The Bean Game is a fun way to experience combinations of 10. This game is easy to prepare and simple to play, yet provides hours of fun!
Materials:
- a cup
- 10 lima beans
- sharpie marker
Preparation: Color one side of each bean black
How to Play:
- Shake your beans in your cup and dump them out onto the table.
- Sort the beans into two piles, one pile for the beans that flipped to the black side and one pile for the beans that flipped to their regular side.
- Count the beans that have the black side up. Whoever has the most, wins. If you are playing a one player game, if you have more black than regular, you get a point.
You could also start with 5 beans and work your way up to 10. I’d recommend using white lima beans instead of the smaller brown bean. If there was more of a contrast I think it would be easier to sort and count.
What a great game to practice counting, experimenting with more and less, and without even knowing it getting some exposure to combinations of 10!
Nicolewarner
Monday 5th of May 2025
I Love this game! I made it with my preschool class, when I was a teacher for 16 yrs. I work with older adults now. I forgot how to color the Lima Beans? Paint, or permanent marker? Please help me remember, I want to make more for my clients. 😊 thanks
Nicole
Tuesday 6th of May 2025
I've used sharpie or for big batches spray paint.
kewkew
Thursday 28th of October 2010
What a great idea. The children love new games. We have got to try this. Thanks for sharing