About Dot Card Games

These games use a deck of colorful cards with written numerals and dots, 0–10. The dots are arranged in different configurations: straight lines, rectangular arrays, triangular arrays, dice patterns, ten frames, circles, and scattered configurations. The variety of dot arrangements helps children develop different mental images of specific quantities. Dot Cards help children practice important early math skills, such as counting and number operations. In developing these materials, we found it was most helpful when teachers introduced a game or a minibook in the classroom and then sent the materials, directions, and the minibooks home for children to play and read with their families. Children are proud to share—and teach—what they learned in school. Then, children can come back to the classroom and share what they learned at home.

Materials Needed

Printable Dot Cards, Directions

What's the math in these games?

Dot cards help children practice important early math skills: including subitizing, counting with one-to-one correspondence, and recognizing written numerals. We often ask children to count a line of objects, but circular and scattered arrangements are harder to count one by one!

To print at home: There are 7 types of cards in the dot card deck. Each type of dot card can be printed separately on colored paper. We have suggested these colors in the directions, but you can use any paper available to you. For example, you can use blue paper to print the blue circle dot cards.
Game Kits Coming Fall 2021!

Check back for a new way to play our games and access game materials at your fingertips.

Watch a Video!

Play Video
Young Mathematicians: Number Cards: 1 to 10 at School (English)
Play Video
Tarjetas de Números: 1 a 10 en la Escuela (Spanish)
Play Video
Tarjeta de Puntos: 1 a 5 en la Escuela (Spanish)