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Miss Glitter Teaches

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in Math · December 13, 2022

5 Easy Whole Group Math Game Ideas

It’s no secret that I love playing math games in my classroom. Any time I can make something a game, there is instant buy-in from my students. Even my most challenging classes like to play a whole group math game and usually, those are some of my best classroom management days. Who knew that playing games would actually make my class easier to manage?!

Usually, I use math games as a math station rotation where students play math games for 2 players. If you want to learn more about how to start math stations in your upper elementary classroom, be sure to check out my 5 Part Video Series where I teach all the nitty gritty details of starting math station rotations. In under a week, you can have your own math groups up and running! 

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Learn with Math Games

Can you really learn with math games? Yes, you totally can!

I’ve never met a student that didn’t like games. I have met a bunch of students who (sadly) don’t like math. But the real magic is when you combine the two.

Math games are engaging for students to play while also working on key math skills. By using engagement and competition, students can learn with math games.

Now, not all games are created equal. Some whole group math game ideas are focused on just 1 or 2 students doing math at a time. Other math games focus on multiple students doing math at the same time. There is a time and place for both types of whole group math games. I’m sharing both types below so keep scrolling.

If you are looking for more math games for 2 players, I have a blog post linked here where I share all about how to make math games that are fun. These games are great for math stations or having all students pair up and play a game all at the same time.

Whole Group Math Game Ideas

When looking for whole group math game ideas, I try to keep in mind things that are engaging, competitive, and can be used with lots of different math topics. I also try to find games that have students up and moving. And of course, I’m all about low prep for me so these games have to be able to be played easily and without a lot of prep work. Now that I’ve set the group work, let’s get to the whole group math game ideas!

Around the World

An oldie but goodie whole group math game that my students love. I have used this game with math facts but also task cards for more challenging math topics. Have students stand in a circle with 1 student behind another. Then show a flashcard. Students solve and the first person correct wins the round. They then move on to the next student in the circle and stand behind them. This continues until a student makes it all the way around the circle.

Math Games 3rd Graders: Skip Count

I like to play this game with any grade that knows about skip counting. Sit in a circle and have students take turns skip counting by whatever number you decide. I have made this into a time competition over a few weeks to see if we can beat our time. Another way to play would be passing a ball across the circle and trying to keep the skip counting going. A fun, low-prep math games 3rd graders love!

Jeopardy 

This one is slightly more work but so much fun! I use free sets of task cards to create my jeopardy board. Simply tape the cards to the whiteboard in a grid and give each column a topic title. Split the class into a few groups and play jeopardy. This whole group math game is a great way to review before a unit test or even state testing in the spring.

Whole Group Math Game: Back to Back

This game is similar to those around the world but instead, students are facing off on the whiteboard. Students stand back to back. I project a math problem on the screen and then students solve the problem. The first person to solve it correctly wins the round. The team with the most points by the end of class time wins.

This game is another easy way to use task cards. Looking for other ways how to use task cards? This blog post has even more ideas for upper elementary or middle school students.

Ghosts in the Graveyard

This game is a blast and can be used with any worksheet. I usually use a study guide for this whole group math game. Split the room into 2 teams and give each team a color. Students then pair up with a student on their team. They work to solve a problem and then I come around and check it. If it’s correct, I give students a ghost for their team’s color. Students then tape their ghosts on a headstone. The process repeats until I say stop (usually about 15 minutes). I then tally up the points: each headrest is worth a different point value that I know about but the students don’t know. I use 3 headstones, 1 worth 100 points, 1 worth 50, and 1 worth 0 🙂 Because students don’t know the point values of the headstones, it offers a bit of a challenge on where to put their ghosts.

Don’t want to use ghosts? Post-it notes work just fine!

Math Games for Large Groups

When should you play math games for large groups? I love to use these game ideas for just about anything! Reviewing before a unit test is always a given strategy and is way more fun than a simple study guide.

Another idea is to use a whole group math game to review before a holiday break. Especially when the week is cut short and you know students will be absent, a math game is a perfect idea. Since so many of these whole group math game ideas are low prep, they also make great plans for a snowy day.

One other way to use math games is to review before state testing. I know that preparing for standardized tests can be boring but a whole group math game could be just the thing to up the engagement. If you are looking for what test-taking strategies elementary students need, be sure to check out this blog post . I round up a bunch of different strategies to help set students up for success!

More whole group math game ideas

Looking for more whole group math game ideas? These blog posts have so many ideas that are great for any age!

