Add preschool math to your fall theme with this Halloween memory game bottle tops. This popular game is easy to make with recyclables, and it’s a great activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids.
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Have fun at the class party with this Halloween memory game with bottle tops. The game is easy to make with recyclables, and it won’t be a bit scary for kids to play!
Start with some recyclables and basic craft supplies, and within minutes you’ll have a simple math game that’s fun for kids from toddler to kindergarten. In fact, kids of all ages can join in the fun!
Halloween can be a busy event for grownups and little kids. Costumes, candy, and class parties are often unfamiliar and a bit overwhelming.
Keep a few games, like this memory game, in your toolkit as go-to activities when you need to provide a moment to regroup and focus during the day.
Related: Memory Game with Recycled Plastic Cups
Halloween memory game with bottle tops
Supplies for Halloween memory game
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Halloween stickers or mini erasers
Orange juice bottle tops
Black marker
Jar lids from bottles of orange juice make perfect ‘pumpkins’ for a memory game.
Adapt the game to a Halloween theme or a fall theme depending on the characters you use in the mini erasers and stickers.
You can use any number or size of jar lids to play the game, as long as you have an even number of lids for matching.
How to make the memory game
Invite kids to help make the game. They can choose stickers, and cut and glue the pieces together, exercising their fine motor skills.
Step 1. Add features to the bottle tops with a marker to create jack-o-lanterns.
- The faces can be the same, or each one different.
- Alternately, place a jack-o-lantern sticker on each lid instead of drawing the faces.
If you don’t have orange juice tops, you can easily create the game with other craft supplies you have on hand.
- Cut out circles from orange construction paper. Draw jack-o-lantern faces on the paper circles with black crayon or marker. Glue the orange circles to any round plastic lid.
- Use other characters such as witch hats or ghosts in place of jack-o-lanterns.
Step 2. Glue a mini eraser or sticker inside each bottle top.
- The orange juice jar tops we used had a smaller threaded circle inside. Some erasers and stickers were too large to fit into this smaller circle inside the bottle top. We cut a circle from cardboard to fit the larger space, added a sticker to the cardboard, then fit the cardboard into the lid.
How to play the memory game
Place the juice tops on a black mat or paper-lined tray to promote the Halloween theme.
Turn over two lids. Did your get a match? If not, turn the lids over and try again.
It’s a match!
Display a small quantity at first so your toddler or preschooler is not overwhelmed. Introduce more bottle tops to the game according to your child’s skill and interest.
Memory games for kids
Here are a few more math games that you can play any time of year with your early learner. Simple matching and counting activities can build preschoolers’ early math skills, and promote learning through play.
A memory game is an easy game to make, and exercises fine motor skills and language skills along with the cognitive learning.
Add this simple game to your toolkit so you’ll be ready for Halloween fun with your kids. This easy setup means you can create a jar lid math game right now!
