Today I wanted to share a math activity with you that we have been LOVING in first grade! One of my students’ favorite games to play during math centers is Math Match. We play it with pretty much any math skill I teach.
I absolutely love keeping things simple when it comes to math centers. I like being able to teach students how to play a game once and then playing that game over and over throughout the year. One of the biggest challenges I had when I first switched to a math workshop approach was ALL OF THE MATH CENTERS! Finding the right ones, teaching my students how to play, organizing and storing them. It was a hot mess! I was wasting so much instructional time teaching my students brand new math games every single week.
So I decided I needed to simplify! Instead of brand new games, I developed systems and routines for our math center time. I found and created games that students loved playing and begged to play over and over! One of these games is Math Match! I am able to keep the rules of the game the same, but just changing out the math skill.
What is Math Match?
My students play Math Match just like Memory. They turn all the cards face-down in an array (rows and columns). Each player takes turns choosing two cards and turning them over. The player must figure out if the pair is a match. If it is, they keep the cards and go again. If not, they turn the cards back over, and it is the next player’s turn. After all matches are found, students work together to record all of the matches on a recording sheet.
Introducing Math Match
Like with most of our math centers, I like to first introduce the game at my small group table. We practice by playing together first, before students play independently during math stations. This allows students to learn the rules of the game and cuts down on extra interruptions to my small group table. Students are much more likely to be successful if they have already had a chance to practice in a guided setting!
Differentiating With Math Match
All of my math match cards include 2 levels for differentiation. In my math center tubs I like using photo cases to store the cards. I use a different color for each of my math groups. Because my math groups are ability based, this allows me to differentiate my centers easily. For example, students in the yellow group would grab the yellow container. I can choose the cards that I think those students would benefit from.
Saving Time with a Grading Station
After students find the matches, they record their matches on a recording sheet. This is optional! If you do want your students to record their matches, setting up a grading station is a huge time saver! In my grading station, I keep a folder with the answer key (if I’m differentiating with my math groups I have a different colored folder for each group) and a pouch of colorful pens. Students are able to choose a colorful pen and be the teacher as they check their answers! The students LOVE doing this and it saves me a ton of time grading.
Other Ways to Play Math Match:
I don’t know about you, but I prefer to work smarter, not harder! One time-saving hack that I’ve found as a teacher is re-using and repurposing classroom materials in a new way. If I take time time to laminate and cut something out, I want to make sure it is something I can use over and over again. I love math match cards because I can use them in so many different ways! Here are a few other ways we use Math Match cards:
- Match and Record: Students work independently or collaboratively to match all the cards as quickly as they can. When finished they can fill in the recording sheet.
- Hand Up Stand Up Pair Up: This is a whole group math activity to practice a skill. I also like using it when I want to partner up my students. I give each student a card. When I say go, all students stand up, put their hand up and walk around the classroom. They find a partner and high five. Partners check to see if their cards are a match. If they are they sit down together. If not they say, “Maybe next time” and continue walking around with a hand up looking for a new partner. This continues until all partners are matched up!
- When I need to partner students up for an activity, we use Math Match cards! Students get a card and find their partner.
- I also love using these cards at my small group table during math stations to practice a skill and as a fast finisher activity! There are SO many ways to use these cards all year long!
What skills are included?
Right now, I have created 9 different sets of Math Match cards in the bundle. Click on any skill to check it out individually:
Skills Included (Click any to shop!):
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Place Value (Freebie)
- Doubles and Near Doubles
- Ten Frames
- Telling Time to the Hour and Half Hour
- Counting Coins
- Ten More Ten Less
- Number Bonds
I plan on adding more to the bundle! If you buy the bundle now, you’ll be able to download all new Match Match games for free!
You can shop the Math Match Bundle here!
Want to try Math Match in your classroom for free?
Grab the Place Value Math Match freebie here!
I hope your students LOVE Math Match as much as mine do! As always, let me know if you have any questions!
