Skill: Number Identification
“Gotcha!” Mosquito Numbers
Children “swat” mosquitoes to practice identifying numbers.
Materials
Players: 2 or more
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• title card (page 28)
• game directions (page 29)
• mosquito cards (pages 28 and 29)
• 22 metal paper clips
• plastic fly swatter
• self-adhesive magnet tape
Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
• pocket chart
Getting Ready
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Copy the title card, game directions, and two sets of the mosquito
cards. Color and cut out all of the game components. On the back of
each mosquito card, write a number appropriate for children’s ability
level. (Label each card with a different number.) Attach a paper clip
to the top of each card. Then place the title card in the top pocket of
the pocket chart and the mosquito cards—numbers facedown—in
the pockets below the title. (Make sure the paper clips extend beyond
the plastic pockets.) To make a magnetic fly swatter, affix several
strips of magnet tape, side-by-side, to one side of the plastic panel.
Place the directions faceup and the answer key facedown in the
bottom pocket. (Or use a clothespin to clip the answers to the side of
the chart.
Introducing the Game
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Show children how to “swat” a mosquito card so that it sticks to the
magnet on the fly swatter. Then have children name the number
on the back of the card. If desired, put a few mosquito cards in the
pocket chart and let children practice “swatting” the mosquitoes with
the fly swatter. Finally, invite two or more children to play the game.
ı9
Hel pfu l Tips
✷ For best results, use
a fly swatter with a
plastic handle and a
stiff, mesh panel with
small holes.
✷ Use craft glue to better
secure the magnet
tape strips. Allow the
glue to dry thoroughly
before use.
Extending the Game
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• Use the game components to reinforce number recognition skills.
To do this, place the numbers faceup and have children “swat” the
mosquito labeled with a named number.
• If desired, use the game as an informal assessment of children’s
number recognition or number identification skills.
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“Gotcha!” Mosquito
Numbers
Number Identification
Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
“Gotcha!” Mosquito Numbers . Title Card and Mosquito Cards
“Gotcha!” Mosquito Numbers . Game Directions and Mosquito Cards
Players: 2 or more
“Gotcha!” Mosquito Numbers
Directions for Play
Pocket Chart Games: Math © Angie Kutzer, Scholastic Teaching Resources
1 Use the fly swatter to swat a mosquito.
the mosquito off the fly swatter.
2 Take
Name the number on the back.
you name the correct number?
3 Did
Ask other players.
• If so, keep the mosquito.
• If not, put the mosquito back.
taking turns until all of the mosquitoes
4 Keep
have been caught. The player with the most
mosquitoes wins the game.
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