These narwhal number recognition games are a whimsical and effective way to teach early numeracy skills. The enchanting illustrations are sure to delight young learners while they practice identifying numbers 1-20. Of course, board games are also a fantastic way to teach good sportsmanship.
Setting Up and Using the Narwhal Number Recognition Games
These board games are best used in small groups of 2-4 players. If you have more kiddos, go ahead and print out multiple copies.
After printing, feel free to laminate the boards if desired, but it’s not needed. We offer these games in so many different seasonal themes. You can simply print a new one as needed to keep things fresh (and keep more plastic out of landfills).
To get the game started, have all your students place their game pawns on or around the “START” space. Then, it’s time to decide who goes first. You can have all the students roll the die to see who gets the highest number, allow the oldest or youngest to go first, or throw caution to the wind and make a completely random pick.
Next, have the first player roll the die and move their pawn the matching number of spaces. Once they’ve reached their destination space, they will identify the number on the space and say its name out loud.
Non-verbal students can participate in this portion of the activity by selecting the matching number on their communication device, eye-gaze board, etc.
The game can end in a couple of different ways depending on your goals. To keep the game light-heartedly competitive, you can declare the first person to reach the “END” space the official winner.
To spare feelings, you can simply keep the game going until all players reach the end. This second option is often more inclusive when there are a wide variety of ability levels participating in the same game.
Materials Needed For the Game
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- Cardstock
- Game boards printable (grab it towards the bottom of the page)
- One game pawn per child (These mini Narwhals are perfect!)
- A standard 6-sided die
- Laminator (optional)
Differentiation and Adaptation
To accommodate a variety of learners, the game boards come in three versions. There is a 1-10 game board, an 11-20 game board, and a 1-20 game board. This makes it easy to find a starter board at your student’s current level.
For students with fine motor difficulties, consider modifying the game pieces by adding foam grips. These will bolster the handle, making it easier to grab. This encourages independence and gives children the opportunity to move their markers themselves.
For an even more out-of-the-box alternative, try using these handy rings as game pawns. They can slip right over a student’s finger, eliminating the need for grasping entirely.
For kiddos that need to answer via eye-gaze or communication devices, we also have this awesome set of number cards that work really well with hook-and-loop dots.
Whether you’re using them in a classroom, homeschool setting, or therapy environment, I hope these narwhal number recognition games add a splash of joy to your next lesson!
More Interactive Number Activities For Kids
Activity 1
Activity 2
