Quick First Day Math Game

I know I’m blaspheming by talking about heading back to school…but here’s a quick math game I introduce my students to on the first day of school. It’s called Color Squares.
The students partner up, and they each pick a different crayon. They roll a die and color in that many squares. Their partner does the same thing. Play continues until all the squares are filled. The person with the most squares filled wins the games.
 
You can tell a lot about your student's counting and number sense ability when you observe them playing. Does the student have one to one correspondence? Are they filling in squares one at a time or is there a strategy? Can they count in correct sequence? Do they actually know the names for numbers? Are they grouping squares as they count? Are some students able to keep a running number as they play or do they have to start over from one each time they color in new squares?

I usually make front to back copies so that students can play twice, then I circulate among the partners and observe. Click on the pictures above to download.
Don’t forget today is the last day to take advantage of my Christmas In July Sale!
Happy Sunday!!