• 16 Classroom Math Games for Learning and Fun
• 3 Math Games You Can Use in Class Today
• 20 Marvelous Math Games for 5th Graders
• 10 Fun 5th Grade math Games to Help You Learn
• Classroom Math Games for Memorable Fun

I’d love to know your favorite whole group math game! Drop your game ideas in the comments below!

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Problem Solving

Problem Solving and the New Curriculum   Age 5 to 11

Developing a Classroom Culture That Supports a Problem-solving Approach to Mathematics   Age 5 to 11

Developing Excellence in Problem Solving with Young Learners   Age 5 to 11

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• Mathematical Problem Solving in the Early Years
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• Group-worthy Tasks and Their Potential to Support Children to Develop Independent Problem-solving Skills
• Developing the Classroom Culture: Using the Dotty Six Activity as a Springboard for Investigation

K-5 Math Centers

K-5 math ideas, 3rd grade math, need help organizing your k-5 math block, 5 ways to include math problem solving activities in your classroom.

Are you looking for math problem solving activities that are not too easy and not too hard, but juuust right? I’ve got something just for you and your students.

Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks are open-ended math tasks that provide just the right amount of challenge for your kids. Here’s a little more about them.

Open-ended math problem solving tasks:

• promote multiple solution paths and/or multiple solutions
• boost critical thinking and math reasoning skills
• increase opportunities for developing perseverance
• provide opportunities to justify answer choices
• strengthen kids written and oral communication skills

What Makes These So Great?

• All Common Core Standards are covered for your grade level
• 180+ Quality questions that are rigorous yet engaging
• They are SUPER easy to assemble
• Provide opportunities for meaningful math discussions
• Perfect for developing a growth mindset
• Easily identify student misconceptions so you can provide assistance
• Very versatile (check out the different ways to use them below)

You can find out more details for your grade level by clicking on the buttons below.

I’m sure you really want to know how can you use these with your kids. Check out the top 5 ideas on how to use Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks in your classroom.

How and When Can I Use Them?

Solve and Explain Tasks Cards are very versatile. You can use them for:

• Math Centers  – This is my favorite way to use these! Depending on your grade level, there are at least two (Kinder – 2nd) or three (3rd-5th) tasks types per Common Core standard. And each task type has 6 different questions. Print out each of the different tasks types on different color paper. Then, let students choose which one question from each task type they want to solve.

• Problem of the Day  – Use them as a daily math journal prompt. Print out the recording sheet and project one of the problems on your white board or wall.  Students solve the problem and then glue it in their spiral or composition notebooks.

• Early Finisher Activities  -No more wondering what to do next!Create an early finishers notebook where students can grab a task and a recording sheet. Place the cards in sheet protectors and make copies of the Early Finisher Activity Check-Off card for your kids to fill out BEFORE they pull a card out to work on. We want to make sure kids are not rushing through there first assignment before moving on to an early finisher activity.

• Weekly Math Challenges  – Kids LOVE challenges! Give students copies of one of the problems for homework. Then give them a week to complete it. Since many of the questions have multiple solutions and students have to explain how they got their answers, you can have a rich whole group discussion at the end of the week (even with your kindergarten and 1st grade students).

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• Formative Assessments  – Give your students a problem to solve. Then use the Teacher Scoring Rubric to see how your kids are doing with each standard. Since they have to explain their thinking, this is a great way to catch any misconceptions and give feedback to individual students.

So this wraps up the top 5 ways that you can use problem solving tasks in your classroom.  Click your grade level below to get Solve and Explain problem solving tasks for your classroom.

• Read more about: K-5 Math Ideas

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Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

Using Math Warmup Activities (Free Starter Pack)

Transitions in the classroom are extremely important. This is when so much time can be wasted, and misbehavior can occur easily. One way to help transition into a new subject is to have routines in place that the students know to expect each day. One routine could be using a warmup to start the lesson. Not only do using warmup activities help transition students quickly and calmly, but they also help prepare their minds for the next subject. This post will share tips and strategies for using math warm-ups AND a free starter pack to help you start using math warmups in your math lessons.

What are Math Warm-Ups?

Math warm-ups are activities to help your students transition their minds and prepare for a math lesson. Using warm-ups to kick off your math lesson gets students engaged quickly. Using daily warm-ups can allow some predictability in the routine. Students will know when it’s time for a warm-up, it’s time to get into “the zone” for math.

