October Math Activities for Primary Classrooms

October is such a fun month in the classroom! Between pumpkins, costumes, and all things fall, it’s the perfect time to weave a little seasonal magic into your math block. The trick, of course, is keeping activities meaningful and engaging. That’s where the right mix of centers, games, and hands-on practice comes in. Today, I’m rounding up some of my favorite October math resources that will keep your students learning while leaning into the excitement of the season. Whether you’re focusing on number sense, addition and subtraction, patterns, or even money skills, you’ll find something here to fit your plans!

Why Use Seasonal Resources?

First, a quick note on the value of using seasonal resources in your classroom. Using seasonal resources in the primary classroom is more than just adding a festive touch. Seasonal activities capture students’ attention, give abstract concepts a meaningful context, and help anchor learning to the time of year. When math lessons connect to something students are already excited about, like pumpkins, Halloween, or fall, the content sticks! Plus, seasonal themes naturally add variety, keeping your math block fresh and engaging month after month. Ready to see how it all comes together? Let's dive in! 

1. October Visual Discrimination Cards 

Visual discrimination skills are a building block for both reading and math. Finding ways to weave these skills into your lessons will pay off big time when it comes to student success. These Halloween-themed visual discrimination task cards help students practice spotting “same” and “different.” 

Best of all, though, you can use these in many different ways, too! Try using these task cards in your small group warm-ups, as an independent center activity, or a fun option for those fast-finishers in your room. Just print, cut, and laminate for durability, then store these cards in a plastic photo box for easy access. With 84 cards featuring fun Halloween pictures, they are sure to be a hit!

2. Five Little Pumpkins October Math Activity

Do you like teaching with songs and poems in your classroom? Rhythm and music help boost engagement and are so much fun! If you want to bring some Halloween fun to your room, I know you'll love this Five Little Pumpkins Resource! 

Inside, you'll find a poem poster that doubles as an interactive counting and subtraction activity. You get a poem poster in both color and black and white, a fun fall-themed work mat, and pumpkin strips that can be used by students or as a visual for group instruction. This activity is a lot of fun to use with candy pumpkins or mini erasers, too. No matter what you decide, I think this activity will become a classroom favorite!

3. October Friends of 10

Some teachers call this skill "friends of 10" while others simply say "making 10", but the idea is to help our students become more fluent with their math facts, and which addends make 10. After all, composing and decomposing 10 is a cornerstone skill for addition and subtraction! 

In this resource, you will find:

• Tens Buddy Cards: Helps students see at a glance which addends add up to the sum of 10
• Find the 10's Buddies Colored Wipe Off Boards - 4 different versions and all themed for Halloween fun 
• Find the 10's Buddies Worksheet - 8 versions that print 4 to a page. 
• Tens Buddy Path Games - candy corn and ghost version included

Try using these activities as center work, mini-lessons for math groups, or as a partner game! They are the perfect addition to your math centers in October.

4. Make a Ten Monster Game

Looking for more fun October math activities to practice making 10? You're in luck! This Make a Ten Monster Spinner Game is always a classroom hit! Here's how to play:

Each pair of students shares a 0-10 work mat. To save space, you can print the mats at half size. Each student receives two sets of candy number cards, giving them duplicate numbers to start the game, along with a single spinner. You can use a paperclip-and-pencil spinner or a plastic overlay spinner to determine the numbers. 

When a student spins, the spinner will land on a number between 0 and 10, which becomes the first addend in a number sentence. The student then goes to the corresponding monster work mat and selects the candy number card from their hand that, when added to the first number, equals a sum of 10. These are Make a 10 Monster mats are great for center time during the month of October!

5. Counting Forward and Backward Number Sense Game

Counting forward and backward is a foundational skill that students begin practicing in the primary years. Mastering “10 more, 10 less” and “1 more, 1 less” can be challenging for some students, but those who can do this with ease demonstrate strong number sense and place value understanding. This Counting On, Counting Backwards Game is perfect for your students during the month of October. Included, you get:

• 100 Number Cards with Numbers 1-120
• 4 Directions Cards (+1, -1, +10, -10)
• 4 Full Moon Cards (students steal a friend's pile)
• 4 Spider Web Cards (student takes another turn)

To play, students draw one number card and one directions card and follow the directions. They will count up or back by one or ten, depending on the card they drew. This card game will make it fun and easy to practice this skill with a fun Halloween twist! It’s a fun, engaging break from typical worksheets and traditional number sense games.

