Four Math Games for Elementary School Students
Teaching Math with Fun Activities to Reinforce Mathematical Concepts
Aug 27, 2008
Teaching math can sometimes be a challenge trying to find different methods to use with students to help them develop a better understanding of math concepts. The use of math games is a good strategy because students have fun as they apply math concepts in different situations. The best games are focused on specific math concepts, allowing students to practice their math skills during the game.
Another attribute of math games is that they help elementary students increase their speed and accuracy in solving math problems. These games also provide students the opportunity to focus on their mental math skills. Math games rely heavily on mental calculations for solving problems; besides this is much better than work sheets.
The following are examples of simple math games elementary students can play to reinforce math concepts. These math games do not require the use of technology resources, except a calculator for the last game.
Math is Fun Games Lower Elementary Grades
Integer Challenge – materials: 50 - 3x5 index cards with positive and negative integers written on them (50 cards for each pair).
- A pair of students is given 25 cards each.
- Both players turn over two cards.
- They add the total for each player and the winner keeps all four cards.
- They continue play until one player collects all cards.
A variation would be to subtract integers, instead of adding.
Face Off – materials: 24 math manipulatives, two strips of paper with 12 boxes numbered 1 to 12, and two dice (one set of materials for each pair).
- A pair of students is given the materials listed above.
- Students place a math manipulative in each box on their strip of paper.
- Player one rolls the dice and adds the total then removes the manipulative in the appropriate box.
- Player two rolls the dice and does the same.
- Play continues until one player is able to remove all manipulatives.
A variation would be to place 5 manipulatives in boxes 1 to 5 and then subtract after each roll.
Math is Fun Games Upper Elementary Grades
Name That Number – materials: 20 – 3x5 index cards numbered 1 to 20 (one set for each pair).
- Each pair of students is given one set of cards.
- They lay down five cards face down and then turn them over.
- Now they select the highest number, which becomes their target number.
- Next they try to make as many math expressions as they can that equals the target number.
- They get one point for every number they use in the expression.
A variation would be to use only one operation at time, such as addition, subtraction, etc.
The Squares Have It – materials: 1 calculator, paper and pencil, a perfect squares chart containing all the perfect squares – 1 through 256 (one set of materials for each pair).
- Each pair of students is given one set of materials.
- Student one selects are number that is not a perfect square and then estimates the square of that number. Then he/she checks the accuracy of their estimate on the calculator without using square key.
- Student two does the same.
- The student whose estimate is within 0.3 of the actual square, wins the round.
- Game continues until stopped by teacher.
Variation of materials would be to write all the perfect squares on the board for students to use.
Each of these games challenges students to use critical thinking skills. Students also have the opportunity to reinforce math concepts and in a fun an innovative way to learn math. Visit 10 Math Teaching Tips in Elementary School for additional math teaching strategies.
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