The Math Kit: A Treasure Trove of Visuals, Games, and Flexible Fun!
Our Math Kit is designed to make math both accessible and exciting for young learners. It’s packed with resources, visuals, and story-based elements that integrate seamlessly with any math program. The pumpkin grid play mat, number tiles, and numeral cards are all part of this flexible toolkit, giving teachers creative ways to bring math to life each day.Why Start Math Lessons with a Warm-Up?
Spending just a few minutes at the beginning of each math lesson for a warm-up activity is a powerful way to reinforce foundational math concepts like number order and counting. Revisiting these essential skills every day, all year long, helps students review, revise, and consolidate their knowledge. These moments, however brief, offer significant long-term benefits as children develop confidence and fluency with numbers.
How to Play Pumpkin Patch Number Order 🎲🌱
Goal:
Grow the biggest pumpkin in the patch by filling your 9-grid play mat with numbers in order!
What You’ll Need:
- Pumpkin Grid Play Mat (Get it here)
- Number Tiles (Get them here)
- Numeral Cards (Choose a range that fits your group, like 1-50 or 30-100 - Get them here)
How It Works:
- Set Up: Place a selection of number tiles (face-up) for all players to access. For added challenge, limit the number of tiles to match the players’ grids. For example, with three players, set out only 36 tiles.
- Pick a Pumpkin Patch Number: Select a “pumpkin patch” number, like 63, which stays constant throughout the game.
- Take Turns: Each student flips over a numeral card. If it’s larger than the pumpkin patch number, they can pick a number tile from the scattered selection to add to their grid. If the card number is smaller, they skip a turn.
- Building the Grid: As students collect tiles, they must arrange their numbers on their pumpkin grid in ascending order, from smallest to largest. This means they’re keeping a close eye on both the available numbers and the sequence they’ve started on their grid!
- The Twist! The student who fills the most squares on their grid by the end of the game wins—but only if their numbers are in the correct order.
- End of Play: Once no more numbers fit, players compare their filled grids to see who has the most in-order tiles.
By tracking two sets of numbers, players build a solid foundation in comparing and ordering numbers, all while enjoying the fun of the pumpkin patch!
Quick Play Guide: Pumpkin Patch Number Order
- Set up a pumpkin grid play mat and scattered number tiles.
- Choose a pumpkin patch number (e.g., 63) to stay constant during the game.
- Students flip numeral cards; if their card is larger than the patch number, they pick a tile and add it to their grid in ascending order.
- Winner: The student with the most in-order tiles filled on their grid wins!
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing in our mission to make math a joyful and engaging experience for young learners! With the right tools and a bit of imagination, we can make foundational math concepts not only accessible but also fun for our students. If you're looking for more resources like the pumpkin patch game, check out our Math Kit bundle here — it’s packed with visual supports, story-based activities, and adaptable tools for any math program.
For more tips, games, and inspiration, feel free to join our community! My newsletter is straightforward, free, and you can sign up here. I’d love to keep you updated with ideas to bring fun and creativity to your classroom. Until next time, happy teaching!