Math Game Monday: Push the Penny

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

This game offers young children a chance to practice counting and early addition skills while racing to beat their parents.

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.

Push the Penny

Math Concepts: addition to one hundred, thinking ahead.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: playing cards (remove face cards and jokers), a hundred chart, and a penny or other small token.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Push the Penny

Math Game Monday: The Partitions Game

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

This game features the Cuisenaire rods, but you may play with any math manipulative based on length: Montessori bead chains, Mortensen or Math-U-See blocks, etc. Or draw pictures on graph paper.

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.

The Partitions Game

Math Concepts: partitions, part/whole, addition, multiplication, algebra.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: Cuisenaire rods (or other math manipulatives) or graph paper, pencil and paper (optional).

Continue reading Math Game Monday: The Partitions Game

Math Game Monday: Fraction Product Game

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

This game helps students master multiplying and dividing 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.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math!

Fraction Product Game

Math Concepts: multiplying fractions, equivalent fractions.
Players: two, or two teams.
Equipment: printed game board, colored markers or a set of matching tokens for each player, two glass gemstones or other small tokens to mark the factors.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Fraction Product Game

Math Game Monday: Shut the Box (Cards)

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

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!

Shut the Box (Cards)

Math Concepts: addition, number bonds up to nine.
Players: two to four.
Equipment: one deck of playing cards, two six-sided dice.

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

Math Game Monday: Power Up

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

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!

Power Up

Math Concepts: powers (exponents).
Players: only two.
Equipment: one printed character sheet for each player, two six-sided dice, pencils or markers. Calculator optional.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Power Up

Math Game Monday: Next-Door Neighbors

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

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!

Next-Door Neighbors

Math Concepts: number properties, numbers within 100.

Players: two players, child and adult.

Equipment: printed hundred chart.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Next-Door Neighbors

Math Game Monday: Grid Fight

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

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!

Grid Fight

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.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Grid Fight

The Secret of the Pharaoh’s Treasure

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
caravan in Egyptian desert

“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.

Continue reading The Secret of the Pharaoh’s Treasure

Math Game Monday: Digit Disguises

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

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!

Digit Disguises

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.

Continue reading Math Game Monday: Digit Disguises

Math Game Monday: Walter Joris’s Sequencium

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

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!

Walter Joris’s Sequencium

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