How can you make math fun? This number hop game for kids is a great place to start!
Have you ever played the game "the floor is lava"?
The point of the game is to pretend that the floor is made of lava, so you don't want to touch the floor! This game is a creative way to mash up the floor is lava with number fun!
Practice number recognition and simple math facts while moving!
Math doesn't have to be boring.
My favorite way to get kids learning is through movement activities!
RELATED: There are so many creative ways to get kids moving and learning. Our favorite movement activities are here.
This activity is great for kids of all ages!
I mean it.
My preschooler, first grader, AND third grader all had a blast playing!
There are so many simple ways to modify activities so that they work for a big span of ages.
Here's how you play the number hop game:
1. Take some notecards or cut up pieces of colored paper and write numbers on them.
For older kids, write number sentences on the cards (like addition- 2+2, subtraction, or multiplication) or bigger three or four digit numbers.
2. Next, tape the numbers to the floor with painters tape to make a path.
You can even make a few paths to go around your house!
3. Finally, start hopping from number to number.
Start at one end of the room and try and see if you can hop across the room only touching the numbers- NOT touching the floor.
Kids can say the numbers they see as they hop from one paper to the next.
Bigger kids can complete their number sentence (2+2) before they jump onto the next paper.
Not only are kids learning, they're also moving!
These are my favorite sort of activities because they get kid's energy out while also practicing simple early learning skills!
Did you know that movement is good for the brain and helps with learning?
"Engaging in physical activity increases blood flow and oxygenation in the brain, boosting neural connectivity and stimulating nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, the center of learning and memory. So exercise actually changes the structure of our brains, with a number of benefits, including improved attention and memory, increased brain activity and cognitive function, and enhanced mood and ability to cope with stress.” (via Edutopia)
So it's good for your child's brain AND you tire your kids out.
It's a win-win!
Setting up this simple number hop was so quick and easy!
In addition to being a low-prep activity, you can reuse the number cards again and again, so this is one idea you can pull out more than once.
You can also turn it into a number toy hunt pretty easily!
RELATED: Need more simple learning activities for kids? Check out all our easy learning activities here.
I love having another simple activity to add to my "I can't think of anything to do" list.
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