Here are some other benefits of using math warm-ups:

• Provides review of previously learned skills
• Requires students to discuss and defend their thinking
• Gives students practice with problem solving skills
• Presents students with a different perspective when students share their thinking with one another
• Allows struggling students to find success early-on in the lesson
• Provides challenge for students to think beyond their basic knowledge of concepts and defend their answers.

Procedures and Expectations for Math Warmups

When beginning with math warm-ups, it is important to set procedures and expectations with your students.

Here are some ideas:

1. Give students time (I call this private think-time) to solve the math warmup independently before calling on students to share or solve the problem. This will ensure that all students have a chance to work on the problem and not just the students who raise their hand first.

2. As the students are working independently, walk around and monitor their work. While you are doing this, you can:

• Clear up any misconceptions you see
• Help any students who need a bit more support to access the problem or begin solving it
• Select students’ responses to share that will benefit the class

3. When calling on students to share their responses, have them explain their thinking. A sentence stems that helps for this at beginning of the year is: I think…because…

4. You could also have students share their answers with a partner before sharing with the whole group. This will give every student a chance to explain their thinking to someone.

Differentiation Ideas for Math Warmups

Here are some ideas for differentiating with math warmups:

1. Read the warm-up or task aloud with the students and briefly discuss it before having students work on it independently. This will ensure that all students have an “entry” point to solve the problem.

2. If you are using a digital warm-up, put it in presentation mode and have students solve the problem on whiteboards or a piece of paper with a partner. You can strategically pair students up to support those who may need it.

3. Provide hints if appropriate for the warm-up.

4. If you are having students discuss their answers or writing them, provide sentence stems to support them and get them started. You could even include a word bank of words students can use.

Using Warm-Up Activities in Small Group

Another idea for using math warmups during your math lesson is to use them to start your small group instruction.

You can set your iPad up to post a digital warmup or have printable warmups placed on the table for the students to complete as soon as they get to your table. You can also have one posted on a small group table markerboard for students to complete.

This gives students something to do right when they get to your table. This gives you time to get your materials out for that group’s lesson or check on the other students and make sure that they are actively starting their math centers. And you are not wasting any small group time because your students are engaged in math already at the small group table.

About the Free Math Warm-Up Activities

Whenever I am beginning a new routine, I like to use easier content than grade-level skills. This allows students to focus on learning the warm-up routine and the expectations (and not on complex math skills that they have just started to learn).

The content in the free set of math warm-ups is easier and more accessible for students in grades 4-5.

Skills Include:

• Odd and even numbers
• Place value
• Comparing numbers
• Rounding numbers (numbers less than 100)
• Basic multiplication

The three types of math warm-ups included in the free starter set are perfect to begin a math warm-up routine .  There are 4 task cards per activity (12 task cards in all).

Each warmup comes in printable and digital format so they will fit whatever needs you have in your classroom. The digital version is ready to assign or work on through Google Slides.

For more information on assigning Google Slides activities, click here.

Math Warm-Up Activity #1: Odd One Out

In this warm-up activity, students will select which number in a set of 4 does not belong and defend their thinking. This activity is great for critical thinking and class discussion. It can spark great conversation and debate about why students chose a certain number.

Another bonus of using this activity is the stakes are low for all students. There is not one correct answer, so it allows students who might otherwise struggle in math find some success.

In the digital version of Odd One Out, the students will look at four numbers and decide which one does not belong. They will mark the number they picked with a moveable X. Then they can explain the number they chose in the text box provided.

Math Warm-Up Activity #2: Two Truths and a Lie

In this activity, students will select which statement about a number is false from a list of three statements and defend their thinking. This activity is a great activity for a math warm-up, and an added bonus is that it also gives students some beneficial practice with problem-solving and test-taking strategies as they analyze the number and each statement.

The digital Two Truths and a Lie math warm-up has students reading three statements and then labeling each one as “true” or “false.” For each slide, there will be two true statements and one lie, or false statement. As an extension activity, you could have your students correct the lie to make it true or prove how they knew the true statements were factual.

Math Warm-Up Activity #3: Which One?

In this warm-up, students will select the correct answer to the problem from a multiple choice set and defend their thinking. This activity gives students experience with word-problem types of questions in an engaging and low-pressure way.

Ways to Use the FREE Math Warm-Ups

Each activity in this free set of math warm-ups is formatted like a set of task cards. You could have your students complete one problem per day for a quick intro to a math lesson or they could complete all of the questions within an activity for some extra practice.

These math warm-ups are flexible and can be used in many ways. Here are some ideas:

• Use the digital version for a whole class math warm-up.
• Use the task card version for small group warm-ups.
• Use the digital or task card version as a math center.
• Use the digital or task card version for early finishers.

