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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Number Line Match-Up Activity (Up to 120)
Match two-digit whole numbers on a number line with this set of 32 task cards.
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Decimal Number Line Matching Game
Practise identifying decimals on a number line using a matching game for year 4 or year 5.
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Lab Equipment Vocabulary – Match-Up Activity
Identify different types of science tools by matching vocabulary terms, pictures and definitions.
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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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Hands-On Numbers 1-10 Caterpillar Activity
Match numbers 1-10 with their various visual representations to build a fun mathematical caterpillar!
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Open and Closed Syllables Match Up Activity
Practise identifying open and closed syllables with a rainbow-themed matching activity.
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Comparative and Superlative Adverbs - Match-Up Activity
Practice using comparative and superlative adverbs with a matching activity.
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Compound Words – Match-Up Activity
Build your students knowledge of compound words with this hands-on matching activity.
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Friends of 20 – Addition Match-up Cards
A match-up activity exploring friends of twenty.
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Underwater Matchup Cards
A set of 30 underwater creature matchup cards to use in a variety of ways.
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Experiment Vocabulary Match-Up Activity
A set of 9 experiment terminology cards for students to match to their definition.
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Monster Multiplication Match-Up (2-digit by 1-digit)
A match-up activity to practise multiplying a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number.
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Musical Instruments and Their Families Cards
A set of 48 cards for students to match musical instruments with the family of the orchestra to which they belong.
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Onset and Rime Sandcastle Matching Activity
Match up the onset, rime and picture in this activity to create sandcastles.
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Snowball Onset and Rime Puzzle
Enhance your phonics lessons with a set of snowball-themed onset and rime puzzles.
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Counting to 10 Match-Up Activity
Practise counting to 10 with this set of twenty object and number matching cards.
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Numbers 1-10 Bug Matching Game
Help students learn to represent numbers 1-10 in picture, word and number form.
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Phoneme Interactive Spelling Game - M, MM, MB
Use an interactive spelling game to help your students learn to spell words with m, mm, and mb correctly.
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Christmas Game - Upper and Lowercase Letter Recognition
Build letter recognition skills and add Christmas spirit to your literacy centres with a Letter Matching Christmas Game.
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Estimating Products of Whole Numbers Matching Game
Guide your students to round the factors to estimate the product with this maths matching game.
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Estimating Sums and Differences Matching Activity and Extension Task
Guide your students to estimate addition and subtraction sentences by rounding and compatible numbers with this matching activity.
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Pumpkin Puzzles - Initial Sounds Matching Game
Pick up letter-sound correspondence with a pumpkin picture puzzle matching activity.
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Skip Counting Multiplication Matching Game
Use this resource as a hands on-task to practise using skip counting to solve multiplication expressions.
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2 Digit Subtraction Model Match-Up
Use a rigorous subtraction matching game to match subtraction word problems with number sentences, bar models, and solutions.
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Australian Citizenship Values - Match-Up Activity
Learn key vocabulary terms related to Australia’s citizenship values with this set of hands-on match-up cards.
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Area of a Parallelogram – Match-Up Activity
Calculate the area of parallelograms and match them with their corresponding areas with this match-up 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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Exponential Expressions – Match-Up Activity
Match numerical expressions with exponents to their expanded expressions and solutions with this match-up activity.
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Numbers to 99 - Number Line Matching Activity
Practice locating numbers on a number line with a fun matching activity.
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Unit Fraction & Whole Number Division Models – Match-Up Activity
Practise how to divide a unit fraction by a whole number and divide a whole number by a unit fraction with this match-up activity.
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Rhyming Snowmen - Match-Up Activity
Bring a bit of snow into the classroom with a winter-themed rhyming word game for early years students.
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Rounding Numbers – Match-up Activity
Practise rounding decimals and whole numbers with this match-up activity.