Mathematics is an essential subject that helps in the overall cognitive development of kids. It is necessary to make math learning interesting and enjoyable for kids, which can be done through various fun math games. Math games not only help in improving math skills but also boost creativity, problem-solving abilities, and logical reasoning. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most exciting and engaging math games that kids would love to play and learn from.
Math Racing Game
Math racing game is a perfect game for kids who love to play car racing games. In this game, kids have to solve the math problem to move their car forward. The first kid to reach the finish line wins. This game helps to enhance math skills, concentration, and speed. For additional resources and math-related games, you can explore more.
Tower of Hanoi
Tower of Hanoi is another exciting game that requires logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. In this game, kids have to move different-sized rings from one tower to another using a specific set of rules. The game helps to develop spatial awareness, logical reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
Math Board Games
Math board games like Monopoly, Life, and Money Bags are excellent math games that not only help in improving math skills but also teach kids about money management and financial literacy. Kids have to count the money, pay bills, and make transactions, which enhance their math skills, as well as encourage them to save money.
Math Bingo
Math Bingo is a perfect game for kids to learn math while having fun. In this game, kids have to solve math problems given on their Bingo card. The first kid to complete the card wins. It is an excellent game to improve math skills, as well as concentration and speed.
Math Puzzles
Math Puzzles are a great way to improve math skills while stimulating cognitive abilities. Math puzzles require logical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and concentration to solve. Kids would love to play with math puzzles, which would help to develop their spatial awareness, critical thinking, and analytical abilities.
Math games can significantly enhance math skills while making math learning more fun and engaging. It is essential to introduce math games to kids so that they can enjoy learning and improve their math skills. In this blog post, we have discussed some of the most exciting math games that kids would love to play. So, it’s time to break the monotony of traditional math learning and introduce math games to kids.
5 Fun Math Games For Kids
Get kids moving with active math games. Use sidewalk chalk to draw number lines that kids can hop on while skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, or whatever numbers you’re practicing.
Make an old favorite game like Dominoes into a math game with these simple instructions. Or, try this fun multiplication card game.
Counting to a Hundred
Kids love games, and counting math games for kids that help them count to 100 provide a great way to practice a difficult skill. These games can be played as a whole class, in small groups or independently to strengthen number sense and count to 100 skills. This is also a great way to review important math vocabulary words like greater or less than and to work on number patterns.
One fun game that is great for kindergarten and elementary students is to play a simple version of the game called “100s.” Have students sit in a circle. Have each student take turns adding out loud in a clockwise direction until they reach 100. The first student to say 100 wins. This is a great way to strengthen counting skills, build confidence in counting, and practice adding by fives.
Another fun counting math game is to play a simple version of the popular game called Hot Potato. This can be done in pairs or small groups and is a great way to keep kids on their toes and ready to respond when you read a math problem. The rules are simple – when you hear a number that is correct, the student must stand up. If they hear a number that is incorrect, they must stay seated.
Using colored plastic math cubes and a hundred chart is a great way to reinforce numbers to 100 for preschoolers and kindergarten students. Students can work together to line up sets of 10 math cubes, creating a pattern on the carpet or table. Then, they can work to collect ten objects (markers, beads, blocks or even teddy bears) in each square and fill them up.
If you want to spice up this counting math game, try adding a dice and the hundred chart. Divide your students into two teams and have them take turns rolling the dice. Each time they roll a number that is higher than 10, they must add it to their current total by crossing out or circling the numbers that are lower than 10. The team that gets closer to 101 wins!
Rolling the Dice
Rolling the Dice is an easy dice game that helps kids practice comparing numbers. It’s a fun way for students to learn about adding and subtracting with numbers as well as introducing the concept of division.
To play, each student will need a dice, a vertical number chart and a pen or pencil to record their answers. Each player will take turns rolling two dice (or one die twice) and writing down the sum on their number chart. Once they have their answer they will then cover it up with a coin, token, corn kernel, or pencil stroke. The first player to get all of their numbers covered wins.
