About Dot Card Games

These games use a deck of fun cards that include written numerals and dots. Zero to 10 black dots are arranged in different configurations: linear (straight line), rectangular arrays, triangular arrays, dice patterns, ten frames, circular configurations, and scattered configurations. A variety of dot arrangements help children develop their mental image of specific quantities. These games also support children’s ability to subitize—that is, to immediately see how many without counting, a key factor relating to young children’s math ability.

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)