Playful Math for the Summer

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
playful dog at the beach

I continue to dig myself out of the avalanche of tasks that built up during the years that I spent mostly down south with my mom as she was weakening.

But here are two tidbits of mathy fun that came across my desk recently, which I think you’ll enjoy…

Numberhive Place Value

I think I’ve mentioned before how much I love the Numberhive game. They recently posted a series of print-and-play freebies for their new place value variation.

DiceCulus Core Game — Mini PnP

This cool-looking game is in prelaunch on the crowdfunding site Gamefound, but the creator has posted a free Mini Print & Play version you can download now, suitable for prealgebra and up. (The full game will have multiple variations, including a preschool level.)

Math Journaling and Games

Finally, the Math Journaling Adventures books and kids’ gear are now live in my store, and all my math game books are still on sale through the month of June.

Have fun playing math with your kids!

 
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Are you looking for more creative ways to play math with your kids? Join my free email newsletter.

This blog is reader-supported. If you’d like to help fund the blog on an on-going basis, then please join me on Patreon for mathy inspiration, tips, and an ever-growing archive of printable activities.

“Playful Math for the Summer” copyright © 2025 by Denise Gaskins. Image at the top of the post copyright © damedeeso / Depositphotos.

Math Journal: Three Quick Number Games

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
photo of family playing a dice game

Math Journaling Adventures Kickstarter projectHere are three quick math games you can fit in whenever you have a few minutes’ free time. Have fun playing math with your kids!

And if you enjoy these games, check out my Math Journaling Adventures project to discover how similar playful writing activities can help your students learn mathematics. Preorder your books today!

Continue reading Math Journal: Three Quick Number Games

Puzzle: Henry Dudeney’s Pebble Game

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
photo of girl playing with pebbles on the beach

English mathematician and puzzle-meister Henry Ernest Dudeney once wrote:

“It may be said generally that a game is a contest of skill for two or more persons, into which we enter either for amusement or to win a prize. A puzzle is something to be done or solved by the individual.

    “The example that I give here is apparently a game, but, as in every case one player may win if he only play correctly, it is in reality a puzzle. The interest, therefore, lies in attempting to discover the leading method of play.”

    Below is the puzzle game as Dudeney explained it.

    Play it for fun at first, then see if you can solve the puzzle.

    Continue reading Puzzle: Henry Dudeney’s Pebble Game

    Math Games for the Holidays

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Snowman Drive math party game

    Are you looking for fun ways to keep your children busy (and learning!) through the holidays? Here are two printable activity guides you might enjoy:

    Snowman Drive

    Snowman Drive math game book(My newest game activity.)

    Players roll the dice and build their creative snowman (or snowbeast). Will you make a fearless pirate or a dapper aristocrat — or a high-scoring snow spider?

    A Snowman Drive is a family-friendly party that can also serve as a fundraiser for your church, homeschool group, or organization. The Drive consists of several rounds of the Snowman Game played on a single worksheet, with prizes for the top-scoring players and overall champion.

    This activity book includes game instructions and gameboard pages for single-family or group play.

    For ages 5 and up.

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    Download a PDF preview file.
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    FORMAT: 13-page printable PDF file with your choice of 8.5″×11″ (letter size) or A4 pages.

    Buy Now

    Christmas Tree Math Games

    Christmas Tree Math Games book(Number play on a triangular hundred chart.)

    Christmas Tree Math Games features 4 easy-to-learn games and 6 additional activities for primary and middle-grade students. All you need is a set of dice and a few colorful markers.

    Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

    These are NOT the typical memory-and-speed-based math games you’ve probably seen online, but true battles of wit and skill (plus a bit of luck).

    Perfect ice-breakers for family gatherings, classroom warmups, or for launching a group game night. You’ll be surprised how much fun thinking hard can be!

    Christmas Tree Math Games includes instructions and tips for the teacher, math game pages for handouts or learning centers, plus a variety of dot-grid journaling paper.

    For ages 6 and up.

