Multi-digit Subtraction Games

Subtraction Jeopardy

• One great idea for getting kids engaged in multi-digit subtraction is to organize a subtraction quiz game similar to Jeopardy. Create categories such as two-digit, three-digit, four-digit and five-digit. Under each categories, create five or six subtraction problems with different point values. Don't worry about the traditional Jeopardy routine of providing a question to a given answer; in this version, the contestants would have to answer the math problem to win points.

Multi-Digit Speed Subtraction

• In this game, the objective would be to have teams of students compete to solve multi-digit subtraction problems the fastest. Separate the children that will participate into several equal groups. Write a multi-digit problem on a board and have the teams compete to see who can solve the problem the fastest. Whichever team can answer the most questions correctly in the fastest time wins a prize.

Subtraction Puzzle Match Game

• This game is designed for a single, individual player. To create the game, find a large picture from an old magazine or book, tear out the entire page and glue it onto the front of a blank sheet of paper. On the back of the blank sheet draw a four-by-four grid to create 16 squares. In each square, write a multi-digit subtraction problem. On another sheet of blank paper, make an identical grid and write down the answers to each problem in the same location as the corresponding problem. Cut the picture along the lines to create 16 pieces.

  The object of the game is for the player to solve the problem and place the puzzle piece in the correct square to recreate the picture.

Subtraction Board Game

• This is a simple game that can be played by several children at once. Create a game board by drawing a path of squares on a 1 foot-by-1 foot piece of cardboard. The path can be a simple path around the perimeter of the board or an elaborate path of your own design. To play the game, the players -- up to four can play at once -- take turns and must correctly answer multi-digit subtraction worth a certain number of spaces. If the player answers correctly, the players moves his or her object that number of spaces. The first to reach the end of the path wins.