Get the FREE Starter Pack of Math Warm-Ups!

Looking for MORE Math Warmup Activities?

If you like the free set of math warmup activities and want more that cover grade level skills, check out my 4th and 5th Grade Math Warm-Ups bundle .

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4th & 5th Grade Math Warmups – Digital + Printable

Skills included in the 4th and 5th grade math warmups bundle.

Warm-Ups Set 1: Whole Number Review

The first set of warmup activities contains practice with whole numbers appropriate for 4th graders. Use them to practice new skills after teaching them in your 4th grade classroom or use them as review for your 5th graders.

The list of skills includes:

• Prime and composite numbers
• Representing numbers in different ways
• Addition and subtraction (varies from 2-digit to 4-digit)

To read more or buy this set now, click here.

Warm-Ups Set 2: Whole Number Review

The next set of math warmups involves activities with whole numbers up to the millions place, covering more 4th grade math content.

• Addition and subtraction to a million

For more details or to buy this set now, click here.

Warm-Ups Set 3: Decimals

The third set of warm-ups revolves around 5th grade topics with decimals.

• Comparing decimals
• Rounding decimals
• Representing equivalent decimals in different ways
• Adding decimals
• Subtracting decimals

Warm-Ups Set 4: Fractions

The fractions set of warmups covers 4th and 5th grade content.

• Equivalent fractions
• Comparing fractions
• Adding and subtracting mixed numbers with common denominators

Warm-Ups Set 5: Fraction Review

The final set of math warmup activities also involves fractions, but those with unlike denominators. Therefore, the set is most appropriate for use with 5th graders.

• Fractions equivalent to a whole
• Fractions greater than one
• Simplifying fractions
• Comparing mixed numbers
• Converting mixed numbers to fractions greater than one and vice versa
• Adding and subtracting mixed numbers.
• All fractions have unlike denominators.

In addition to the printable and digital versions, each set of math warm-ups has ink-friendly black and white versions included!

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I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.

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These incredibly powerful, flexible activities can be used with a variety of content and contexts.

These games are chosen for their simplicity and depth.

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Transform the first 5 – 10 minutes of math class into a pedagogical powerhouse. These openers promote rigorous thinking and discourse, and shift classroom culture toward student engagement and meaningful work. A perfect prerequisite for using rich tasks, and fantastic for every age.

NEW! How to Use Mathematical Openers PD mini workshop is now live! It’s available at Grassroots Workshop for $39. Check it out here !

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21 Best Classroom Math Games: Boost Your Students’ Math Skills

1. SplashLearn

2. round robin benefit, 3. fraction action, 4. around the block, 5. 101 and out, 6. the counting game, 7. odds and evens, 8. twenty-one, 9. sequence benefit.

Teachers are always looking for new and innovative ways to help kids learn math . Keeping things exciting and engaging can be challenging, especially when teaching complex concepts like multiplication and division . But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are 21 of the best classroom math games for kids.

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

These games are not only super fun to play but will also help students learn and practice essential math skills. So without further ado, let’s get started!

21 Fun Math Games to Play in the Classroom

Grade: PreK – 5

SplashLearn makes math interactive and fun, perfect for kids and is completely free for teachers. It turns lessons into engaging games , transforming learning into an adventure. Tailored to reinforce lessons, the games directly link to what students are learning, whether geometry for second graders or fractions for fifth graders . SplashLearn adapts to each child’s pace, keeping them interested and on track.

• With access to a dashboard, teachers get quick insights into student progress, easily spotting and addressing learning gaps . 
• SplashLearn tailors personalized learning journeys for each student, adjusting their pace and skill level for a truly customized math learning experience.

Here are some fun math games that you can get started with:

Grades: 3–5

This math game can be played with a large group of students. It is an excellent way to review material that has already been taught.

How to play:

One student starts by saying any math fact they know (for example, 2 + 2 = 4). The student next to them then says another math fact. This continues around the circle until the first person can’t think of a fact, at which point they are out. The last person standing is the winner!

This is one of the most effective math games for classroom participation! Not only does it help them understand fractions , but they also get to move around and have fun while doing it. The game’s objective is to be the first person to collect all the fraction cards. 

Players must answer questions correctly about fractions and collect fraction cards. The person with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner!

If you’re looking for easier and more fun ways to engage your students and simplify teaching fractions, play these fun online fraction games for free:

Grade: 3– 5

You only need one ball for this game, but you can have multiple students playing simultaneously. 

