Spin Your Math Magic with the Sun Spider Difference Game!
Did you know that many orb-weaving spiders, like the one this game is inspired by, build their webs at sunrise? 🕸️ These clever creatures spin intricate circular webs in the early morning light to catch their prey throughout the day. Just like the orb spider skillfully weaves its web, your students will be weaving their own math knowledge by practicing the difference strategy. The spider’s web becomes a playful metaphor for how students can connect numbers and see the relationships between them, spinning their own "math magic" as they build their skills!
The Sun Spider Difference Game is a perfect fit for first graders reviewing math facts within 20. It turns math practice into a playful challenge where students explore the relationship between numbers.
Here’s how to play:
Materials Needed:
- Sun Spider Wand (available through my Instagram Fun Stuff channel)
- Number cards from the Math Kit
- Counters (or any small math manipulatives)
- 20-sided dice
Game Setup:
- Use a circle space (like a dry-erase sticker or just a marked-off area) as the spider’s web.
- Scatter number cards (face down) around the web.
- The spider (on the wand) starts “asleep” in the middle.
How to Play:
- When the spider wakes up (flip the wand), students take turns picking a number card from the web and rolling the dice.
- They use counters to add or subtract the difference between the number on the card and the number they rolled. For example, if they flip over an 8 and roll a 12, they count up 4 and place counters under the number card.
- The game continues until the spider goes back to sleep (flip the wand again), and then the web resets for a new round.
It’s a great way to practice addition and subtraction in a fun, active way! Check out the number cards from the Math Kit in my TPT store if you don’t already have them.
Ready to give it a try? Let me know how it goes with your students!