Matching Cards

I made these matching cards right around the time school started, and I kinda love them. If you love them too, you can download the pdf files from my google drive. I use all the sets with my second graders. I just photocopied each set onto a different color of cardstock, and they keep the whole stack in their shared materials buckets in their table groups.

If they finish their journal and calendar work before their classmates, they can pull out the cards and play "concentration" style to match the cards.

 They can play alone...

Or with a partner or small group.

They love these cards as much as I do! They are always available, and I have to admit, they have saved my bacon more than once completely outside of our math block. Nothing like a no-prep no-fuss activity that can be used anytime they have a few minutes to spare.

Me: Why are you running with a broom?

Them: I'm done!

Me: Put that down and get out your math cards. Please.

*ahem*

Because we want our students to use the standards for math practices, it's been equally beneficial to have some more structured time with the matching cards, too. For example, I'll have them all use the same purple set, and they need to take turns putting two cards together with an explanation for why they are choosing a particular pairing. Then everybody in their group has to agree (thumbs up) or disagree (offer a different pairing and explanation).

Click here to download:

* Numbers 1 to 9, match to pictures of one to nine objects

* Teen numbers 11 to 19, match to double ten frames (10 + extras)

* Random Numbers to 20, match to tally mark representations

* Ten frame representations of 9 +, match to ten frame reps of 10 +, match to numerals 10 to 18

* Ten frame representations of 9 +, match to numerals 11 to 19, match to "9 + ___ is 10 + ____"

* Numerals between 10 and 150, with base-ten "ten stick" picture representation