Turn your students into little hens with these egg-related activities that reinforce math skills. Whether you have a class of many students or homeschool just one or two kids, these games can be used individually or in groups. You can make these games with simple materials and the rules are easy.
Hatch Number Facts
Take an egg carton and number the sections from 1 to 12. Next, write number facts on slips of paper. You can write addition or subtraction facts on each. Place these slips into plastic eggs (the kind you use at Easter).
To play, have each child number a sheet of paper from 1 to 12 down one side. Invite each child to each crack an egg and read the math problem. The students can write down the answer next to the numbered egg. The teacher can grade the sheets or provide an answer key where the kids can check their own work. Change the facts inside the eggs periodically for egg-stra math practice.
Unscramble Number Words
Another game is to unscramble number words. Use the same egg carton above and this time tuck in a slip of paper with the number word (that corresponds to that number section) with the letters scrambled. Ask the hens to unscramble the word and write it down next to the number on their paper. For example, inside the number 9 egg, you may see e-n-i-n. The kids can unscramble the letters and write “nine” on their paper next to the number 9.
Roll the Dice Egg Game
This game provides basic computation practice. Take a set of dice and instruct the hens to roll the dice and either add or subtract the two numbers. When attempting subtraction, remind the students that the smaller number is taken away from the larger one. Have them write down the math problem on an egg-shaped piece of paper. Older kids can use a calculator to make sure their answers are correct.
Chic-Tac-Toe
It’s always fun to play a traditional game with a twist. This eggs-tra special game is one of strategy. Draw the game patterns for the students to cut out and color (or use stickers on circular disks). One player will be the chick and one will be the egg. Present the game grid to play on. Just like traditional tick-tack-toe, the first player to place three in a row wins. If neither player gets three in a row (vertically, horizontally, or in a diagonally), it’s a draw and another game begins.
Chick, Chick Round the Room
This math game becomes addicting and will become a favorite of your students. You will need flash cards that focus on skills your children are learning (addition, subtraction, and even multiplication). Have all the hens sit at their desk (in the classroom) or in a line on the floor at home. The beginning child stands next to a seated student while the teacher shows the flash card. Both students try to be the first one to answer the math problem correctly. If the standing child answers first he/she moves on to the next child (desk or in the line). But if the seated student answers correctly first, this child now stands and moves on to the next player and the original player sits down in the child’s place. Keep going around the room with this chick math game. You may even want to chant some chick sounds for fun!
Jellybean Egg Count Treat
This time take an egg carton and cut them in half (there should be six sections). On the lid, write a math addition problem. The top number is for the closest section and the bottom number is for the section below the top one. For example, 5 + 2 will have the hens place five jellybeans in the top section and two jellybeans below it. How many jellybeans is the sum of these two sections? Do this same task for three addition math problems. The treat comes into play when all math problems have been solved and the children get to eat the math sums as a treat.
For more ideas using chickens/hens across the curriculum check out these theme units on Bright Hub Education:
Preschool Theme Ideas for Learning About Chicks
A Preschool Lesson Plan: The Life Cycle of a Chick
A Pre-K Teacher’s Guide to Math Lesson Plans & Activities
References
- Photos courtesy of Tania Cowling
