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

Math Game Monday: Odd–Even–Prime Race

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

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

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.

Odd–Even–Prime Race

Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, odd and even, prime and composite numbers, strategic thinking.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: printed hundred chart of your choice, 2 six-sided dice, small toy or token for each player.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Odd–Even–Prime Race

Math Game Monday: Blockout

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

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

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.

Blockout

Math Concepts: multiplication, area, 2-D shapes.

Players: two players.

Equipment: square graph paper (lined or dotty).

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Blockout

Math Game Monday: Domino Fraction War

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

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

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.

Domino Fraction War

Math Concepts: proper fractions, comparing fractions.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: one set of double-six or double-nine dominoes.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Domino Fraction War

Math Game Monday: Nine Cards

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

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

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.

Nine Cards

Math Concepts: addition, number bonds for ten.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: one deck of playing cards, face cards and jokers removed.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Nine Cards

Math Game Monday: Hidden Hexagon

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

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

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.

Hidden Hexagon

Math Concepts: coordinate graphing (first quadrant), simple linear equations, irregular polygons.

Players: two players or two teams.

Equipment: printed gameboard or square grid paper for each player, pencils, ruler or other straightedge.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Hidden Hexagon

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!

         
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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.