
Shahobiddinova Sevinch
December 31, 2004
Student of Namangan State Pedagogical Institute
Primary Education Department
DIDACTIC GAMES IN PRIMARY GRADES
Shahobiddinova Sevinch
Namangan State Pedagogical Institute
2nd-year student, Primary Education Department
Abstract. This article presents views on a modern approach to the educational process, the importance of using didactic games in increasing the effectiveness of primary education, didactic games used during lessons, their types, and the procedure for their application.
Keywords: education, approach, lesson, game, student, task, action, didactic game, class.
A new, systematic approach to upbringing requires fully utilizing the socio-pedagogical potential of families, preschool education institutions, general education, secondary specialized vocational and higher education institutions, and local communities in guaranteeing the formation of core qualities in children, as well as raising scientific and methodological continuity among them to a new level. [1]
When a child enters first grade and takes their first step into school, play occupies a central place in their activity. Play is their favorite activity, and they try to combine any lesson with play. Therefore, without removing play—their favorite activity—from students’ lives, a teacher can effectively use it to increase the efficiency of the educational process. Play is an integral part of a child’s life. Through play, children become familiar with the surrounding environment, natural phenomena, landscapes, objects, plants, and the animal world. In primary education, didactic games are of special importance in organizing students’ intellectual and physical activities. During didactic games, students learn to strictly follow rules, develop a sense of cooperation, and broaden their worldview. Didactic games used in the educational process should be organized according to students’ characteristics. This facilitates learning, ensures visualization, and prevents students from becoming tired or bored.
Didactic games used in the educational process are classified into two types.
To better understand the content and significance of didactic games in the educational process, we would like to define and clarify concepts such as education, play, didactic task, and game task. Education is a systematic process of providing students with knowledge, skills, and abilities, enabling them to acquire and reinforce them. The educational process enriches children’s memory and develops their speech and thinking through various methods and techniques. Play is an activity deeply ingrained in children’s consciousness and hearts; depending on its type, it reflects objective reality and life to a certain extent. Play is a continuation and reinforcement of classroom learning activities. Practice has proven that play is a vital necessity for primary school children. A didactic game is a teaching method aimed at achieving specific educational objectives, such as clarifying, reinforcing, and deepening learned material. Each didactic game is conducted with a specific task in mind. For example, the didactic task of the game “Theater” is to reinforce students’ understanding of the number 5 learned in previous lessons. In the game “Circular Examples,” the task is to reinforce counting skills within the second ten. The didactic task constitutes part of the general lesson objective. Like any game, each didactic game has its own rules. If these rules are not followed, the educational and psychological value of the game is lost. Game rules are included in the game task. The game task involves explaining how the game is played and determining the winner. In the game “Silence,” students are required to count the objects shown by the teacher mentally and indicate the result with their fingers. The rule requires them to act without making any sound.
The following didactic materials are used: pictures, tables, desk theater stages, abacus (counting device), toys, counting sticks, nuts placed in a bag, handmade paper boats and caps, charts with geometric shapes, diagrams, counting materials, and boxes containing geometric shapes.
Games used include: “Keep Counting,” “Remember What You Saw,” “We Have Decreased,” “Who Left? (Review),” “What Changed?,” “Theater,” “Find How Many,” “Find the Table,” “Find Your Neighbors,” “Who Can Continue Counting,” “Knock-Knock,” “Who Enters the House First,” “Who Is Quick?” [2]
“Counting Objects up to 10”
Didactic game: “Silence”
Didactic task: to identify and reinforce children’s understanding of simple counting.
Game task: mentally count specific objects and show the required number with fingers.
Course of the game: The teacher acts as the leader.
Teacher: “Children, we will play the ‘Silence’ game. I will show you different objects. You must find their number.”
The children begin speaking all at once.
Teacher: “No, children. Before answering, you must raise your hand.”
The teacher counts circles and sticks with the children.
Teacher: “Now I will show you objects. You must count silently and show the number with your fingers.”
When the teacher shows 4 dolls, all students raise four fingers. The classroom becomes silent. All attention is focused on completing the task.
Teacher: “Well done, you all counted correctly. Now I will move the counting sticks from one hand to the other. Count silently and show me how many there are.”
The children observe and show ten fingers.
Teacher: “Now count the squares,” says the teacher while placing squares in sequence on the board.
The children count and show six fingers.
This helps determine students’ level of knowledge about the first ten and strengthens their ability to show the number of objects with fingers. It also develops their mental counting skills without speaking. At first, children cannot immediately count silently without repeating aloud, but the game rule requiring silence compels them to do so. This ensures that their full attention is focused on the task. In subsequent lessons, the game conditions are made more complex. Through this game, students develop quick reaction skills and it becomes possible to determine who completes the task quickly or slowly. [2]
In primary grades, mathematics lessons should be conducted using modern, advanced pedagogical technologies. The use of didactic game methods meets today’s educational requirements. For example, the game “Step by Step.”
Didactic task: to reinforce students’ ability to calculate operations correctly and quickly in sequence.
Game task: to determine the winner by completing tasks step by step.
Game description: The game broadens students’ knowledge and sharpens their thinking by reinforcing concepts related to number order and arithmetic operations. Students master number sequences and comparison methods thoroughly.
The following tasks may be used:
What types of examples are shown while going up the stairs?
What types of examples are shown while going down?
Read them and provide the answers, and so on.
Students are taught to read examples as “the sum of 3 and 2” or “the difference of 7 and 3.” The game lasts 10–15 minutes. The examples can be written on cards and replaced periodically. This game helps students solve examples quickly and accurately and master number comparison skills. [3]
Conclusion. The role and importance of didactic games in the educational process are significant. Didactic games are effective tools for reinforcing, deepening, and reviewing students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities. Each didactic game has a clearly defined objective, encourages students’ learning activity, and helps conduct lessons in an interactive and engaging way. Following game rules increases their educational and psychological value and develops students’ attention, thinking, and creative abilities. The materials and tools used in didactic games enable children to gain knowledge through experience and perception. Thus, the importance of didactic games in education lies not only in knowledge acquisition but also in students’ personal development.
REFERENCES
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure the implementation of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated May 3, 2019, No. PQ-4307, “On Additional Measures to Increase the Effectiveness of Spiritual and Educational Work,” aimed at educating youth as broad-minded and active citizens prepared for independent life.
“Didactic Games.” Department of Psychology, Pedagogy, Management, Preschool and Primary Education. Urganch – 2011 (pp. 3–4).
Didactic Materials in Mathematics: Methodological Guide “Didactic Games in Primary Education” (p. 19)



