Make maths time magnetic with our Catch of the Day Addition Game! This hands-on activity combines playful fishing fun with valuable addition practise, making it an ideal resource for building number sense and addition fluency. Designed to be used with magnetic fishing sets, this engaging game encourages active participation, fine motor development, and mathematical thinking all in one delightful package.

Students take turns using fishing rods to ‘catch’ fish, adding an exciting element of chance and movement to your maths lesson. Once they’ve caught their fish, students write the numbers into the fish shapes on the game board template and calculate the sum. The game provides an excellent opportunity for repeated practise of addition skills in a fun and highly motivating way. With both colour and black and white versions included, you can easily adapt the resource to suit different classroom needs.

Whether used during rotations, in small groups, or for independent practise, Catch of the Day Addition Game helps reinforce key addition strategies while keeping students actively engaged. The flexibility of the resource also makes it easy to differentiate - adjust the number of fish or range of numbers to suit your learners’ abilities.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Develop fluency with addition facts
• ✅ Strengthen understanding of number relationships and number bonds
• ✅ Build confidence in solving addition problems using mental and written strategies
• ✅ Promote fine motor skills through hands-on fishing play
• ✅ Foster mathematical reasoning and communication through collaborative gameplay

What’s Included:

• Catch of the Day Addition Game board template (colour version)
• Catch of the Day Addition Game board template (black and white version)
• Teacher tips and ideas for classroom use and differentiation

Materials Needed:

• Printed game board templates (colour version for write and wipe sleeves, black and white version for worksheets)
• Magnetic fishing rods and fish (commercial set or DIY version)
• Markers or whiteboard pens (if using the colour version in write and wipe sleeves)
• Pencils (if using the black and white version as a worksheet)

How to Use:

1. Prepare your magnetic fishing set and print the desired game board template.
2. Place the colour version in a write and wipe sleeve for reusable play, or use the black and white version as a printable worksheet.
3. Students take turns using the fishing rod to catch fish. The number of fish caught can vary depending on your chosen level of challenge.
4. Students choose two fish and write the numbers into the fish shapes on the game board.
5. Students add the two numbers together and write the total in the provided box.
6. Encourage students to discuss their strategies and check each other’s work for accuracy.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as part of a maths rotation to reinforce addition facts in an interactive format.
• 💡 Set up in a small group activity to support students needing extra practise with addition.
• 💡 Include in early finisher tubs for a fun and meaningful maths option.
• 💡 Use the black and white version as a formative assessment tool to track student progress.
• 💡 Vary the difficulty by increasing the number of fish students must add together for an extra challenge.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Place the colour version in a write and wipe sleeve for easy clean-up and repeated use.
• 💛 Provide number lines, counters, or ten frames for students who benefit from additional visual supports.
• 💛 Model the activity with the whole class before introducing it to independent or small group settings.
• 💛 Differentiate by assigning different number ranges to different groups of students.

Catch of the Day Addition Game is a playful and practical resource that brings energy and excitement to addition practise. Students will love the fishing element, while you’ll love seeing their confidence and fluency with number facts grow!