game is “Number Line Hop.” In this game, the teacher or parent creates a number line on the floor using masking tape or chalk. The children then take turns standing on a number and performing a maths operation such as adding or subtracting to move to a new number on the line. 

Multiplication and Division Games

Once children have mastered the basic concepts of addition and subtraction, it is important for them to learn the basic concepts of multiplication and division. 

One such game is “Multiplication War.” In this game, the children use a set of cards with numbers on them. The children then take turns flipping over a card and multiplying it by the number on their opponent’s card. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, games are an effective and engaging way to teach maths to year 1 children. By playing the above games, children can practice and improve their maths skills in a fun and interactive way. Try these maths games today.