by Cathy James
Download your free number wheel printable for hands-on counting games.
Free printable number wheel counting game
Magic Fun Math lessons!
Fun Mathis an easy to teach, highly effective math curriculum based on play and hands-on learning.
All the lessons are designed to be fun and memorable, so children enjoy their lessons and feel confident.
The lessons are easy for teachers and parents to use, in class or at home.
These are the magic lessons where children really see, understand, and can apply math concepts. They are especially suited to children who don’t like math, lack confidence, don’t understand math the way they are currently being taught, or just want to play.
SEE MORE AND TRANSFORM YOUR MATH TEACHING HERE.
Learning to count is of course an essential building block in developing math skills, and it’s one of the first things we teach our children.
Learning to recite the pattern of number names (one, two, three, four, five…) doesn’t however necessarily mean your child has learnt the concept that ‘two’ means two individual things, or that ‘four’ is one more thing than ‘three’. Perhaps they are only really reciting the number names like a song?
This number wheel game can help your child understand the critical ideas of counting, one-to-one correspondence, amounts, and bigger / smaller values.
How to use this game
To play with these number wheels:
- Print your number wheels – see how below. I recommend printing on card to make your wheels more durable.
- Cut out the number wheels, laminating each one if you like.
- Make a set of number pegs, using clothes pegs and writing a number 1 to 20 on each one using a permanent marker.
- Set out the number pegs and the number wheels and invite your child to explore and play.
Play variations
:: You can use the wheels simply to count the dots and match up the correct clothes peg to each section. You can use the 1 to 10 wheel for younger children, and add in the 11 – 20 wheel when your child is working on higher numbers.
:: See if you can look at the dots on the 1 – 10 wheel and recognise how many there are without counting them. This is called subitising: it’sthe ability to instantaneously recognise the number of objects in a small group without the need to count them.
:: You could play a more than / less than game. Pick a clothes peg, look at its number, and see if you can find the dotsthat are one more than that number, or one less than the number.
:: You can use the wheels for number bonds too. Use the 1 – 10 number wheel, and count the dots in one of the sections. How many more do you need to add to make ten (or twenty)? Find that number peg and match them up. Knowing your number bonds is an important aid to addition and subtraction, and a great help when you’re answering mental math problems.
:: You can use the number wheel as an independent or quiet time activity, but it is also great to use with your child. In a classroom, pairs of children can work together to match the stars and numbers.
Bonus Rainbow Wheel Printables
Don’t miss my Rainbow Wheel free printables! There are three versions available including a Color Wheel and Days of the Week Wheel. Click here to get them all.
How to download the Number Wheel printable
Get access to ALL my free printables by subscribing to my email list.
To download my free printables, you'll need to visit the NurtureStore Printables Library, which is available to all subscribers to my email list, and of course to Play Academy members.
Pop your email address in the form below and you’ll get access to all my free printables, lesson plans, activity ideas, weekly newsletter, and a whole lot more!
After subscribing, be sure to check for the confirmation email. After you confirm your email subscription, we'll send you a welcome email which includes instructions for downloading our free printables.
If you're already subscribed to our email newsletter: check your email for the latest edition of the newsletter where you’ll find a link to access our free printables library - the link is usually at the bottom of the email.
For help accessing our printables, click here.
By subscribing, you consent to our use of your personal data as per our Privacy Policy, which includes agreeing to receiving interest-based email from us.
Transform your teaching with Fun Math
The Fun Math series gives you a math curriculum that is easy to teach and highly effective.
Children love these lessons because they are engaging and fun.
You'll have a clear set of ready-made math lessons and activities that are simple to lead using our step-by-step lesson guides, and which children really understand.
Be the best math teacher and boost your children's confidence and skills with Fun Math.
See more and transform your teaching here.
