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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Interactive Animal Movement Game
Explore animals and how they move with an interactive Animal Movement Game.
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Rhyming Puzzle Match Up
Help early learners with their phonological awareness with this cute set of printable rhyming puzzles.
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Embedded Clauses Matching Game
Explore embedded clauses with this fun matching game that helps students practise building complete sentences in a collaborative setting.
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Language and Social Contexts Matching Game
Explore language and social contexts with this fun matching activity that helps students understand how our speech changes depending on the situation.
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Sock Letter Matching Activity
Match socks together for a great letter matching activity where the lowercase letter, uppercase letter and beginning sounds are matched.
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Interpreting Graphs on the Cartesian Plane Matching Activity
Incorporate this interpreting graphs matching activity into your unit on Cartesian planes.
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Alphabet Matching Game
Use this alphabet matching game to familiarise your students with the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding sounds.
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Counting to 20 Match-Up Cards
Count objects up to 20 with our match-up card game.
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Numbers 1–20 Peg Cards
Facilitate counting practise with this set of multisensory peg cards.
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Contractions Matching Activity - Dog Bone and Bowl
Practise matching words with their contraction with this fun bone and dog bowl matching activity.
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Contractions Cupcake Matching Activity
Practise matching contractions with their words using this fun cupcake match-up.
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Ice Cream Counting Game
Help students practise their knowledge of counting numbers 1-20 with this fun ice cream matching game.
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Multiplying Decimals Match-Up Activity
Get students multiplying decimals with this engaging card game, perfect for maths groups.
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Informational Text Features: Match It Up!
Download this informational text features game to teach primary school students about the common text features of informational texts.
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Positive Self Talk Match-Up
Teach your students how positive self talk in challenging situations can boost self-esteem with this match-up activity.
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Beginning Sound Sort - Apple Edition
Practise letter-sound correspondence with this apple-themed letter/sound match-up center activity.
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Adding within 1000 Bar Model Match Up Activity
Practise using the bar diagram to add numbers within 1000 with this match up activity.
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Main Idea and Detail Puzzle
Practise deciphering the main idea from the supporting detail with this printable puzzle.
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2 Digit Subtraction with Place Value Disks - Matching Activity
Use place value disks to solve 2-digit subtraction problems with a matching activity.
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Area of a Triangle – Match-Up Activity
Calculate the area of triangle figures and match them with their corresponding areas with this match-up activity.
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What is an Affix? Suffix Puzzle Pack
Practice building, reading, and understanding the meaning of words with suffixes with a fun set of printable puzzles for kids.
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Synonym Cards Match-Up Game
Download these synonym cards to help your students recognise words with similar meanings by playing an engaging, hands-on matching game.
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Building Sundaes with Vowel Teams (OA, OW, OE and EY)
Decode words with OA, OW, OE and EY long vowel teams by crafting cute desserts!
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Elements of a Map Match-up Activity
Use knowledge of the features of a map with this map element matching game.
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Traits of Good Citizens - Match-Up Activity
Identify and match characteristics of good citizens with this vocabulary-building activity.
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Missing Digit Multiplication - Interactive Activity
Encourage critical thinking with this missing digit multiplication activity.
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Compound Words Matching Game
Combine words to make compound words with a fun, printable Compound word game.
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What Toy Am I? - Toy Definition Match Up Game
A set of 20 puzzle cards for students to match pictures of toys to their definition.
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Money Match-Up Activity (New Zealand Currency)
An activity to help students recognise New Zealand coins and their combined amounts.
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Data Match-Up Cards (Set 1)
A match-up activity for students to use when exploring data.
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Alphabet Matching Activity
A great matching activity to consolidate your students' knowledge of the alphabet, letters and sounds.
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Data Match-Up Cards (Set 4)
A match-up activity for students to use when exploring data.