6. Pumpkin Number Bonds

This Number Bond Practice Math Center is perfect for students working on addition and subtraction within 20. With a pumpkin theme, it’s a fun way to sneak in some fall spirit while reinforcing essential math skills. Number bonds are the building blocks of addition and subtraction. Students practice finding the missing addend, figuring out sums, and developing strong number sense. 

To use, place the cards in a basket or container. Add dry-erase markers and erasers so students can write the missing numbers directly on the cards. Use all the cards or select a subset to meet different skill levels. Some students can focus on finding the missing addend, while others practice sums. There are also optional recording sheets for more accountability, too! Students can work solo or pair up to solve the cards together, checking each other’s work and talking through their thinking.

This pumpkin number bonds center makes learning concrete and visual, perfect for young learners who need something to hold, manipulate, and see as they work.

7. Pumpkin Shapes 

Young learners need engaging, concrete ways to explore shapes. This pocket chart activity makes 2D shapes visual, interactive, and meaningful. Students can match pictures to words, connect shapes to sentences, and even practice reading, all while exploring a seasonal theme they love. It’s a great way to integrate multiple skills in one playful activity! Here's what's included:

• 9 Pumpkin Shape Cards
• Matching Words Cards 
• Sentence Cards 
• Reproductible Mini Book

Use the shape cards, matching word cards, and sentence cards to create a pocket chart activity and identify each shape. Then, allow students to try this activity on their own during centers. Finally, use the mini books to reinforce what you've learned!

8. Pumpkin Patterns 

These Pumpkin Pattern Task Cards make pattern recognition visual, interactive, and fun! Students can identify and extend patterns with festive pumpkin shapes, all while enjoying a seasonal Fall or Halloween theme. This activity is perfect for independent practice in a fall math center. You get 20 Pumpkin Pattern Task Cards in a variety of patterns, as well as an answer key, in this download. 

Students determine the pattern on each card and choose which shape comes next from three options. They can clip a clothespin to the correct answer, giving a hands-on, self-checking element. Cards are numbered 1–20 for easy organization, and they include patterns such as AB, ABB, AAB, and more. This activity is ideal for small groups, math centers, or independent practice, making patterning both fun and educational!

9. October 120 Chart

Developing number sense is key for primary students, and finding missing numbers on a 120 chart is a hands-on way to strengthen this skill. These Halloween 120 Chart Puzzles make identifying missing numbers fun, seasonal, and engaging. Inside, you get 2 versions of 32 puzzles. One with less support and one with more support to fit the needs of your classroom. There are two ways to play:

• Pile Method: Place all cards in a pile. Students select a card, determine the missing number, and record it. 

• Scoot Activity: Spread cards around the classroom. Students rotate from card to card, recording the missing numbers as they move. Collect recording sheets at the end for grading.

These puzzles provide a fun, seasonal twist on number sense practice, keeping students engaged while reinforcing important skills!

10. Haunted House Money Math Lesson 

Last on the list, I've got a spooky surprise! Practicing coin identification, counting money, and making change doesn’t have to be boring! This Halloween, your students can get hands-on experience with money while creating a festive haunted house craft. Combining math with a seasonal theme not only boosts engagement but also helps students see the real-world application of the skills they’re learning.

This activity is perfect for teaching students how to identify coins, count money, and make change in a meaningful, interactive way. Instead of traditional worksheets, students “shop” for haunted house pieces using coins from their own cups. They’ll practice adding, multiplying, and making change as they collect all the items they need to complete their craft.

To set up the activity, give each student a menu and a cup of coins. Organize your classroom into small store stations with adults, parent volunteers, or older students acting as storekeepers. As students shop, they practice coin identification, count sets of coins, add totals, and make change. Storekeepers provide guidance as needed, and once students have gathered all their pieces, they return to their seats to assemble their haunted houses. This activity is not only educational but also incredibly engaging!

More October Math Activities 

So friend, which of these October Math Activities was your favorite?! Can't decide? Don't worry, you don't have to! You can find all of the super-engaging, Halloween, and pumpkin-themed October math activities in my shop! Head on over to snag them all and find many more engaging activities to use throughout the month of October. Have fun with your spooky math lessons!

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