Students will stand in a circle, and someone will start by rolling the ball to another student in the circle. The student who catches the ball must then identify which math operation they will use to solve the problem posed by the person who rolled the ball.

The answer should be called out, and the student will roll the ball to another player. If the answer is correct, the player gets to keep rolling the ball. If the answer is incorrect, that player is out of the game. Continue until there’s only one person left standing.

Give your students some paper and pencils. This game can be played by two players (or the entire class can also be divided into two teams). Draw a line right down the middle of a piece of paper. On the left side, player 1 will record their score, and on the right, player 2 will add their score.

Both the players take turns rolling a die. Whatever number they roll, they can decide whether they want it to remain a one- digit number or whether they want to bump it up to a tens place. For example, if they roll a 4, they can write 4 on their side of the page or write 40. The goal is to be the first person to reach 101.

This fun classroom math game reinforces counting skills within 20, using counting worksheets . Each player needs a die and counting within 20 worksheets.

Students take turns rolling the die. After rolling, they must count out and circle the number of items on their worksheet corresponding to the number they rolled. For example, if a student rolls a four, they should find a group of four items on their worksheet and circle it. The game continues until all items on the worksheet are circled. The aim is to practice counting in an engaging way rather than competing to finish first.

Begin with printing this counting within 20 worksheet:

Odds and Evens is a classic math game that you can play with any number of players. You only need a piece of paper and a pencil for each player. 

Each player draws a line down the middle of their paper to create two columns. The left-hand column is for odds, and the right-hand column is for evens.

Players take turns rolling a die. Whatever number they roll, they must put that many dots in the corresponding column. The first player to reach 10 points in either column wins the game!

Looking for a hands-on way to explain odd and even numbers ? See how these games can make it click for your students:

This classroom math game is played with a regular deck of cards. All you need to do is remove the face cards and aces, then shuffle the deck. 

Each student will need a whiteboard and marker. Deal out two cards to each player face down. One at a time, each student will turn over their top card and reveal the number to the class.

The goal is to get as close to the number “21” as possible without going over. Players can either choose to stop and keep their current score, or they can risk going over 21 by adding the value of their next card.

If a player goes over 21, they are out for that round. The last player standing is the winner.

Variation: You can also play this game with three cards instead of two.

This classroom math game leverages number sequence worksheets to give students a hands-on approach to understanding numerical order. How to play:

Prepare by printing a set of number sequence worksheets, each highlighting a different sequence challenge that progresses in difficulty or varies in pattern (e.g., counting by twos, fives, or backwards). Distribute one scrambled sequence set to each student in the classroom.

The game’s goal is for students to arrange their strips in the correct numerical order, reconstructing the sequence on their desks. Once they believe they have correctly ordered their sequence, they should signal for you to check. After verifying the sequences, engage the class in a discussion about their strategies to determine the correct order and the patterns they observed.

Begin with printing these number sequence worksheets:

Grade: Kindergarten and above

This math game is played with a group of at least four people. 

Players sit in a circle and take turns counting up from 1. However, whenever the number 7 or a multiple of 7 is said, the player whose turn it is must say “buzz”.

If a player forgets to say “buzz” or says the wrong number, they are out! The game continues until there is only one player remaining.

11. One-Yard Dash

This math classroom game for kids is a great way to review basic math skills with your students. The objective of the game is to be the first person to reach one yard. 

Students should be divided into small teams and given measuring tapes to play.

Then they search the space for two to four items that, when added together, measure one yard in length. The groups will then measure the objects and note how accurate their estimates are.

Need a greater challenge? Instead of using a yard, give them a centimeter and instruct them to convert the results to micrometers, millimeters , and other units.

12. Create a Long Number Line on the Ground

This is a great activity for teaching addition , subtraction , and place value . You will need chalk to make your number line . 

Start by writing the numbers 1–20 (or higher) on the ground. Create a starting point and an ending point with two different colors. Then have students stand at the starting point. Call out a math problem and have students solve it and move to the correct answer on the number line. For example, “If I start at seven and subtract 3, where will I end up?” From the starting point (7), students would move three spaces to the left and land on 4.

This game can also be played with a partner. Students stand on opposite ends of the number line. One player calls out a math problem, and the other player solves it and then moves to the correct answer. The first team to reach the endpoint is the winner!

13. Graph Scavenger Hunt

To make graphs more exciting for your students, try a graph scavenger hunt! 

