Looking for a playful activity to build number skills? These cheerful apple number recognition games are a hands-on way to have kids learn numbers 1-20. As an added bonus, the game boards are leveled, so you can start with numbers 1-10 if needed.
How to Play The Apple Number Recognition Game
This game is best used with a small group of 2-4 players. After printing the board, many people like to laminate it, but honestly, you can skip this step.
We have these boards in so many different themes, it’s just as easy to print new ones when the next season rolls around.
To get started, each player will put their game piece on or near the “START” space. You can choose who begins by rolling the die to see who gets the highest roll or by simply selecting the oldest/youngest player.
For each turn, have your students roll the die and move their token the indicated number of spaces. Once they land, they will say the number on that space aloud. Then, it’s the next player’s turn.
Non-verbal players can identify numbers by selecting the matching number using an AAC device or an eye-gaze board, depending on their needs.
Depending on how ruthless you want the game to be, you can end it when the first person reaches the space marked “FINISH,” or you can continue until all players make it to the finish.
Materials Needed
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- Cardstock
- Board game printables (grab them towards the bottom of the page)
- One game token per player (These mini apples are perfectly adorable!)
- A regular 6-sided die
- Laminator (optional)
Adaptations and Variations
The game comes already differentiated with 3 different levels. Depending on the skills of your students, you can choose a 1-10 game board, an 11-20 game board, or a 1-20 game board. Start with the easiest one and move up as your students grow more confident.
For children who find it difficult to grasp and move the game pieces due to fine motor challenges, you can attach a grip or padding to the top of each pawn. This will allow the student to be as independent as possible when playing the game. You may still have to help them stand the pawn upright at each new space.
Do you need a way for non-verbal students to answer using visuals? This printable set of basic number cards is great for using with felt boards and communication devices.
No matter how you use them, we hope these apple number recognition games are a joyful addition to your classroom.
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