Here’s a fun fishing math game for kids- perfect for practicing number recognition, number sequencing, comparing numbers, and addition! This would also be a great educational game to play outside on a hot, sunny day!

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Recently we made this fishing math game to play outside in our water table. It’s perfect for my 2 year old who’s practicing number recognition, and also fun for my 6 year old who’s ready for adding numbers! This post contains affiliate links. 

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Math Game for Kids: Fishing for Numbers

Materials for Fishing Math Game for Kids

• Colored foam sheets
• Black Sharpie marker
• Paper clips
• Wooden dowel (in whatever length you want your fishing pole to be)
• Eye hook
• String
• Strong magnet
• Hot glue gun
• Water table (or other container that can hold water)

How to Make the Fishing for Numbers Math Game for Kids

Make the Fish

1. Draw fish shapes onto your foam sheets and cut them out. (We made ten foam fish.)

2. Use a black Sharpie to number your fish 1-10.

3. Slip a paper clip on the top of each fish.

Make the Fishing Pole

1. Screw an eye hook into one end of your wooden dowel. (Our dowels were 5/16 in. x 36 in.)

2. Tie a string onto the eye hook.

3. Use a hot glue gun to glue a strong magnet to the bottom of your string. (I originally bought regular magnets at my local craft store, but they weren’t strong enough. I went back and bought some labeled ‘super strong’ and those worked perfectly!)

4. We also used colored Sharpies to decorate our fishing pole!

Playing “Fishing for Numbers”

Spread the fish out in your water table with the numbers facing down.

Take turns fishing for numbers.

In addition to using the fishing game for imaginative play, you can also use it to practice various math skills. Here’s a few options:

• Number Recognition: Once you catch a fish, practice saying the number.
• Number Sequencing: As you catch each fish, place them in numerical order.
• Addition Practice: If your child is ready for adding practice, make the activity into an adding game. Take turns catching fish. Once all the fish are caught, add up the numbers of the fish each player caught. The player with the most points wins.
• Comparing Numbers: Go fishing with your friend at the same time. Whoever catches the fish with the greatest number gets a point. Continue until all fish are caught. The player with the most points wins.

Check out our ebook ABCs and 123s! You’ll find 40+ ways to encourage children to explore letters and numbers through play!