One of the trickiest concepts for Kindergartners to master is a deep understanding of the numbers 11-20. While they may be able to count all the way to 20 (and usually very proudly and enthusiastically), they may not truly understand them. So I hope this Spring Numbers to 20 Board Game will not only teach your children to recognize the numbers 11-20 and their names, but also deepen their conceptual understanding.

Where does the challenge with the numbers 11-20 come from?

The first challenge is in understanding one-to-one correspondence. This means they need to recognize that the number corresponds to the quantity of what’s being counted. That the last number spoken answers the question, “how many?”

Even more challenging, though, is a place value understanding of these numbers, which is made even more difficult by the English language. The words for these numbers do not correspond to the place value like larger numbers do.  The numbers twenty and beyond use the suffix ‘ty’ to mean tens. So twenty-four means, “two-ty four, “ or “two tens and four ones.” But eleven? What? This doesn’t describe the number as one ten and one one, and so on.

Understanding these numbers as “Ten and…”

This is why the goal of this game is to help young kids understand these numbers as representing a quantity that is “one ten and some ones.” Then as they play, count and recognize the numeral, the other pieces of understanding will come as well. For another visual model of these numbers as “a ten and some ones,” see these interactive counting pages. Another model that is using sticky notes to display the numbers.

Spring Numbers to 20 Board Game

Setting up the Game:

To get started, you will need to print the game board and the question cards. I suggest printing all of these pages on card stock and laminating them for durability.

I would also suggest printing two sets of cards so that you have plenty and aren’t constantly shuffling and restarting the card pile.

Then cut out the cards, shuffle them and place them face down next to the game board.

How to Play:

To begin, all players place their game pieces at start.

Then the first player draws a card from the pile. Each card will either say, “Move ahead…” or “Move backward…” by counting something on the card.

They then count the quantity shown on their card and move to the nearest number (either forward or backward, depending on what the card says) on the game board.

For example, if their card says, “Move ahead to the nearest number by counting the spots,” and the bugs show a total of 12 spots, they move forward to the nearest twelve.

Or if it says, “Move backward…” and the total number of spots is twelve, they would move backward to the nearest twelve.

Players then take turns drawing a card, counting and moving their game piece accordingly around the game board.

The first player to land on the “Finish” space is the winner!

Variations or Extensions:

If you have an older child who has mastered their understanding of the numbers 11-20, you can use the game board to practice addition within 20.

Simply grab a deck of cards and remove the face cards. Take turns drawing two cards and add the numbers together. Then move forward to the correct number.

Or you could change the rules so that you move to the closest number, even if it’s backward. For instance, if you are on twelve and the sum of your cards is eighteen, you’re actually closer to the eighteen behind you than moving forward to the next eighteen.

However you decide to use this game with your youngest mathematicians, I hope it will provide ample practice with a variety of important math concepts.

Spring Books for Kids

• Hundreds Battleship Game
• Addition Mini Book (Adding 0-12)
• Catch 20 Bugs Math Game
• Deck of Cards: Subtraction 
• Flower Number Bonds Activity
• Gumball Math: Addition & Subtraction
• Hungry Caterpillars Money Games
• Ice Cream Place Value Activity
• Kindergarten Number Practice 1-20
• Ladybug Addition
• Safari Count to 30 Game
• Solve & Stamp Math Worksheets (addition / subtraction)
• Spring Bird Addition File Folder Game
• Telling Time Puzzles
• Tic-Tac-Toe Math Game
• 2000+ page of free math worksheets