Gold Nugget Manipulatives for Math and a Free Subtraction Matching Game

Who loves free math tools? #raiseshand Of course, as educators we’re always looking for ways to save money on teaching supplies. 

Today I’m sharing how we used rocks to create a super fun math manipulative (aka…GOLD nuggets!) and play this free subtraction matching game. So get some rocks & spray paint and get ready to create a manipulative that your kids will love!

What materials do I for the Gold Rocks and Free Subtraction Matching Game?

• Rocks (I purchased mine, but you can use any smooth rocks that you find)
• Gold spray paint (make sure it will stick to rocks)
• Scrapbooking Paper and/or card stock
• Laminating Pouches & Laminator

How to make the rocks:

1. Lay the rocks outside on a paper bag or cardboard
2. Spray one side of the rocks with the gold spray paint.
3. Wait for them to dry and then turn them over and spray the opposite side.

How to make the free subtraction matching game:

• Print and laminate.
• Cut apart the cards.
• Do a happy dance because that was so easy.

I love using scrapbooking paper to print all of my games so that the kids can’t see through the cards.

Of course, if you don’t have any smart alecks who will try to see through your paper, you don’t have to worry about that. 

Maybe my kids are the only ones who try to cheat at every game they play. 

Maybe not. 

The scrapbook paper also makes the games so much more fun to look at.

Roylco Decorative Hues Paper, 8-1/2 X 5-1/2 in, Pack of 192 – 1435530

We started off my using the rocks in a sensory bin full of black beans. Jaida dug for gold to represent the pictures on the cards.

Using a sensory bin adds to the excitement of the activity and allows Jaida to stay focused on an activity longer.

I mean, what child doesn’t want to dig for gold?

Side note… I have always found the simulated gold mining activities at various historical sites to be quite the rip off. You get to buy a bag of ‘gold’, put it in dirt and then let your kids search through the dirt to find the ‘gold’ that you just purchased.

Whoever thought of that, definitely knows that parents will spend just about any amount of money to keep their kids busy for 2.3 seconds.

I’m so glad that the ‘gold nuggets’ for this activity don’t cost as much as a tourist trap and they can be reused over and over in as many activities as you can think of.

Like my Pirate Number Mats for 1-10 and the Pirate Number Mats for 11-20

XXTOYS Fool’s Gold Dig Excavation Kit for Kids Pyrite Nuggets Stone Gold Bar Science Toys Boys Girls 6+ Years OldDiscovery Mindblown 6 Piece Toy Gold Mining Kit, Excavation Tool Set

Today we were working only with the 10’s facts, but you could mix them up or choose a different set, depending on what you want to practice.

All subtraction facts for 10-1 are included, except 1-0= (I didn’t want to have to print an extra page just for one fact.)

After she worked all the way through the 10’s facts, we played a Subtraction Matching game with the subtraction problems and gems cards.

She beat me.

Did I mention she loves to cheat???

Grab some fun books about gold to combine with the gold nugget subtraction matching game!

If You Were a Kid During the California Gold Rush (If You Were a Kid)I Spy Gold Challenger: A Book of Picture RiddlesWhat Was the Gold Rush?

Get Your Printable Here

More Subtraction Activities for Kids