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    Download a PDF preview file.
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    FORMAT: 30-page printable PDF file with your choice of 8.5″×11″ (letter size) or A4 pages.

    Buy Now

     
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    Are you looking for more creative ways to play math with your kids? Check out all my books, printable activities, and cool mathy merch at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store. Or join my email newsletter.

    This blog is reader-supported. If you’d like to help fund the blog on an on-going basis, then please join me on Patreon for mathy inspiration, tips, and an ever-growing archive of printable activities.

    “Math Games for the Holidays” copyright © 2024 by Denise Gaskins. Image at the top of the post copyright © prarinya / Depositphotos.

    Gratis Games and Playful Math News

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins

    Get your free copy today!
    Do you want to help your children learn math?

    Teach them to play.

    Grab a free copy of my Let’s Play Math Sampler: 10 Family-Favorite Games for Learning Math Through Play, which contains short excerpts from my most popular titles. It’s a great way to get started with playful math. 😍

    As a bonus, I’ll add you to my Playful Math News email subscription and send you monthly tips and activity ideas for playing math with your kids.

    From time to time, I’ll even throw in 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.

    For example, check out this fun freebie I sent last April:

    Don’t miss out on all this mathy goodness. Sign up today!

    Get the Games Book Now

    Math Games Kickstarter: It Keeps Getting Better

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Friends playing math games

    Did you know that, with our recent stretch goals, the Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter now features more than 90 amazing ways to play math with your kids?

    And every pledge pushes us closer to the next new bonus, which means more new games and playful math goodies for every backer.

    Don’t miss out on the excitement. Order your copy today:

    Visit the Math Games Kickstarter ❱

    How Are These Books Different?

    I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency.

    So my Tabletop Math Games Collection is designed to make it easier than ever for busy families and over-stressed teachers to play with math.

    All you need are common household supplies like cards, dice, and scratch paper. Children can open a Tabletop Math Games Collection book to any page and start playing right away, and the digital files make great classroom handouts or learning center games.

    Continue reading Math Games Kickstarter: It Keeps Getting Better

    What’s So Special About Math Games?

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Family playing math game with dominoes

    To everyone who has supported my Tabletop Math Games Collection Kickstarter project: thank you ever so much! We’ve blown past our funding target and made it into Stretch Goal territory.

    Now every pledge just makes the project better, earning new games and bonuses for every backer at the $5 level and above.

    If you haven’t backed the project yet, check out what you’re missing:

    Visit the Kickstarter ❯

    Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

    I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency.

    Continue reading What’s So Special About Math Games?

    Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter: Order Your Copy Today

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Friends playing math games

    And so it begins: the Tabletop Math Games Collection is LIVE on Kickstarter!

    Check It Out ❯

    To have a successful campaign, we need plenty of people to back the project early. The more supporters we get in these early days, the more likely the Kickstarter platform folks will help spread the news for us.

    To give you a feel for the Tabletop Math Games Collection books, I’ve put together a free printable sampler file, with 4 ready-to-play card games you can enjoy today.

    I think you’ll love it!

    Download the Sample File ❯

    Kickstarter Sample Games Download

    Continue reading Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter: Order Your Copy Today

    Coming Soon: The Tabletop Math Games Collection, Volume Two

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Family playing math games, with book by Denise Gaskins

    Coming Soon! On March 11, I’ll be launching the next installment in my new book series, the Tabletop Math Games Collection.

    And the Kickstarter prelaunch page is now live. That means you can sign up to get an email from Kickstarter as soon as the campaign launches:

    Visit the Prelaunch Page ❯

    (Yes, if you missed last year’s Kickstarter, you’ll also be able to get Volume One.)

    Test Out Four Free Sample Games

    Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

    I’ve put together a free printable sampler file, with four ready-to-play card games you can enjoy today.

    I think you’ll love it!

    Download the Sample File ❯

    Continue reading Coming Soon: The Tabletop Math Games Collection, Volume Two