Math Game Monday: Odd–Even–Prime Race

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

This game challenges upper-elementary and middle school students to practice strategy and mental math as they race across a number chart.

“Odd–Even–Prime Race” is an excerpt from 70+ Things To Do with a Hundred Chart, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!

Did You Get Your Math Calendar?

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

Yesterday, I sent out the May Playful Math Newsletter to email subscribers.

Most months, my newsletter includes tips and activity ideas for playing math with your kids. But from time to time, I give away a free sample of whatever I’ve been working on — an early draft of something that will eventually show up in one of my books or printable activity guides.

This month’s gift was a June/July 2022 Math Calendar, a great way to keep math skills sharp this summer.

If you’re a subscriber, be sure to check your inbox!

For those who haven’t signed up yet, follow this link for more information:

Join Our Playful Math Email Newsletter

And if you hit “Reply” to your welcome email and ask for a printable June/July 2022 Math Calendar of your own, I’ll send you the link right away.

Don’t Miss Playful Math Carnivals #155 and #156!

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

Here is SOOOOO MUCH GREAT MATH!

Each monthly carnival brings you a new collection of ideas for playing math from preschool to high school. It’s like a free online magazine of mathematical adventures, helpful and inspiring no matter when you read them.

Explore with your kids or on your own:

John Golden put together an awesome carnival, featuring puzzles, games, slow-reveal graphs, geometry, algebra, math art, puzzles, videos, mobius strips with zippers, and lots more fun. Wow!

Johanna Buijs found a delightful assortment of math tidbits from around the world, inspirational quotations, games, activities, videos, books to check out, and all sorts of mathy fun. Love it!

Help Us Keep the Carnival Going

The Playful Math Blog Carnival wants you!

The carnival is a joint effort. We depend on our volunteer hosts to collect blog posts and write the carnival each month.

Putting together a blog carnival can be a lot of work, but it’s a great opportunity to share the work of bloggers you admire and to discover new math-friends online. I love that part of being a host!

Classroom teachers, homeschoolers, college professors, unschoolers, or anyone who likes to play around with math — if you would like to take a turn hosting the carnival, please speak up!

CREDITS: Feature photo (top) by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash.com.

Math Game Monday: Blockout

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

In this game, players practice multiplication facts and use strategic planning as they build 2-D shapes to block their opponent.

“Blockout” is an excerpt from 312 Things To Do with a Math Journal, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!

Math Game Monday: Domino Fraction War

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

This game offers upper-elementary and middle school students plenty of practice doing estimation and mental math with fractions.

“Domino Fraction War” is an excerpt from Multiplication & Fractions: Math Games for Tough Topics, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!

Math Game Monday: Nine Cards

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

This game helps young children build mental math skills. And it’s fun for older kids or adults to play along!

“Nine Cards” is an excerpt from Counting & Number Bonds: Math Games for Early Learners, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

Math War for Simultaneous Equations

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

Just updated my blog post Math Game: War with Special Decks to add a game I missed the first time around:

Math War is the most worksheety of all the math games I play with kids. But you can add a level of choice by playing the Trumps version.

Math War Trumps: Instead of playing for the highest sum, as in Julie’s original game, have each player draw 3 cards. The player whose turn it is first names “X” or “Y” as trump, then all players lay down a card. Highest trump value wins the skirmish.

Variation: Let the player naming trump also decide whether the highest or lowest value will win.

For more great math games, visit My Best (Free) Math Games for All Ages.

CREDITS: “Red playing cards” photo by José Pablo Iglesias via Unsplash.com.

Math Game Monday: Hidden Hexagon

Posted on by Denise Gaskins

This game offers a fun twist on the old classic Battleship. Can you discover your opponent’s secret shape before they find yours?

“Hidden Hexagon” is an excerpt from Prealgebra & Geometry: Math Games for Middle School, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.