Math Game Monday: Factors and Multiples

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new math game every week, for free

This game blends strategy and factoring practice, challenging players to think several steps ahead.

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!

Factors and Multiples

Math Concepts: multiplication, division, factors and multiples.

Players: two to four.

Equipment: printed hundred chart, pencils or markers. Calculator optional.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Factors and Multiples

Math Game Monday: Strike It Out

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new game with Math Game Monday

This game features addition and subtraction on a number line, along with strategic thinking.

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!

Strike It Out

Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, thinking ahead.

Players: only two.

Equipment: pencil or pen, blank paper.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Strike It Out

Math Game Monday: Bowling (Shut the Box)

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new game with Math Game Monday

This game is fun for all ages, but especially good for elementary children just beginning to think about probability.

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.

Bowling (Shut the Box)

Math Concepts: addition, probability.

Players: solitaire.

Equipment: two six-sided dice, pencil and paper.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Bowling (Shut the Box)

Math Game Monday: What’s My Rule?

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new game with Math Game Monday

This game challenges upper-elementary and middle school students to reason about number properties.

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.

What’s My Rule?

Math Concepts: Venn diagrams, factors and multiples, divisibility, prime numbers, and other number properties.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: pencil and paper, or whiteboard and markers. Calculator optional.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: What’s My Rule?

Math Game Monday: Target Ten

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new math game every week, for free

This equation game for elementary students builds creative, flexible thinking about addition and subtraction.

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.

Target Ten

Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multistep calculation.

Players: any number.

Equipment: one deck of math cards, pencils and paper, timer (optional).

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Target Ten

Math Game Monday: Clock Math

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new math game every week, for free

This game encourages players of all ages to think creatively with numbers.

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.

Clock Math

Math Concepts: arithmetic, number properties, mixed operations.

Players: any number.

Equipment: clock, pencil and paper or markers and whiteboard.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Clock Math

What Is Math Game Monday?

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new math game every week, for free

There’s a new Math Game Monday this week.

Have your kids tried it yet?

This week’s game is one of my favorites for upper-elementary and middle school students, offering plenty of practice doing estimation and mental math with fractions. Or you might prefer last week’s game, featuring a classic two-player logic puzzle that develops strategic reasoning.

Or, if you’re reading this post later and missed those, there’s another great new game this week for you to play.

Check it out:

Visit Math Game Monday

Continue reading What Is Math Game Monday?

Playing to Learn

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
quotation from Dan Finkel

“Play and rigor support each other.

    “When students are invited to play with math, they learn more deeply, more robustly, and remember more consistently.

      “Play is promoted as something that can engage kids and give them a more positive attitude about school, but it’s easy to assume that it’s not useful for learning, when in reality the opposite is true:

        “The student who is playing tends to be the student who is learning most deeply.”

        —Dan Finkel, Math for Love newsletter

        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!

         
        * * *

        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.