Matching Games for Teachers
Explore matching games for kids created by teachers to play in maths class, English rotations and more! Get students excited about learning with fun games designed to help them increase their attention to detail and classify objects.
This collection of printable and digital games was created by the expert teachers on the Teach Starter team with kids (and teachers) in mind. It includes curriculum-aligned activities designed to promote active learning and primary student participation, helping them improve their ability to find similarities and differences in objects.
Haven't used a matching in your classroom and want to know more? Or maybe you just want some fresh ideas for your classroom. Either way, read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is a Matching Game?
Sometimes referred to as a memory game, matching games typically consist of a set of cards or tiles that are laid out face down. The objective of the game is to find pairs by turning over two cards at a time until all matches have been made.
This fun game concept has been used in classrooms for years, based on the concept of memory or concentration games, which have roots dating back to the 19th century.
Of course, the games have evolved over time! The traditional format has been transformed into interactive digital versions, and you'll find matching games right here on Teach Starter that students can play online on their tablets or classroom computer!
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Match Game
Practise reading, modelling, and solving addition and subtraction word problems with a matching activity.
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Tens Frame - Addition and Subtraction Match-Up Activity
Build addition and subtraction skills with two tens frame matching games.
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0–20 Number Matching Game
A matching game using numbers, written words, dice, and animal pictures from 0 to 10.
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Year 2 Telling Time Game - Hour and Half Hour Ice Cream Match
Create a maths centre to practise telling time to the hour and half hour with a printable ice cream matching game.
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2D Shape Match
A fun match-up activity to consolidate your students’ knowledge of 2D shapes and their properties.
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Rainbow Facts Matching Activity
Practise number bonds with this fun rainbow-themed hands-on activity.
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Time Unit Conversion Match-Up Game
Convert increments of time, including seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months, with a printable Time Conversion matching activity.
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Feelings and Emotions Match-Up Activity
Help students to recognise and identify their feelings and emotions with this interactive match-up activity.
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Decodable Text to Picture Match-Up
Four sets of decodable sentences with matching pictures.
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Fraction, Decimal and Percentage Match-Up Game
Get students converting fractions, decimals and percentages with this hands-on maths game aligned with the upper primary maths curriculum.
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Morphology Match-Up
Consolidate your morphology lessons by ensuring students understand word parts terminology and the meanings of different word parts.
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SATPIN Matching Activity - Frog and Lily Pads
A SATPIN matching activity using lilly pads.
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Telling Time Puzzles - Reading Clocks
Practise reading analogue clocks, digital clocks, and time in word form with a set of printable Telling Time to the Hour and Half Hour Clock Puzzles.
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Fact Family Find and Flip - Addition and Subtraction (Middle)
Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.
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Partitioning Numbers - Match-Up Activity
A set of partitioning number cards to create number sentences when grouping in tens.
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Chick Counting Activity - Numbers 1-20
Practise recognising, counting and subitising numbers from 1-20 with this Easter-themed counting activity.
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Partitioning 3-Digit Numbers Matching Activity
Help children partition 3-digit numbers by identifying the place value of hundreds, tens, and ones with this matching activity.
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Match That Fraction! – Number Line Activity
Match fractions with their corresponding locations on a number line with a set of fraction task cards.
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Simple Present and Past Tense Match-Up Cards (Regular Verbs)
A set of 30 match-up cards to help students learn about simple present tense and simple past tense of regular verbs.
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Subitising 1 to 12 - Snap and Memory Game
A set of subitising cards for students to play a game of snap or memory when learning to subitise numbers.
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Fact Family Find and Flip - Addition and Subtraction (Upper)
Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.
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Money Match-Up Activity (Australian Currency)
An activity to help students recognise Australian coins and their combined amounts.
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What Does the Clock Say? - Telling the Time Game
Solve the math riddles and read analogue clocks with a fun Time to 5 Minute Telling Time Game.
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Fix the Punctuation Activity
A cut and match activity to help your students correctly punctuate sentences.
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Unit Fraction Matching Game
Match up different visuals of simple unit fractions to help students understand this mathematical concept.
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Mixed Number - Fraction Model Match-Up
Practice matching improper fractions, mixed numbers, bar models, and fraction number lines with this set of 36 match-up cards.
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Making Ten Memory Game
Practise making ten using ten frames with this fun memory game.
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Rainbow Facts - Addition Match Up Cards
A bright and fun game to play in the classroom when learning the Friends of Ten and Rainbow Facts.
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Multiplication Array Puzzles
Guide your students to match arrays, multiplication facts and repeated addition sentences with this set of puzzles.
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Modal Language Matching Activity
Have students explore high modality and low modality language with this matching game to use during your persuasive writing unit.
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Egg-cellent Easter Addition Activity
Practise simple addition with this Easter-themed addition match-up activity.
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Coordinate Matching Activity for Year 6
Practise identifying coordinates and describing the process for graphing with a year 6 matching activity.