Feed the Monster Numbers Math Game (Free Printable Game)

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“The monster is hungry for number 7!” Can your child find the right card and feed it to him?

This free Feed the Monster printable gives children a fun way to practice recognizing numbers 1-36. This four-page download includes colorful number cards, a large monster, and two number-tracing pages. Start with a few cards for a preschooler, or use more of the set for number order and simple math problems.

Check out our ever-growing list of fun math printables for kids.

What’s in the Free Printable?

The download has four pages:

• Numbers 1–10 tracing page: Ten large numbers for beginning number practice.
• Number cards 1–36: Colorful cards to cut apart and use in the game.
• Numbers 1–36 tracing page: A second tracing page for children ready to work with more numbers.
• Feed Me Numbers monster: A full-page monster that serves as the game mat.

The tracing pages and cards work well together. A child can trace a number, find its matching card, and feed that card to the monster.

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How to Set Up the Feed the Monster Game

Print the four pages. Cut apart the colorful number cards, then choose a small group of cards for the first round. Leave the monster page flat on the table and have your child place each card over its mouth.

For a monster that can swallow the cards, attach the monster page to a paper bag or box. An adult can cut an opening at the mouth so children can drop the cards inside. The printable has a picture of an open mouth, but it does not come with a pre-cut slot. A bag or box is optional.

Supplies Needed:

• The Free printable game (Download at the bottom of this post)
• Scissors
• And, if you choose to make a standing monster, a paper bag or small box with tape or glue.

How to Play Feed the Monster

Set out a few number cards face up. Say, “The monster is hungry for number 4.” Your child finds the 4, says the number aloud, and places the card on the monster’s mouth.

Continue until the monster has eaten all the cards. Then let your child take a turn calling out numbers for you to find. If they are just beginning to recognize numerals, start with 1 through 5. Add more cards as those numbers become familiar.

You don’t need to use all 36 cards in one game. A smaller selection gives children time to look carefully at each number and enjoy playing.

More Ways to Use the Number Cards

Practice number order

Choose five or six consecutive cards and mix them up. Ask your child to feed the monster the numbers in order. Begin with 1 to 5, then try another short sequence such as 11 to 15.

Find the missing number

Lay out a sequence with one card missing, such as 8, 9, __, 11. Ask which number the monster needs to fill the gap.

Match a number to a group of objects

Put a few blocks or counters on the table. Have your child count them, find the matching number card, and feed it to the monster. This helps connect a written number with the quantity it represents.

Answer addition and subtraction problems

Say a simple problem, such as 3 + 2. Your child solves it, finds the 5 card, and feeds the answer to the monster. You can do the same with subtraction problems that have answers from 1 to 36.

Try multiplication with older children

The cards can also hold answers to multiplication facts. Ask 3 × 4, for example, and have your child feed the monster the 12 card. The printable does not include math problem cards, so say the problems aloud or write your own.

Use the Number Tracing Pages

The first tracing page focuses on numbers 1–10. Children can trace the numbers they know, then find those same numbers among the colorful cards. You can spread this practice over several days instead of completing the whole page at once.

The second page includes numbers 1–36. Use it when your child is ready to recognize and trace a larger range of numbers. It can also serve as a reference while they search for a card during the game.

Tips for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Math Centers

For preschoolers, keep the game short and use only a handful of cards. Let children point to or name each number before feeding it to the monster.

For kindergarten students, try number order, missing numbers, or counting objects to match a card. Older children can use the same monster for addition, subtraction, or multiplication answers.

To make a reusable math center, keep the cut-out cards in a small bag with the monster page. Swap in a different set of numbers when children are ready for a new challenge.

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Get the Free Feed the Monster Printable

Ready to play? Get the free four-page printable below. Print the monster and cards for the game, and use the two tracing pages whenever your child wants more number practice.

For another hands-on math activity, try our Counting Bugs in a Jar Printable Math Game.

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