You will need to create a graph with different items to be found around the classroom or school (pictures work great for this). For example, you could use a bar graph and have students find things that are red, blue, green, etc. Or you could use a picture graph and have students find things that are small, big, have four legs, etc.

Once the graph is created, students will walk around and find things that match the items on the graph. They will then color in or mark the graph to show what they found. When they are finished, they can share their findings with the class.

14. Whack-a-Ball and Subtract

This is a variation of the classic game “Whack-a-Mole.” You will need a whiteboard, a whiteboard marker, and a softball or other small ball. To set up the game, draw a grid on the whiteboard with ten columns and ten rows. Label each column with a number from 1 to 10. In the first row of each column, write the corresponding number minus 1. So, in the first column, write “1 – 1”; in the second column, write “2 – 1”; and so on.

One student throws the ball at the board while another student calls out a number from 1 to 10. The student who threw the ball then tried to hit the number that was called out. If they hit the number, they erase it and write the new number in its place (the number minus 1). If they miss, the other student gets the point. The game is over when all the numbers are erased from the board.

15. Number Dance

Grade: PreK-Grade 1

This is a fun way to get your students moving and practice their numbers! To set up the game, you will need some space and some music. Make a number mat by taping numbers from 1–20 on the floor (you can also write them on a piece of paper or use numbered flashcards).

Once the mat is set up, have your students stand on a number. When the music starts, they should start dancing around! Every time the music stops, they must find a new number to stand on.

You can make the game more challenging by adding some movement rules, such as “hop on one foot when the number is even, spin around when the number is a multiple of five,” etc.

16. Balloon Pop

This is one of the best fun math games to play in the classroom for practicing number recognition and one-to-one correspondence. You will need some balloons (blow them up ahead of time) and a Sharpie. Write a different number on each balloon using the Sharpie, then mix them up. 

Students will take turns picking a balloon and popping it. They will then count the number of pops it took to pop the balloon and say the number out loud. The student with the most popped balloons at the end of the game wins!

17. Spill the Beans

This is a great game for practicing addition and subtraction. The objective of the game is to collect as many beans as possible without spilling them. 

You will need a container filled with beans, a spoon, and a cup. Each player will take turns scooping up beans with the spoon and transferring them to the cup. If, at any point, the beans spill, that player will lose all of their beans. The player with the most beans at the end of the game wins!

18. Math Bingo!

Grade: Grade 2 and above

This classic game can be used to practice any number of skills, including number recognition, counting, and addition. The objective of the game is to be the first player to get five numbers in a row (up, down, across, or diagonally). 

You will need a bingo card for each player (you can find printable bingo cards online or make your own). The caller will then draw numbers one at a time and call them out. Players will mark the numbers off on their cards if they have them. The first player to get five in a row wins!

19. Hit the Target

Grade: Grade 2-7

Math games are not only a way to pass the time, they’re also educational. This game is perfect for practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 

All you need is a whiteboard and a dry-erase marker. Write a math problem on the board, and then have students try to hit the target (the answer) with their markers. The person who gets closest to the target wins the round.

20. EDM (Educational Dance Music)

This game is perfect for getting kids up and moving while they learn math. 

Choose a song with a high BPM (beats per minute), and then have students count out the beats as they dance. For example, if the song had 120 BPM, students would count “1-2-3-4” as they danced. This game can be adapted to any math concept, such as skip counting or finding fractions of a whole.

21. The Number Detective Game

This is a great game for helping kids practice their addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills. You will need a whiteboard, marker, and eraser. 

Write a number on the board and then challenge your students to solve various math problems using that number. For instance, you might write “78” and then ask students to find all the numbers that add up to 78.

You can also have students solve for two numbers at once to make things more challenging. For example, if you write “78” and “15,” students would then need to find all the numbers that add up to 78 and all the numbers that multiply to 15.

Let’s Play with Numbers!

So there you have it, 21 best classroom math games for kids that are not only super fun to play but also educational. These games are perfect for reinforcing math concepts and skills. So get out there and make your classroom a fun and interactive learning environment!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best way to use math games in the classroom.

Fun math classroom games are a great way to engage students and get them excited about learning. To get the most out of these games, it is important to use them to supplement your regular lesson plans . Use classroom math games as a way to review concepts that have already been taught or as a way to introduce new concepts.

What is the impact of playing classroom math games?

Classroom math games offer a number of benefits for students, including

• improved problem-solving skills
• increased confidence in math
• a better understanding of math concepts
• greater interest in math

Where can I find more math games for my students?

