This game builds mental math skills in young students, and is fun for all ages.
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!
Math Concepts: addition, number bonds up to nine.
Players: two to four.
Equipment: one deck of playing cards, two six-sided dice.
This game gives students a fun reason to think about calculating with exponents.
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!
Math Concepts: powers (exponents).
Players: only two.
Equipment: one printed character sheet for each player, two six-sided dice, pencils or markers. Calculator optional.
This game builds number sense and a playful approach to math.
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!
Math Concepts: number properties, numbers within 100.
Players: two players, child and adult.
Equipment: printed hundred chart.
This game uses the area model to visualize and build understanding of integer multiplication.
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!
Math Concepts: integer multiplication, area model for multiplication.
Players: two players or two teams.
Equipment: printed gameboard or square grid paper, playing cards, pencils or colored markers.
“I am inclined to believe that one of the origins of mathematics is man’s playful nature, and for this reason mathematics is not only a Science, but to at least the same extent also an Art.”
—Rózsa Péter
This week, we have the first mathematical adventure of Alexandria Jones, which takes place in the early days of her father’s archaeological expedition mentioned in the introduction post.
Herein we meet the one major character who is not named after a mathematician from history: Alex’s nemesis, Simon Skulk.
While my fiction doesn’t rise close to the level of “art,” I hope it offers a glimpse into the playful nature of mathematics for you and your children.
This game requires students to make logical deductions about number relationships.
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!
Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebraic reasoning.
Players: two players or two teams. Best with teams.
Equipment: printed gameboards (optional), pencils and paper, or whiteboard and markers.
This game takes strategic thinking and planning ahead, and it makes a great journaling prompt, too.
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!
Math Concepts: strategic thinking.
Players: two players or two teams.
Equipment: blank paper, colored pencils or markers.
Continue reading Math Game Monday: Walter Joris’s Sequencium
This game builds visual thinking skills.
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!
Math Concepts: symmetry, geometry.
Players: only two.
Equipment: graph paper or blank hundred chart, colored pencils or markers.
This game builds understanding of decimals, and also of the inverse relationship between multiplication and division.
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!
Math Concepts: multiplying decimals, decimal place value.
Players: two players or two teams.
Equipment: printed game board, colored markers or a set of matching tokens for each player, two paperclips or other small tokens to mark the factors.
This game builds calculations skills and helps develop fluency.
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!
Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multistep calculation, column addition (for final score).
Players: any number.
Equipment: one deck of playing cards (face cards and jokers removed), game board, ten tokens for covering numbers, pencil or pen, and (optional) scratch paper for adding up the scores.
