Dr Mike's Math Games for Kids

This page lists all the grade 1 math games on this website. If you are a teacher or parent of first graders, you'll surely find something useful here!

It's actually quite hard to classify games into "grades". There's a few reasons for this. Firstly, different school zones cover different topics in different grades. In some countries or states, kids move through math topics faster than in others. The result is that a math skill that kids learn in grade 1 in one place might be taught in grade 2 or even kinderdarten somewhere else.

Another reason is that some students learn quicker than others. A bright kindy kid might be quite happy learning grade 1 or 2 math skills.

So please, although I've assigned "grade levels" to each game, please take these levels as just my best guess. They aren't matched to any particular curriculum used in any particular place - after all, this website gets visitors from almost every country in the world. So check out the games below, use your judgement to decide if I've pitched them too high or low for your particular children, and do explore the lists of games for other grades!

Here's links to the other lists...

• Kindergarten Math Games
• Grade Two Math Games
• Grade Three Math Games
• Grade Four Math Games
• Grade Five Math Games
• Grade Six Math Games
• Grade Seven Math Games

Kindy Bingo has some printable 3x3 bingo cards, suitable for kids who know the numbers 1 through 10. Each set of three numbers appears at most once in the set of cards. If you don't want to have a winner after only three numbers are called out, the web page explains which three numbers can be your first three. Good for grades kindy and 1

The Traffic Jam Game is one of my favorite amongst the elementary math games on this site. It's a great puzzle for teaching logical thinking and boosting problem-solving ability. Yet, the rules are simple enough that a four-year old can understand them. First, second and third grade kids will enjoy the simpler puzzles. Fourth, fifth and sixth graders will enjoy the challenge of the harder ones. Try the printable version or the online version. Good for grades 1 to 12

Do you have a group of kindy kids struggling to remember addition sums up to 10? Try this math board game on them. You'll need to do some printing and cutting first, and find a die (dice) and some playing pieces. Good for grades kindy to 2

Print out as many foldable number sheets as you want, and use them to explain our "number system" - why the 8's in eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight all mean different things, even though they look exactly the same! There are three sizes of printable sheets, and also a movie showing one time I used them with my son to explain a point that was troubling him. Good for grades 1

This is the Online Traffic Jam Game. Traffic Jam Game is the famous game where you have to move the red car out of the traffic jammed parking lot. This free online version has hundreds of puzzles, as well as links to PC, Mac and Android versions you can buy. Good for grades kindy to 12

These Sight Number exercises, inspired by "Salisbury Sight Words", are designed to help your kids memorise their addition, subtraction and multiplication tables in the optimal way. Good for grades 1 to 3

An Advent Calendar, besides being a great Christmas tradition, helps teach younger kids counting and calendars in a fun, exciting way. Download and print this free advent calendar, make up up with a trimmer and glue, and enjoy the Christmas countdown with your child. Good for grades kindy to 3

Flashcard Stepping Stones is a simple game, quick to set up, and helps make flashcards more enjoyable. Be as theatrical as possible, and create an imaginary playful world for your child, as he or she recalls the math facts they need to rescue the princess, or destroy the evil robot, or arrive at adventureland! Good for grades 1 to 3

Not exactly a game, but certainly a useful tool for teaching kids addition and subtraction facts - either actively through memory exercises, or passively through osmosis! These addition and subtraction tables and charts are free, and ready for you to print and use. Good for grades kindy and 1

Get your kids using this Spirograph Applet, and watch them make beautiful patterns. While they are enjoying the artwork, you can read here about the math they are learning! Good for grades 1 to 12

One of these addition and subtraction worksheets is especially designed as a learning tool, not just a revision exercise. The sums are ordered so that the child working through them will discover for themselves the relationship between addition and subtraction, and other important points. There are some plain vanilla revision worksheets too! Good for grades kindy and 1

 Get into Groups Of... five minus two!  This game is a great game for younger children - because it involves lots of running around! Good for kindy kids, also for 1st and 2nd graders. The page shows how to vary the rules to make it interesting for older children too. Good for grades kindy to 2

Try Fish Plus One for kids who need to practice their basic addition skills. This game can be played with a normal pack of cards, once the picture cards have been removed. Once your kids get good at Fish Plus One, move them on to Fish Plus Two, Fish Plus Three, and finally Fish Plus Plus! Good for grades kindy and 1

Mathino is a game that can be played with an ordinary pack of cards. It's based on a common card game, Cassino, that already is good for kids learning arithmetic. Good for grades 1 to 3, maybe even 4! Good for grades 1 to 3

Well, that's all for now. But visit back often, so that you'll always be the first to see any new grade one math games that I put on this site!

Yours, Dr Mike....