Ist Grade Math Games

by Katie Holmberg and Judy Jurnack

Here are two new math games to play with your first grader at home.

Penny Plate
Materials:
10 pennies
1 small plate

Directions:
1.  Player 1:

• Turns the plate upside-down
• Hides some of the pennies under the plate
• Puts the remaining pennies on top of the plate

2.  Player 2:

• Counts the pennies on top of the plate
• Figures out how many pennies are hidden under the plate

3.  If the number is correct, Player 2 gets a point.
4.  Players trade roles and repeat Steps 1 and 2.
5.  Each player keeps a tally of their points.  The first player to get 5   points is the winner.

Another Way to Play:  Use a different number of pennies.

Penny- Nickel Exchange
Materials:
20 pennies
10 nickels

Directions:
1. Partners put 20 pennies and 10 nickels in a pile.  This is the bank.
2. Players take turns rolling a die and collecting the number of       pennies shown on the die from the bank.
3.  Whenever players have at least 5 pennies, they say, "Exchange!" and trade 5 pennies for a nickel from the bank.
4.  The game ends when there are no more nickels in the bank.  The player who has more nickels wins.  If players have the same number of nickels, the player with more pennies wins.

Another Way to Play:  Play with a larger bank and two dice.

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