There are a number of ways to find more math games for your students. SplashLearn offers a comprehensive math learning program for grades PreK–5, with over 4,000 interactive games.

How are math games used effectively in the classroom?

Here are a few tips to incorporate math games in the classroom:

• Set aside time each week for students to play math games.
• Integrate math games into your regular lesson plans .
• Encourage students to play at home as well.
• Choose games that are appropriate for your student’s skill level.
• Monitor students’ progress and adjust accordingly.

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Problem Solving

 A selection of resources containing a wide range of open-ended tasks, practical tasks, investigations and real life problems, to support investigative work and problem solving in primary mathematics.

Problem Solving in Primary Maths - the Session

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Teachers TV

In this programme shows a group of four upper Key Stage Two children working on a challenging problem; looking at the interior and exterior angles of polygons and how they relate to the number of sides. The problem requires the children to listen to each other and to work together co-operatively. The two boys and two girls are closely observed as they consider how to tackle the problem, make mistakes, get stuck and arrive at the "eureka" moment. They organise the data they collect and are then able to spot patterns and relate them to the original problem to find a formula to work out the exterior angle of any polygon. At the end of the session the children report back to Mark, explaining how they arrived at the solution, an important part of the problem solving process.

In a  second video  two maths experts discuss some of the challenges of teaching problem solving. This includes how and at what stage to introduce problem solving strategies and the appropriate moment to intervene when children find tasks difficult. They also discuss how problem solving in the curriculum also helps to develop life skills.

Cards for Cubes: Problem Solving Activities for Young Children

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Claire Publications

This book provides a series of problem solving activities involving cubes. The tasks start simply and progress to more complicated activities so could be used for different ages within Key Stages One and Two depending on ability. The first task is a challenge to create a camel with 50 cubes that doesn't fall over. Different characters are introduced throughout the book and challenges set to create various animals, monsters and structures using different numbers of cubes. Problems are set to incorporate different areas of mathematical problem solving they are: using maths, number, algebra and measure.

Problem solving with EYFS, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two children

Quality Assured Category: Computing Publisher: Department for Education

These three resources, from the National Strategies, focus on solving problems.

  Logic problems and puzzles  identifies the strategies children may use and the learning approaches teachers can plan to teach problem solving. There are two lessons for each age group.

Finding all possibilities focuses on one particular strategy, finding all possibilities. Other resources that would enhance the problem solving process are listed, these include practical apparatus, the use of ICT and in particular Interactive Teaching Programs .

Finding rules and describing patterns focuses on problems that fall into the category 'patterns and relationships'. There are seven activities across the year groups. Each activity includes objectives, learning outcomes, resources, vocabulary and prior knowledge required. Each lesson is structured with a main teaching activity, drawing together and a plenary, including probing questions.

Primary mathematics classroom resources

Quality Assured Collection Category: Mathematics Publisher: Association of Teachers of Mathematics

This selection of 5 resources is a mixture of problem-solving tasks, open-ended tasks, games and puzzles designed to develop students' understanding and application of mathematics.

Thinking for Ourselves: These activities, from the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) publication 'Thinking for Ourselves’, provide a variety of contexts in which students are encouraged to think for themselves. Activity 1: In the bag – More or less requires students to record how many more or less cubes in total...

8 Days a Week: The resource consists of eight questions, one for each day of the week and one extra. The questions explore odd numbers, sequences, prime numbers, fractions, multiplication and division.

Number Picnic: The problems make ideal starter activities

Matchstick Problems: Contains two activities concentrating upon the process of counting and spotting patterns. Uses id eas about the properties of number and the use of knowledge and reasoning to work out the rules.

Colours: Use logic, thinking skills and organisational skills to decide which information is useful and which is irrelevant in order to find the solution.

GAIM Activities: Practical Problems

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Nelson Thornes

Designed for secondary learners, but could also be used to enrich the learning of upper primary children, looking for a challenge. These are open-ended tasks encourage children to apply and develop mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding and to integrate these in order to make decisions and draw conclusions.

Examples include:

*Every Second Counts - Using transport timetables, maps and knowledge of speeds to plan a route leading as far away from school as possible in one hour.

*Beach Guest House - Booking guests into appropriate rooms in a hotel.

*Cemetery Maths - Collecting relevant data from a visit to a local graveyard or a cemetery for testing a hypothesis.

*Design a Table - Involving diagrams, measurements, scale.

Go Further with Investigations

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Collins Educational

A collection of 40 investigations designed for use with the whole class or smaller groups. It is aimed at upper KS2 but some activities may be adapted for use with more able children in lower KS2. It covers different curriculum areas of mathematics.

