Basic Math Games

Playing With Dice

• For younger children, dice games are some of the best ways to enforce simple math concepts. Furthermore, since children love to play games, they will be eager to put the concepts of addition and subtraction into practice. One idea involves empty egg cartons. Give an empty carton to the students, and have each one write the numbers 2 through 12 in every hole. In the last hole, put an asterisk (*). Then, the students have to roll the dice. When they roll the number for one of their holes, they put a jelly bean or cotton ball in that hole. The asterisk is wild and can be any number. Once a child has filled the egg carton, he wins. (See Reference 1.)

  Simple board games can also help students learn about addition. Whenever the child has to roll the dice and add the numbers, she is learning about addition.

  Yahtzee can be a great game for learning more advanced addition. Have the students find the sum of their dice--which can be difficult with five dice--and record their scores.

Advanced Games

• For teaching advanced concepts, such as multiplication or division, some basic games using very basic materials can help students learn. Use a deck of cards with the jokers, aces, and face cards removed, and divide the deck in two. Give two students one stack, and at the count of three, have them each flip over one card. The first player to correctly multiply the numbers together and say the answer gets a point. (See Reference 2.)

  Another option is to play Around the World. Here the class sits in a circle. The teacher holds a stack of large multiplication or division flash cards. The first student gets up and stands behind the second student. The teacher reveals the flash card; the first student to give the answer wins. That student then stands behind the next student, and play continues around the circle. (See Reference 2.)

  Students could also wear name tags for a day. On each name tag, write a multiplication or division problem. Then, for that day, students no longer can be called by their own name; they have to be called by the answer to the math problem on their name tag. (See Reference 2.)