Matching Games Teaching Resources
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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Past, Present, and Future Verb Tense Matching Activity - Regular Verbs
Practise using past, present, and future tenses of regular verbs with a butterfly matching activity.
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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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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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Unit Fraction Matching Game
Match up different visuals of simple unit fractions to help students understand this mathematical concept.
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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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Heat Energy Vocabulary Match Up Activity
Explore different heat energy vocabulary words with this definition and word match-up activity.
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Push and Pull Examples – Matching Game
Have students explore examples of push and pull forces with this matching game to use during your forces and motion science unit.
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Estimation With Decimal Multiplication Matching Game
Guide your students to estimate products with decimals by using this 36-card matching game.
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100 More , 100 Less Matching Game (Three-Digit Numbers)
Match 3-digit number cards to find pairs that are 100 more or 100 less of each other.
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Pictograph and Bar Graph Match-Up (Single-Unit Intervals)
Use data analysis skills to match frequency tables with a corresponding bar graph or pictograph.
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Everyday Opposites - Antonym Game
Have some wordplay fun with an Everyday Opposites domino game!
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Prime Factorisation Match-Up
Practise how to find the prime factorisation of a number with this match-up activity.
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Consonant Digraphs Match-Up Activity
Complete words using the correct consonant digraph with this set of match-up cards.
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Building Sundaes with Vowel Teams (AI, AY, EE and EA)
Decode words with ay, ai, ea and ee long vowel teams by crafting cute desserts!
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Blending Phonemes Secret Message – Matching Activity
Blend phonemes to build words and uncover the secret message!
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Numbers 1-12 Frog Catching Flies Activity
A hands-on activity where children consolidate their knowledge of numbers 1-12.
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How Does It End? – Final Sounds Match-Up Activity
Consolidate your students' understanding of end sounds with this set of 15 task cards.
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Uppercase and Lowercase Matching
A set of four pages for practicing uppercase and lowercase letter recognition.
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Subitising 1 to 12 - Domino Cards
A set of dominoes to use in the classroom when learning to subitise numbers from 1 to 12.
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Multiple Meaning Match-Up Cards
16 match-up puzzles to use in the classroom when identifying homonyms.
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Number Rings Activity (1-20)
Subitising numbers match up activity.
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Alphabet Matching Caterpillar Activity
A vibrant and fun activity to teach lower case and upper case to young children.
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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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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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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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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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Syllable Puzzles - Apple Matching Game
Practise segmenting, blending, and identifying types of syllables in words with a set of apple-themed puzzles.
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Word Family Pumpkin Sort
Enhance your phonics lessons with a pumpkin-themed word family game.
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Addition Strategies to 20 Workmat
Practise using a variety of addition strategies to add numbers up to 20.
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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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The Roles in Australia's Government - Match-Up Activity
Learn key vocabulary terms related to the roles and responsibilities of Australia’s three levels of government with this set of hands-on match-up cards.
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Rounding Numbers on Vertical Number Lines Matching Activity
Practise rounding to the nearest ten and hundred on a vertical number line with this set of 36 match-up cards.