# Pot o' Gold Math Game > Kids count gold coins onto numbered pot o' gold cards to practice one-to-one correspondence. Then they use a 'sharing' leprechaun puppet to add and a naughty 'stealing' leprechaun puppet to subtract. Uses a free printable and is easy to adapt for preschool or kindergarten. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/math-games-for-kids-pot-o-gold-math-game/ - Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low - Time: prep 25 min, activity 20 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids - Skills: counting, one-to-one-correspondence, number-recognition, addition, subtraction, pretend-play - Cautions: ingestion-risk ## Materials (one batch) - 1 set Pot O Gold Math printable (pot cards 1-10 and 2 leprechauns) - Printer and paper (household) - 2 piece Jumbo craft sticks - Tape (household) - 1 piece Scissors (household) - Gold treasure coins - 1 piece Small cup or bowl for the coins (household) - Index cards (optional) - 1 piece Laminator (optional) - 1 piece Tray (optional) (household) ## Safety - Treasure coins are small parts and a choking hazard. Supervise closely and keep them away from children who still mouth objects. - Adult does the cutting and laminating. Laminators get hot. ## Before you start - Print the Pot O Gold Math printable (pot cards 1-10 and the two leprechauns). - Laminate the sheets so you can reuse the game cards. - Cut out the pots and the leprechauns along their outlines. - Tape each leprechaun to a jumbo craft stick to make two puppets. - Optional: write simple equations (e.g. '4 + 3') on index cards. ## Steps 1. Set out the pot o' gold cards, the two leprechaun puppets and a cup of gold coins as an invitation to play. 2. Younger kids: count the gold coins together. 3. Count out coins and place the matching number of coins on each numbered pot card. 4. Line up the pots with their coins and check each one by counting again. 5. Ready for more? Place an equation card, like 4 + 3. 6. Set out the matching pot cards and put the right number of coins on each. 7. Hold up the happy 'Sharing' leprechaun: he gives you gold, so add the coins together. 8. Hold up the naughty 'Stealing' leprechaun: he takes gold away, so subtract the coins. ## Tips - Learn from my mistake and laminate the games you make. I never saved the games I made with my 6 year old and found myself redoing the same cards for my 4 year old. - Cutting the pots and leprechauns out along their outlines makes the game more catchy. - Start with counting first, then one-to-one correspondence, then addition and finally subtraction. Phase in each concept to give enough time for the information to sink in. - Just holding the addition or subtraction puppet next to the pots reinforces the concept. - The pot of gold cards and the coins may lead to a long pretend play as well. Yeah, with good and naughty leprechauns! ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2015) Making math and science interesting and engaging through [**f*un math games***](https://www.funlittles.com/category/math-play/) and hands on [**science experiments**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/science-2/) has been my goal for a long time. With 2 girls and a world that tries hard to tell young women that they are not that good at STEM compared to their male peers, I find it very important to cultivate their confidence and interest. It is great that every kid starts off their childhood with oodles of curiosity in all subject matters including math and science. But somewhere along the way, they lose steam, lose confidence and often times develop hatred towards the subjects. Well, we are not going to let that happen right? { More hands on **math activities for kids**} Here is a super *fun math game for kids* with a free printable included ### St. Patrick's Day Math Game Materials {*The bold and underlined green words are working links}* - **Pot O Gold Math Printable** - **[Jumbo Craft Sticks](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009XTX24/?tag=blmemo-20)** - Tape - **[Treasure Coins](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B810C2/?tag=blmemo-20)** - Index Cards {optional} - **[Swingline Laminator](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FM76BK/?tag=blmemo-20)** This math activity is s versatile and you can modify it depending on the age of the child After printing our pot of gold and our 2 leprechauns, I laminated the sheets for future use. I realize that we have done so many [**learning activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/learn/) and math games with my now 6 year old but never really saved the games. I find myself redoing the same cards for my 4 year old. I could have easily laminated the cards and saved myself more repetitive work. Learn from my mistake and laminate the games you make so you can reuse the same game cards. *{I love the efficient, inexpensive **[Swingline Laminator](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FM76BK/?tag=blmemo-20)** I have.}* I cut out the pots and the leprechauns along their outlines to make the game more catchy. I taped both he leprechauns to jumbo craft stixks to make puppets out of them. I also set out gold coins. This will be your invitation to play and learn with this super fun math game. Your pot o' gold cards {1-10} , 2 leprechaun puppets and a cup of gold coins.