Bump Games for Kindergarten Math and Literacy Practice
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Predictable, familiar games are such a great tool to use in the kindergarten classroom. Students are able to use these games to independently practice many different skills in a hands-on and engaging way! One of my favorite games to use in kindergarten is BUMP! Haven’t heard of it? That’s okay! I’m going to tell you all about how to use Bump games for kindergarten skill practice.
What Are Bump Games?
Bump is a game that is usually played in partners. It uses a game mat, a spinner, and ten game pieces for each player. The goal of the game is simple: Each student is trying to get rid of their game pieces by placing all of them on the mat.
Each game mat focuses on a specific math or literacy skill, but the rules and format always stay the same. You can teach the game early in the school year and then have it as a go-to activity all year long!
How to Play Bump
One of the reasons why I love Bump so much is that it’s easy to teach the rules to young kindergarten students. We know how important it is to keep those instructions simple!
1. Prep the Game Board and Pieces
Print out the game mat, spinner circle, and illustrated “I Can” instruction card onto cardstock so they’re nice and sturdy! You can also laminate them to increase durability. Then you’ll cut out the paper circle and add a spinner. Spinners are pretty inexpensive and you can order them from Amazon by clicking here! (Affiliate Link)
You’ll also want to have ten stacking cubes in two different colors. These will be the game pieces.
2. Choose Who Will Go First
It sounds simple, but this step can make or break the ability for students to play independently, without teacher intervention or problem-solving. It can be really hard for kindergarteners to decide who will go first! That’s why I suggest having a rule about how to choose who will start the game.
This could be based on age, name, rock-paper-scissors…you know your students best! Just make sure that you have a set rule to decide who goes first.
3. Spin and Cover
Once the order has been decided, Player One will spin first. The spinner will land on something that corresponds to a picture or number on the game mat.
For example, this student counted the birds in the space where the spinner landed and then put a cube on the corresponding number.
Once Player One has had a chance to spin and add a cube to the mat, then it’s Player Two’s turn to do the same.
4. Bump or Stack as Needed
This is where the name of the game (Bump!) comes into play. If students land on a space and discover that there is already a cube on the mat for that space, they will either bump or stack the cube that is already there.
If it is an opponent’s cube in the spot, the player gets to bump them! They will take the spot and their opponent takes back their cube.
If it is the player’s own cube on the spot, they can stack another cube on top. Once a player has more than one cube stacked on a spot on the game mat, they can no longer be bumped from that spot.
5. Keep Going!
Players can continue taking turns until one person has placed all of their cubes on the mat.
If there is time left over, students can clear the mat and start again. They’re always up for multiple rounds of Bump! That’s why this game is such a great choice for reviewing skills. Plus, this can keep students engaged until they need to move on to the next activity.
Fun Ways to Use Bump Games in Kindergarten
As you can probably tell, Bump is a predictable game that you can teach once and use throughout the year. There are so many different ways that you can incorporate Bump into your kindergarten lesson plans.
Math Centers: Math Bump games are a great option for your math stations. Students are able to play until it’s time to move on. You can choose Bump games that correspond to skills you want your students to review, like shapes, counting, addition, and more!
Literacy Centers: You can also use Bump games to review literacy skills in your classroom! From building phonological awareness skills like rhyming to identifying letters and sounds, your students will get plenty of fun practice during literacy rotations!
Grab and Go Games: Bump is super easy to store so that it’s ready to go anytime you need it! You can grab these games when you have a few extra minutes in small groups, if there is a rainy day recess, or if your early finishers need something to do. Bump is even great for a morning work activity!
You can even print off mini versions with travel-size stackable cubes! This makes it even easier for students to grab a game and go, since they fit perfectly within the colorful photo storage boxes.
Printable Bump Games for Kindergarten
If you’d like to use Bump to bring some extra engagement to your classroom, be sure to check out my set of over 100 kindergarten Bump games!
The games are organized by month, with themed Bump games that follow the typical skill progression of the kindergarten curriculum. This means you’ll have an entire year worth of low-prep Bump games to add to your daily learning routine! Just click below to take a closer look at everything included in this bundle.
Free Bump Math Game
Would you like to give Bump a try in your classroom? Check out this free Bump math game! Just add your information to the form below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
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Deedee Wills
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
Hi, I'm DeedeE.
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
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8 Responses
your freebies and other things are awesome and have kept me going this year!!
Thank you!
I love your ideas! So Good! I know you probably will say no, but do you have any spanish materials?
Thanks! I can always translate if not. Thanks a bunch.
Oh, I will be a new first grade teacher in the fall, I could use your guidance as to what to do those first few days!
Thank you!!!!
Hi there!!!
I have something started, but I’d love a helping hand. Will you email me?
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
Can you explain how you connect the spinner?
Hi Tori!
I get spinners from Amazon. They are linked in the blog post if you’d like check them out. As far as connecting, you just cut a hole in the cardstock and insert the spinner. Super easy!
Long time ElEd teacher but new to kindergarten this month. I have gotten so much guidance from you as I jumped in to kindergarten with both feet. I do have a couple questions.
You specify students always get 10 cubes, but I may have missed how you design the board. Do you have a standard number of locations or location to spinner ratio? (like 6 spinner slots and 12 locations to put cubes).
Do you order lots of spinners and keep the spinners put together for next time you use it? Or do you remove the spinner and put it on the next spinner you are using?
How exciting! Welcome to Kindergarten. There are typically 10 spots on the game board so with 10 cubes, students should have enough to double their game piece so it can’t be bumped if needed. I do order several spinners and attach them to the cardstock spinner to stay forever. There are also some spinners with transparent backgrounds you could purchase instead of securing the spinner for each board game.