Introduce your preschooler to larger numbers with this DIY Race to 100 Math Game.
I got this poster at a dollar store to make a game for N (4.5 years old) to introduce and explore bigger numbers.
Once I got it home I realized the way the numbers were jumbled on the poster would be overwhelming so I cut it into strips.
Then I taped them together to form one long number line.
The number line stretched across the room and when N walked in she said, “Whoa! That is A LOT of fish!”.
“It’s 100 fish! Do you want to have a race to 100?”.
Picking out our favorite characters to race with built the excitement. Brittany vs. The Flash.
How to Play:
- Roll the die.
- Move your character that many spaces.
- Say the number you land on.
- The first player to get to 100 wins!
At first, I helped her name the numbers she landed on.
The more experience she had with the numbers, the more her confidence grew and she was so proud of herself.
Other Ideas and Tips:
- It is a neat experience for your child to see what 100 of something looks like. However, it took a long time to finish the game. Racing to 50 is another option.
- B (7 years old) played the second game with us and had just as much fun. Naming the numbers wasn’t a challenge for him, but without even realizing it he was working with a number line and talking about how many ahead (or behind) he was and how many he needed to win.
- Play with 2 dice to add a twist.
- Mark the half way point (50) on the number line. “The Flash is half way there!”.
- Marking off the number families (20s, 30s, 40s etc.) can be helpful for preschoolers identifying numbers.
- Relating the numbers that you land on to real life makes a strong connection for your child. “35! That is how old you are, Mom.” or “82! That is our house number.”
- Stand up and do a happy dance when you land on the number of your age or a number like 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, or 99.
- If you land on 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 0r 90 get an extra roll of the die.