Before playing this game, make sure students know how to write their names and how to cross out one letter. This version of Bingo helps prekindergarteners recognize letters, especially those in their names. Have each child write his or her name on a piece of paper. These names are the "Bingo boards." Next, the teacher should hold up a letter from his mixed-up set of alphabet flashcards (these can be bought or made by the teacher). Students should say the letter, then any students with that letter in their names should cross it out. The teacher should then move onto the next card and repeat the process. The first student to cross out all of his or her letters wins.
Simon Says is an enjoyable game for children in pre-K that helps them improve their listening and observing skills. In the "Teacher Says" version of the game, children need a piece of paper and a pencil to play. The teacher gives directions, such as "Draw 3 circles" or "Write your name at the top of the paper" as well as more traditional Simon Says directions. The teacher should follow the directions on her own paper, which she can then use as an answer key to check the children's papers. Students who followed all the directions are the winners and can take turns being the teacher for the next game.
Students can learn to compare numbers and/or amounts by playing Number War. Using a deck of cards made by the teacher (the cards can include numbers 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and can include dots to correspond to the amount or not), a pair of students compare numbers in each round. Each child flips a card over from the face-down stack in the middle. Whoever has the card with the larger number (or the smaller number, if you prefer) is the winner of the round and takes both cards. After the middle stack is gone, each student must count his or her cards to see who has the most overall. That person is the winner.