Matching Games for Teachers
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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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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Classroom Procedure Activity - Do or Don't? Sort
Identify proper school and classroom procedures with this sorting 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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Think It or Say It? - Sorting Activity
Teach students about using a filter when speaking with others.
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Everyday Opposites - Antonym Game
Have some wordplay fun with an Everyday Opposites domino game!
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Map Symbols Match-Up Activity
Practise identifying the symbols found on a map with a map symbol matching 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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Consonant Digraphs Match-Up Activity
Complete words using the correct consonant digraph with this set of match-up cards.
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Rhyme Time – Match-Up Activity
A set of 32 match-up cards for students to practise rhyming.
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A Rhyme a Dozen - Matching Game
A concentration style card game that can be used to consolidate students' knowledge of rhyming words.
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Time Machine Match-Up Activity
A fun sorting activity that consolidates knowledge of time to the hour, half-hour and to the quarter-hour.
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1 to 20 Number Match-Up Cards (MAB, Quantities, Digits, Tallies, Tens Frames and Words)
A match-up activity to help students identify different representations of the numbers 1 to 20.
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Collective Nouns Match Up Activity - Objects and People
A pack of 32 cards to use when learning about collective nouns.
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Money Match-Up Activity (New Zealand Currency)
An activity to help students recognise New Zealand coins and their combined amounts.
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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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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Matching Game
Challenge your students to identify different slow changes to Earth’s surface with this matching game designed for year 4 and 5 students.
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Beginning Sound Sort - Apple Edition
Practise letter-sound correspondence with this apple-themed letter/sound match-up center 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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Adding within 1000 Bar Model Match Up Activity
Practise using the bar diagram to add numbers within 1000 with this match up activity.
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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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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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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.
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Open and Closed Syllables - Match Up Activity
Practice identifying open and closed syllables with a rainbow-themed matching activity.
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Elements of a Map Match-up Activity
Use knowledge of the features of a map with this map element matching game.
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Whole Body Listening Poster and Matching Worksheet
A cute poster to refer to when reinforcing whole body listening.
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Friends of 20 – Addition Match-up Cards
A match-up activity exploring friends of twenty.
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What Toy Am I? - Toy Definition Match Up Game
A set of 20 puzzle cards for students to match pictures of toys to their definition.
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Number and Dot Value Cards BW
Number and Dot Value Cards from 1-20.
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Numbers, Words and Tallies Match-Up Activity - Tens
A game to help your students understand numbers and all of the different ways they can be represented.
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Compound Words - Noun Puzzle Pops Match-Up
‘Pop’ in a bit of extra practise with compound words with a fun set of Compound Word Puzzle Pops!
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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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Positive Self Talk Match-Up
Teach your students how positive self talk in challenging situations can boost self-esteem with this match-up activity.