You can also make this dice game more challenging by having your advanced learners compare numbers with each other instead of just comparing them to 100. This will help them develop a deeper understanding of place value.
Another great variation of this dice game is to have the players work in pairs and compete head-to-head with each other. This is a great way to introduce the idea of decimals and fractions.
For this game you will need a pair of dice, a game board for each player (FYI we created the perfect free download for this) and some coloured pencils. Each player will roll the dice and use their digits to build a three-digit number on their game board. They will then write down the quotient and if they are able to come up with an improper fraction that can be simplified then they will win.
You can also add a fun twist to this math game for elementary students by having them round their number to the nearest ten or hundred. This is a fantastic way to sharpen those rounding skills and it can even be done with a more/less coin to decide a winner. Have your students try to see if they can beat each other’s rounds. It will be a lot of fun!
Personal Hundred Chart Game
If you’re looking for a fun way to get students to use their personal hundreds chart, this game is perfect. It’s easy for kids to understand, and it can be played individually or in pairs. To play, each child selects four cards at random. They compare the numbers on the cards, adding or subtracting as necessary. Then they mark the correct number on their hundreds chart. Whoever gets their number closest to 24 wins the game. This is a great way to practice addition and subtraction at different levels, while also allowing kids to work on the hundred chart independently.
Another fun hundred chart activity is a simple counting game. Draw a square pattern on the floor using chalk and in each square write a number. When players land on a number they must count up in twos, threes or more to find the next number. This is a great way to build counting skills, while also working on number recognition and ordering.
Students can play a fun dice game that teaches multiplication and number facts while they are having fun on a long car ride or at home. It’s called Give the Dog a Bone, and it’s designed to help children learn how to round numbers to the nearest 10. To play, the caller states a number, and each player decides whether they want to hear the answer (for younger students) or the product (3rd-5th grade) of the number. The first player to say the other number correctly scores one point. Then they can either continue to give answers or switch places with the player to the left.
Introducing fun games into maths can really make a difference to the way children approach learning and it can help them retain and remember facts and concepts. It’s always a bonus to have a few easy and fun maths games for kids to play when they’re traveling in the car, waiting for a friend or even just at home. These games can include counting things they see in the car, such as lorries or red cars, and can also be scavenger hunt games that involve finding items from around the house, garden or neighborhood with pre-set lengths and weights.
Snakes and Ladders
A classic, this fun math game teaches number sense, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, and even fractions. It also helps kids practice mental math tricks by teaching them to calculate sums and products in their heads without using a calculator or paper. This game is ideal for kids aged 4-7 and works well with groups of 2 players.
The original version of this fun math game was designed to teach children morality and the concept of good versus evil. The ladders on the board represented virtues such as generosity, faith, and humility while the snakes represented vices such as lust, murder, and theft. The fact that the number of ladders was less than the number of snakes symbolized the idea that it is more difficult to climb a path of virtue than a path of sin. The objective of the game was to reach the last square (number 100) where it was believed that one would attain spiritual liberation.
This is a great active math game to get your students moving around the classroom while practicing skip counting and multiplication. You can create a grid of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts and then have students line up in two teams. The “caller” states a number and the first team to complete their grid wins.
Another option is to simply draw a hopscotch board and have the students skip along while counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, or whatever number they are currently working on. The caller can then state a sum or product (for younger students) or add and subtract numbers (for 3rd-5th graders). The first student to correctly name the number gets to go next.
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) offers a range of interactive math games and tools suitable for children.
You can also use a deck of UNO cards to create a fun and engaging addition and multiplication game. Each card is written with a number and a color. The first player to complete the number in the correct color moves forward a space on the game board. Then, the second player follows suit by drawing a UNO card that matches the color of the first player’s number. This game is easy to prepare and is a great way to engage students while enhancing their number sense and skills.
