Puzzle: Henry Dudeney’s Pebble Game

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
photo of girl playing with pebbles on the beach

English mathematician and puzzle-meister Henry Ernest Dudeney once wrote:

“It may be said generally that a game is a contest of skill for two or more persons, into which we enter either for amusement or to win a prize. A puzzle is something to be done or solved by the individual.

    “The example that I give here is apparently a game, but, as in every case one player may win if he only play correctly, it is in reality a puzzle. The interest, therefore, lies in attempting to discover the leading method of play.”

    Below is the puzzle game as Dudeney explained it.

    Play it for fun at first, then see if you can solve the puzzle.

    Continue reading Puzzle: Henry Dudeney’s Pebble Game

    Gratis Games and Playful Math News

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins

    Get your free copy today!
    Do you want to help your children learn math?

    Teach them to play.

    Grab a free copy of my Let’s Play Math Sampler: 10 Family-Favorite Games for Learning Math Through Play, which contains short excerpts from my most popular titles. It’s a great way to get started with playful math. 😍

    As a bonus, I’ll add you to my Playful Math News email subscription and send you monthly tips and activity ideas for playing math with your kids.

    From time to time, I’ll even throw in a free sample of whatever I’ve been working on — an early draft of something that will eventually show up in one of my books or printable activity guides.

    For example, check out this fun freebie I sent last April:

    Don’t miss out on all this mathy goodness. Sign up today!

    Get the Games Book Now

    The Rhythm of Math Games

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Family math game night

    The art of homeschooling math begins with the rhythm of puzzle play. It continues with games, which are social puzzles.

    Games are fun, building a positive attitude toward math. They give students a refreshing break from textbook work and make kids willing to practice their math.

    But more important than the fun, math games push children to think about what numbers mean and how they work. A good math game reinforces the idea that math is about reasoning, using the things you know to figure out what you need.

    For more about homeschooling with math games, check out my post Gameschooling Math.

    Continue reading The Rhythm of Math Games

    Limited Time: A New Set of History Strategy Games

    Posted on by Denise Gaskins
    Wiki Histories strategy game

    There’s just one short week left to go on Gordon Hamilton’s new Kickstarter project, Wiki Histories: Snapshots of world history in mini-games.

    Sign up now so you don’t miss out!

    Wiki Histories are two-player snapshots of world history and prehistory. They are pencil-and-paper games. Each has a pair of maps, a simple set of standard rules, some unique rules, and a historical paragraph.

      Time: 15 minutes. Age: 9+.

      Back the Kickstarter Now

      Celebrating Spring with Playful Math Carnival 172

      Posted on by Denise Gaskins
      Playful Math Carnival 172

      Welcome to the 172nd edition of the Playful Math Blog Carnival, a buffet of delectable tidbits of mathy fun. It’s like a free online magazine devoted to learning, teaching, and playing around with math from preschool to high school.

      The carnival went on hiatus for a couple of months due to unexpected life issues facing our volunteer hosts. But we’re back now, and ready to celebrate!

      By tradition, we start the carnival with a puzzle in honor of our 172nd edition. But if you’d rather jump straight to our featured blog posts, click here for the Table of Contents.

      Click here for all the mathy goodness!

      Math Games Kickstarter: It Keeps Getting Better

      Posted on by Denise Gaskins
      Friends playing math games

      Did you know that, with our recent stretch goals, the Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter now features more than 90 amazing ways to play math with your kids?

      And every pledge pushes us closer to the next new bonus, which means more new games and playful math goodies for every backer.

      Don’t miss out on the excitement. Order your copy today:

      Visit the Math Games Kickstarter ❱

      How Are These Books Different?

      I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency.

      So my Tabletop Math Games Collection is designed to make it easier than ever for busy families and over-stressed teachers to play with math.

      All you need are common household supplies like cards, dice, and scratch paper. Children can open a Tabletop Math Games Collection book to any page and start playing right away, and the digital files make great classroom handouts or learning center games.

      Continue reading Math Games Kickstarter: It Keeps Getting Better

      What’s So Special About Math Games?

      Posted on by Denise Gaskins
      Family playing math game with dominoes

      To everyone who has supported my Tabletop Math Games Collection Kickstarter project: thank you ever so much! We’ve blown past our funding target and made it into Stretch Goal territory.

      Now every pledge just makes the project better, earning new games and bonuses for every backer at the $5 level and above.

      If you haven’t backed the project yet, check out what you’re missing:

      Visit the Kickstarter ❯

      Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

      I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency.

      Continue reading What’s So Special About Math Games?

      Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter: Order Your Copy Today

      Posted on by Denise Gaskins
      Friends playing math games

      And so it begins: the Tabletop Math Games Collection is LIVE on Kickstarter!

      Check It Out ❯

      To have a successful campaign, we need plenty of people to back the project early. The more supporters we get in these early days, the more likely the Kickstarter platform folks will help spread the news for us.

      To give you a feel for the Tabletop Math Games Collection books, I’ve put together a free printable sampler file, with 4 ready-to-play card games you can enjoy today.

      I think you’ll love it!

      Download the Sample File ❯

      Kickstarter Sample Games Download

      Continue reading Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter: Order Your Copy Today

      Coming Soon: The Tabletop Math Games Collection, Volume Two

      Posted on by Denise Gaskins
      Family playing math games, with book by Denise Gaskins

      Coming Soon! On March 11, I’ll be launching the next installment in my new book series, the Tabletop Math Games Collection.

      And the Kickstarter prelaunch page is now live. That means you can sign up to get an email from Kickstarter as soon as the campaign launches:

      Visit the Prelaunch Page ❯

      (Yes, if you missed last year’s Kickstarter, you’ll also be able to get Volume One.)

      Test Out Four Free Sample Games

      Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

      I’ve put together a free printable sampler file, with four ready-to-play card games you can enjoy today.

      I think you’ll love it!

      Download the Sample File ❯

      Continue reading Coming Soon: The Tabletop Math Games Collection, Volume Two