Number card games for numbers to 20 that students will love playing again and again! These 10 Card Games for Numbers to 20 help students learn all about number sense for 1-20 by recognizing numbers in ten different formats. They are great for differentiation and review.

Students see each number as a numeral, a word, a ten frame, tally marks, base ten blocks, dice, dominoes and more. Then they put those cards to work in games like Slap-It!, War and Go Fish! Combine sets to create decks for number recognition in many formats, and the differentiation possibilities are almost endless.

With these number card games, you get

• 10 sets of cards for numbers 1-20, each in a different format
• Center instructions for 10 games, from Slap-It! to Odds and Evens
• Instructions for making a deck of cards for each game
• Practice with subitizing, adding, subtracting, decomposing numbers and more
• A different card style for each format for easy sorting

Print, shuffle and deal!

What's Included

Card Formats

10 sets of cards for numbers 1-20 in these formats:

• Numeral
• Word
• Array
• Ten Frames (a grid of ten boxes for showing numbers)
• Tally Marks
• Base Ten Blocks
• Dice
• Dominoes
• Place Value
• 1 More Than...

Center Game Instructions

• Slap-It!
• Slap 10/20
• War
• Addition War
• Subtraction War
• Matching Game
• Go Fish!
• Go Fish! Make 10
• Go Fish! Make 20
• Odds and Evens

Instructions are also included on how to make a deck of cards for each game.

Why Teachers Love It

• Ten formats in one resource: Students see the same number many ways, which builds flexible number sense.
• Ten games to choose from: Rotate games all year so number practice stays fresh.
• Endless differentiation: Mix and match card sets to make each game easier or harder.
• Covers many number concepts: One set of cards supports recognizing numbers, adding, subtracting, comparing and more.
• Easy sorting: Each type of card is a different style, so cleanup is quick.
• Center ready: Clear game directions help students play independently.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Number recognition: Students recognize numbers 1-20 in ten formats.
• Subitizing: Dice, dominoes and ten frames help students know how many at a glance without counting.
• Adding to 10 and addition to 20: Slap 10/20, Addition War and Go Fish! Make 10 and Make 20 give lots of addition practice.
• Subtracting within 10: Subtraction War puts subtraction into a fast game.
• Decomposing numbers: Students break numbers into parts as they look for pairs that make 10 or 20.
• Equality and inequalities: War games give students practice comparing numbers.
• Missing addends: Students find the number needed to make 10 or 20.
• Odds and evens: Students practice telling odd and even numbers apart.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Taking turns
• Following directions
• Maintaining attention
• Using mathematical language
• Waiting during group play
• Building confidence during group participation

How to Use It

Step 1: Print on card stock and/or laminate the cards. Card stock is recommended because some children will try to see through the cards. Laminating might be prohibitive due to the number of cards needed to create multiple decks and multiple games. If you cannot laminate, card stock is a MUST!

Step 2: Choose a game and use the included instructions to build a deck. For Slap-It!, you need one set of cards for the CENTER pile and 2-4 copies of one set of cards (or 2-4 sets of different cards) for the PLAYING cards.

Step 3: Play with 2-4 players. In Slap-It!, place the CENTER cards face down in a pile and deal the PLAYING cards equally among players, face down in a pile in front of each player. Flip over one CENTER card. In clockwise order, players flip one card at a time. When a PLAYING card matches the CENTER card: SLAP-IT! The first player to slap the card takes the center pile of cards that have been played and adds them to the bottom of their own pile. Flip another CENTER card and continue. The game is finished when time is up or one player has all the PLAYING cards.

Materials You'll Need

• Card stock
• Laminating supplies (optional)

Easy Differentiation

Students come to number sense at very different levels. These games make it easy to give each student the right challenge.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Play games for numbers 0-9 or 10 to start, then add other numbers as they are learned
• Limit the number of formats to start
• Begin with the numeral and dice cards
• Play the Matching Game before faster games like Slap-It!

For On-Level Practice

• As students recognize different formats, add them to the games
• For Slap-It!, choose the format a student finds hardest as the center pile, so they can focus on finding formats that are easier to recognize
• Play War and Go Fish! Make 10
• Rotate through the games during math centers

For an Extra Challenge

• Play with all numbers to 20
• Combine several formats in one deck
• Play Addition War, Subtraction War or Go Fish! Make 20
• Add the place value and 1 More Than... cards

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Say each number aloud as the card is flipped
• Use the word cards to practice number words
• Play with two players and a small deck
• Have students point to a match if slapping is hard
• Give extra processing time before each turn

Perfect For

• Math centers
• Small groups
• Partner games
• Intervention
• Review
• Early finishers
• Indoor recess
• Substitute plans
• Homeschool

Standards

These number card games support kindergarten and 1st grade math standards in Common Core, the TEKS (Math, adopted 2012) and the Virginia Math SOL (2023):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS K.CC.A.3: Write numbers 0-20 and represent a number of objects with a written numeral, matching numeral cards to ten frames, tally marks and more.
• CCSS K.CC.C.7: Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals during War.
• CCSS K.OA.A.3: Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way.
• CCSS K.OA.A.4: For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10, as in Go Fish! Make 10.
• CCSS K.NBT.A.1: Compose and decompose numbers from 11 to 19 into ten ones and some further ones with base ten block and place value cards.
• CCSS 1.OA.C.6: Add and subtract within 20 using strategies such as making ten.
• CCSS 1.OA.D.8: Find the unknown number in an addition or subtraction equation, such as the missing addend that makes 20.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS Math K.2.B: Read, write and represent whole numbers from 0 to at least 20 with and without objects or pictures.
• TEKS Math K.2.D: Recognize instantly the quantity of a small group of objects, such as dice and domino dots.
• TEKS Math K.2.H: Use comparative language to describe two numbers up to 20 presented as written numerals.
• TEKS Math K.2.I: Compose and decompose numbers up to 10 with objects and pictures.
• TEKS Math 1.3.D: Apply basic fact strategies to add and subtract within 20, including making 10.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL Math K.NS.2.a: Read, write and identify numerals, practiced here from 1-20.
• VA SOL Math K.CE.1.e: Model and identify the number that makes 10 when added to a given number.
• VA SOL Math 1.CE.1: Add and subtract within 20 using strategies such as one more, doubles and make ten.

Add the 10 Card Games for Numbers to 20 to your cart and give your students ten fun ways to build number sense with numbers 1-20. Deal the cards, pick a game and watch your math centers come alive!

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

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2. In your email
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