This game is great for practicing math vocabulary and strategic thinking with upper-elementary and older students.
Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math!
Twenty Questions
Math Concepts: number properties, logic, strategic thinking.
Players: two or more.
Equipment: None necessary. Optional: printed hundred chart and pencil for each player.
Set-Up
Players may want a printed hundred chart to keep track of clues as they try to guess a number.
If you are not using a chart, everyone should agree on the range of allowable numbers before starting the game.
The free 50-page PDF Hundred Charts Galore! file features printable 1–100 charts, 0–99 charts, bottom’s-up versions, multiple-chart pages, blank charts, game boards, and more.
How to Play
One player is “It” — the person with a secret everyone else is trying to guess. “It” chooses a secret number within the permissible range.
The other players take turns asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”
Questions might include the following:
- Is your number even?
- Is it less than sixty?
- Is your number prime?
- Is it divisible by five?
If players have trouble thinking of questions, provide a list of math vocabulary: greater or less than, odd, even, digits, sum, difference, factor, multiple, divisible, prime, composite, square number, and so on.
When you think you know the answer, you may not simply shout it out. You must pose it as a specific question: “Is your number seventeen?”
The player who correctly guesses the number becomes “It” for the next round. But if no one solves the puzzle after twenty questions, the current “It” reveals the secret number and gets to choose a new one.
Variation
House Rule: Do players repeat the same type of question too often? Make variety a house rule. For example, if you ask whether the number is greater than some value, you must ask at least two different types of questions before making another greater-than query.
If questions are deemed too similar, “It” may refuse to answer them. Unanswered questions do not count toward the limit of twenty.
This game is an excerpt from 70+ Things To Do with a Hundred Chart. Discover more of my books, printable activities, and cool mathy merchandise at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store.
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“Math Game Monday: Twenty Questions” copyright © 2026 by Denise Gaskins.