Addicting Comparing Numbers Game For KinderGarten & 1st Grade

One of the most addictive games we play in kindergarten or first grade is a comparing numbers game called, “Game of Compare.”

But you may know it as… WAR!

Yep, the card game that’s been around for ages makes the PERFECT math game for kindergarten or first graders with just a few small tweaks. Here’s a look at how I modify the traditional game of war to meet the kindergarten and first grade standards for comparing numbers.

Comparing Numbers Game Materials

One thing I love about this comparing numbers game is that it is very VERY low prep. This is all you need to get started!

• A deck of cards with modifications (get rid of the kings and jacks; make the queen a zero using a sharpie; make the ace a 1 using a sharpie)
• Game of Compare response sheet

How To Play Game of Compare

If you know how to play war, you know how to play game of compare. Just take out the Jacks and Kings and change the Queens to zeros and the Aces to ones.

Then, divide the deck in half. Each player turns over the top card from their stack. Whoever has the greatest number, keeps both cards. The extra step is that the partners stop after each round and record the notation for their cards using a greater than, less than, or equal sign, as well as telling how many more.

Like war, if the partners turn over the same number, they will declare war and draw cards again to compare different numbers. But they will record the equal number set and the next number on the recording sheet.

How To Play Double Compare

Double compare is a way to modify the game to help first graders compare 2-digit numbers.  

Each partner draws 2 cards instead of 1. Then you have 2 options depending on your kids. You can have them add the two numbers together and compare the sums.

Or, you can have them create a two-digit number with the two cards. Meaning, the first card they draw would be the tens place. The second card would be the ones place. So, if I drew a 3 and then a 5, it would be “35.” Then, the partners compare their 2-digit numbers.

Using Game of Compare As Math Intervention 

For my low babies, they just played Compare with me in a small group while the others played Double Compare with partners.  We used cubes to build the numbers to make it easier to compare!  The first grade math games packet has cards with ten frames and without for differentiation as well!

You can find all of the recording sheets in this packet as well as a centers poster and “I can cards” to use for math stations. This math games resource also includes number cards with ten frame illustrations to use instead of game cards if you prefer! And if you’re interested in finding more card games, I’ve got a whole blog post dedicated to math card games!