Math can be exciting, especially when it’s wrapped up in the mystery of riddles! If you’re looking for a way to make learning math fun for first graders, you’ve come to the right place.
Math riddles for grade 1 are a fantastic way to spark curiosity, challenge young minds, and promote critical thinking. These simple yet playful puzzles help children develop problem-solving skills while offering a sense of achievement once they figure out the answer.
Ready to dive into the world of riddles and math fun? Let’s get started!

33 Fun Math Riddles for Grade 1
- Riddle: I am an odd number. Take away one letter, and I become even. What number am I?
Answer: Seven
Explanation: The word “seven” becomes “even” when you remove the “s,” which makes it an even number.
- Riddle: I am a number between 1 and 10. If you add me to myself, the total is 10. What number am I?
Answer: 5
Explanation: 5 + 5 = 10, making it the correct answer.
- Riddle: I am a shape with 4 equal sides. What shape am I?
Answer: Square
Explanation: A square has four sides of equal length, which makes it distinct.
- Riddle: What has four legs but can’t walk?
Answer: A table
Explanation: A table has four legs, but it cannot move by itself.
- Riddle: I am a number that is one less than 10. What number am I?
Answer: 9
Explanation: 9 is one less than 10, so it fits perfectly.
- Riddle: I am a number that is half of 10. What number am I?
Answer: 5
Explanation: 5 is half of 10, so it’s the correct answer.
- Riddle: How many sides does a triangle have?
Answer: 3
Explanation: A triangle always has three sides, no matter the size.
- Riddle: I am a number that is greater than 3 but less than 5. What number am I?
Answer: 4
Explanation: 4 fits perfectly as it is between 3 and 5.
- Riddle: I am round and have no edges. What am I?
Answer: A circle
Explanation: A circle has no edges, making it unique.
- Riddle: What number comes next in this sequence: 1, 2, 3, 4, __?
Answer: 5
Explanation: The sequence counts by one each time, so the next number is 5.
- Riddle: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter “M”
Explanation: The letter “M” appears once in “minute,” twice in “moment,” and never in “a thousand years.”
- Riddle: I have one eye but can’t see. What am I?
Answer: A needle
Explanation: A needle has a small hole, called an “eye,” but it can’t see.
- Riddle: I am the smallest number that is greater than 0. What number am I?
Answer: 1
Explanation: 1 is the smallest positive number greater than 0.
- Riddle: What’s full of holes but can still hold a lot of weight?
Answer: A sponge
Explanation: A sponge has holes in it but can absorb and hold weight.
- Riddle: How many months have 28 days?
Answer: All of them
Explanation: Every month has at least 28 days.
- Riddle: I am the sum of two even numbers, and I am even. What number am I?
Answer: 8
Explanation: 4 + 4 equals 8, which is even.
- Riddle: If two is company and three is a crowd, what is four and five?
Answer: Nine
Explanation: Four and five together make 9, a simple math fact.
- Riddle: I am a number that is 3 times 3. What number am I?
Answer: 9
Explanation: 3 times 3 equals 9.
- Riddle: What number is the same when you reverse it?
Answer: 11
Explanation: 11 reads the same backward and forward.
- Riddle: I have two hands but can’t clap. What am I?
Answer: A clock
Explanation: A clock has two hands, but they can’t clap.
- Riddle: What shape has three sides and three corners?
Answer: Triangle
Explanation: A triangle always has three sides and three corners.
- Riddle: What number is one more than 12?
Answer: 13
Explanation: 13 comes right after 12.
- Riddle: I am a number that is double of 4. What number am I?
Answer: 8
Explanation: 4 doubled is 8.
- Riddle: I am a number that is less than 5 but more than 2. What number am I?
Answer: 3
Explanation: 3 is the only number that fits between 2 and 5.
- Riddle: I am a shape with no corners. What shape am I?
Answer: A circle
Explanation: A circle has no corners, making it smooth all around.
- Riddle: I am a number that comes before 7. What number am I?
Answer: 6
Explanation: 6 comes just before 7 in the number sequence.
- Riddle: I am a number that is half of 8. What number am I?
Answer: 4
Explanation: 4 is half of 8.
- Riddle: I am a number that’s the sum of 2 and 3. What number am I?
Answer: 5
Explanation: 2 + 3 equals 5.
- Riddle: I have many keys but open no doors. What am I?
Answer: A piano
Explanation: A piano has many keys but is used to make music, not to open doors.
- Riddle: What comes down but never goes up?
Answer: Rain
Explanation: Rain falls from the sky and doesn’t go back up.
- Riddle: I am a number that’s one less than 100. What number am I?
Answer: 99
Explanation: 99 is one less than 100.
- Riddle: What’s the easiest way to make a number bigger?
Answer: Add 1
Explanation: Adding 1 makes any number bigger.
- Riddle: What is 5 + 5?
Answer: 10
Explanation: A simple math problem, 5 + 5 equals 10.
Conclusion
Math riddles for grade 1 are a wonderful way to engage young minds and encourage them to think critically and creatively. Not only do these riddles make math fun, but they also build essential problem-solving skills that children will carry with them throughout their lives.
Try sharing these with your first grader or using them in a classroom setting—watch their faces light up with excitement as they crack each puzzle!
Do you have any favorite math riddles or additional ones to share? Leave a comment below and let’s keep the fun going! Don’t forget to share this post with other parents, teachers, and friends who might enjoy these playful challenges.