Number Sense and Operations | 50 Fun Free Activities | K-2

Number Sense Activities

Add some fun and learning to your classroom with these free number sense activities. Grab hundred charts activities, number line learning, expanded form puzzles, comparing numbers games, and much much more.

These number sense activities and number sense games are for kindergarten, 1st graders and 2nd graders.

Until I sat in a college classroom, learning about how to teach subtraction with regrouping, I seriously didn’t get it. This young 20-year-old and a future teacher had no understanding of number sense.

I never connected expanded form, with the digits that I saw in the subtraction problem.

Seriously, I never understood why I was crossing out numbers and adding ones when regrouping. It was just something I did, because I was told too.

Once those years of college were over, I made a vow. This teacher didn’t want any child leaving my classroom with the same confusion I faced.

And an amazing thing happened! As I figured out ways to build number sense in my children, I developed number sense. And for the first time in my life, I understood math. I could even do mental math. It was amazing!

I know you want this same experience for your children. That’s why you are here.

So without further ado, here are 50 number sense activities. As always, don’t miss my upgraded assortment of activities on TeachersPayTeachers.

Number Sense Activities

If you are thinking, “I’m not good at math. I don’t understand numbers.”

Then this bundle is just for you.

It has 30 lessons that are scripted. And it will help you know how to explain using the hundreds chart, base ten blocks, ten frames, and number lines to your children.

These lessons take you step by step through setting up the lesson, teaching the lesson, what to ask while your student or students are participating in the lesson, and finally how to close up the lesson.

It is an amazing resource for anyone who is worried that their lack of math understanding is keeping them from being the best teacher! 

Number Recognition Activities

First, we have number recognition is the start of building number sense. These activities are just the beginning of creating an understanding of numbers in children.

1. Number Caterpillar | 20-50 Number Work with Base Ten Blocks | Free Printable
2. Place Value Bingo | Numbers 20-50 | Free Printable
3. Groups Of 10 Place Value Activity
4. FREE Valentine’s Day Teen Numbers Game
5. FREE Number Recognition Game For the Numbers 1 – 20
6. FREE Adorable Snowman One to One Correspondence Activity
7. FREE Delightful Christmas Counting Activity for Preschoolers
8. FREE Preschool Counting Activities Using Magnetic Numbers
9. FREE Fine Motor Skills Number Recognition Activity
10. Read and Create a Game
11. 5 Preschool Math Worksheets To Practice Patterns, Sorting, and More
12. How to Use Base 10 Manipulatives To Teach Expressions
13. Get Free Place Value Calendar Pieces to Practice Number 20 – 50
14. Sensory Math Activity | Playdoh Numbers | Free PDF

Hundreds Chart Activities

I love the hundreds chart, and my children do too. It is where we practiced counting, adding, subtracting, and even some skip counting. The hundreds chart is an excellent tool for your visual learners.

1. Adding and Subtracting Game | Movement Game | Free Printable
2. Digital Adding Practice Within 10
3. Fun Hundreds Chart Puzzles For Numbers 1 to 1,000
4. 24 FUN and FREE Hundreds Chart Riddles To Build Number Sense
5. 56 Clip Cards to Practice Rounding To The Nearest Hundred Using A Hundreds Chart
6. 60 FREE Rounding By 10’s Clip Cards with a Hundreds Chart
7. 5 FREE Cut and Paste Printables for Missing Numbers on a Hundreds Chart
8. One Easy Game For Adding Tens On A Hundreds Chart
9. 3 Comparing Expressions Worksheets To Build Number Sense
10. Here’s A Free Number’s Chart Activity to Build Number Sense
11. Here’s a FREE Number Puzzle Game to Develop Number Sense

Number Lines Activities

Number lines are not as widely used, but they are an incredible tool at building number sense. Whether it is working on counting, skip counting, adding or subtracting, and even decimals and fractions, it can really support number sense.

I also love rounding on the number line…that really strengthens number understanding.

1. Number of the Day Worksheet | Free Printable
2. FREE Number Line Game to Build Number Sense (Three Levels)
3. FREE Fill in the Missing Number Using A Number Line
4. 3 Interactive Notebook Activities For Rounding to Ten With Number Lines

Moving on to base ten blocks! These little guys ignited my passion for math and helped me understand numbers better.

Activities to Learn Base 10 Blocks

Yes, I hate those little cubes all over the floor after a fun, hands-on math lesson…..but let me tell you it is worth it.

You definitely want to add these number sense activities to your lessons.

1. Number Caterpillar | 20-50 Number Work with Base Ten Blocks | Free Printable
2. Place Value Bingo | Numbers 20-50 | Free Printable
3. Number of the Day Worksheet | Free Printable
4. FREE Base Ten Blocks Activity For Building Number Sense
5. FREE Comparing Numbers with Base Ten Blocks Worksheets
6. How to Teach Making Change…Includes Free Task Cards
7. Don’t Take My Blocks – A Free Subtracting With Regrouping Game
8. Subtraction with Regrouping File Folder Activity
9. How to Use Base 10 Manipulatives To Teach Expressions
10. Get Free Place Value Calendar Pieces to Practice Number 20 – 50

Ten Frames

Next, we jump to Ten frames. Ten frames are an awesome place for our little to begin. They can be used with themed erasers, candy, or whatever else you can think up.

And they strengthen one to one correspondence, adding and subtracting skills, decomposing numbers, and number recognition.

They are so easy to use, but our kids learn so much while using them.

1. Fun Digital Resources For Comparing Two Numbers Between 0 and 10
2. FREE St. Patrick’s Day Teen Number Activity (Google Slides)
3. Make 10 Thanksgiving Ten Frame Printable (FREE)
4. 5 Free M & M Word Problems to Practice Adding and Subtracting Within 20
5. Ready to be Santa’s Helper? (Free Decomposing Numbers Activity)

Number Study Activities | Expanded Form, Comparing Numbers

Finally, the catch-all section for our building number sense activities.

Browse through this area to find comparing numbers, working with expanded form, and even rounding activities.

1. FREE, No-Prep Expanded Form Game With a Valentine’s Day Theme
2. Groups Of 10 Place Value Activity
3. FREE St. Patrick’s Day Teen Number Activity (Google Slides)
4. FREE Valentine’s Day Teen Numbers Game
5. FREE Base Ten Blocks Activity For Building Number Sense
6. FREE Number Line Game to Build Number Sense (Three Levels)
7. FREE St. Patrick’s Day Odd and Even Activity
8. FREE Comparing Three Digit Numbers Clip Cards
9. FREE Composite and Prime Numbers Activity
10. FREE Printable For Rounding Numbers to the Nearest Thousand With Visual
11. Practice Value of Digits with These FREE Place Value For Large Number Task Cards
12. 56 Clip Cards to Practice Rounding To The Nearest Hundred Using A Hundreds Chart
13. 60 FREE Rounding By 10’s Clip Cards with a Hundreds Chart
14. FREE Comparing Numbers with Base Ten Blocks Worksheets
15. Practice Comparing and Ordering Numbers with This Christmas Math Activity
16. 3 Comparing Expressions Worksheets To Build Number Sense
17. FREE Ordering Large Numbers Cut and Paste Activity
18. Help Your Kids Learn Large Numbers With A Place Value Game Printable
19. A Fun Place Value Coloring Page To Practice The Value Of Digits
20. One FREE Expanded Form Game to Build Number Sense
21. 3 Interactive Notebook Activities For Rounding to Ten With Number Lines