Christmas number recognition games are sure to make math lessons a little merrier this season. They help little learners build confidence in identifying numbers from 1 to 20. Along the way, they’ll also be practicing valuable social skills like turn-taking, patience, and good sportsmanship.
How to Play the Christmas Number Recognition Game
These festive games work best with small groups of 2–4 players. Teaching a full class? No problem. Print multiple copies so every child can take part in the fun.
Want to reuse the boards throughout the season? Laminating them adds durability, but it also uses a lot of plastic. Printing on cardstock is all you need to make these games sturdy enough to use for a month or more.
To get started, players will place their tokens on or near the “START” spot on the board. Then, you can decide who goes first. Let the youngest player begin, roll to see who gets the highest number, or draw a name from Santa’s hat before each round!
On their turn, players will roll the die and move their piece forward the indicated number of spaces. When they land on a number, they’ll identify it out loud.
Non-verbal students can also be included! They can use AAC devices, number cards, or eye gaze tools to identify the numeral.
Wrap up the game in a way that suits your classroom vibe best. Want to encourage friendly competition? Celebrate the first person to reach the finish line as the winner.
For a gentler ending, you can keep the game going until everyone crosses the finish line. This method may be a better choice when the students in your group have varied abilities.
What You’ll Need To Play
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- Cardstock
- Game boards printable (see below)
- One game piece per player (These Christmas minis are perfect!)
- A standard six-sided die
- Laminator (optional)
Adapting the Activity For Every Learner
One of the best parts of this Christmas game is how customizable it is! Choose from boards that focus on 1–10, 11–20, or all the way from 1–20, depending on your students’ level. Begin with easier game boards and build from there.
For children with fine motor challenges, consider using adapted game pieces with larger grips or ring-style tokens that don’t require pinching or grasping.
Don’t forget your students who use alternative communication methods. These simple number cards pair well with this activity and are perfect for using with felt boards or AAC devices.
Whether you’re setting up a math center, organizing a homeschool lesson, or planning a fun therapy activity, these Christmas number recognition games are a cheerful, hands-on adventure.