Starting Investigations

The forty student investigations in this book are non-sequential and focus mainly on the mathematical topics of addition, subtraction, number, shape and colour patterns, and money.

The apparatus required for each investigation is given on the student sheets and generally include items such as dice, counters, number cards and rods. The sheets are written using as few words as possible in order to enable students to begin working with the minimum of reading.

NRICH Primary Activities

Explore the NRICH primary tasks which aim to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. Lots of whole class open ended investigations and problem solving tasks. These tasks really get children thinking!

Mathematical reasoning: activities for developing thinking skills

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: SMILE

Problem Solving 2

Reasoning about numbers, with challenges and simplifications.

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Department for Education

10 Fun Math Problem Solving Activities

I love using fun games and activities to get my kids excited about math. That’s why I was so excited to discover Beast Academy Playground! The site includes a wide variety of math problem solving activities, games, puzzles, and ideas that can be used with your current homeschool curriculum. If you’re looking for some fun ways to get your child interested in math again or some new ideas for teaching math at home, this is a great place to start.

I received compensation in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.

What is Beast Academy Playground?

As a homeschool parent, I know that fun math problem solving activities are hard to come by. Practicing math can be frustrating and boring for kids. And, it’s not enough to just teach math facts – children need to learn how to solve complex problems too!

Beast Academy Playground is the perfect solution. This site was created by Beast Academy, a homeschool curriculum for kids ages 8-13 that’s written as a comic book. Beast Academy Playground is a website that includes a growing library of fun activity ideas for kids ages 4-11.

The site includes both tabletop games that can be played with paper and pencil and more active games that can be played outside. Parents can sort the activities by concept, age, number of players, and more to find the perfect activity to complement any math lesson. New activities, games, and crafts are added to the site weekly.

Key Features of Beast Academy Playground

I love that every game on the site includes variations. These are different ways to adapt the game to fit the number of kids in your family or the age and grade level of your child.

In addition, most of the games can be played alone or in small groups. This makes Beast Academy Playground so easy for the whole family to use together!

Beast Academy Playground was developed by the experts at Art of Problem Solving, who are global leaders in K-12 math education. Each activity is intentionally designed to help kids learn new math concepts.

I was excited to see that each game also includes learning notes. This section helps parents understand what their kids will be learning when they play the game. I felt like I was prepared to be a better math teacher after I read the tips in this section!

Check out Beast Academy Playground and learn more now!

How to use Math Problem Solving Activities in Your Homeschool

Introduce a new concept.

One way to use problem-solving activities in your math lessons is to help introduce a new concept. For example, when we were learning about even and odd numbers, we started our math lesson by playing the Odds vs. Evens game from Beast Academy Playground. This simple math problem solving activity is a variation on the game Rock Paper Scissors. This was a fun way to help us review addition facts while introducing the concept of odd and even numbers.

Practice Problem-Solving Skills

Another great way to use Beast Academy Playground is to help kids practice their problem-solving skills. One fun problem solving game that my kids love is the Fox and Hare game. In this outdoor game, the fox needs to use strategy to try to catch the hare on a grid, while the hare tries to avoid capture. You can change the size of the grid to create a variety of problems for kids to solve.

Practice Math Facts

If your kids need extra practice with their math facts, games and math puzzles can be a fun way to practice these important skills. Beast Academy Playground has games for addition and subtraction, as well as concepts like skip counting that will help kids learn their multiplication facts.

One favorite that we enjoyed was Troll Hole . In this game, we took turns writing numbers on a special game board. In the end, we had to add up all the numbers to see who was the winner. My kids had so much fun with the theme of this game and loved getting to draw the troll in the hole!

Independent learning

As homeschool parents, we always need ideas for independent learning activities. Beast Academy Playground includes some great math problem solving games that are perfect for self-directed math learning. The many different activities on the site include several fun activities for one player that kids can work through independently to reinforce their math skills.

For extra review

Hands-on activities are also helpful when kids need a little extra review on a topic. For example, we played Kanga Ruler to help review skip counting. The kids loved this game because it was active and fun!

Top 10 Math Problem Solving Activities from Beast Academy Playground

Here are 10 of our favorite games that help kids develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, all while having fun at the same time.

Trashketball

In this game, kids aim and try to score a basket into a trash can. Then, they add up the points they score. You can modify this game to add extra intellectual challenges for older kids or adapt the math so that younger kids can play too!

Trashketball was my kids’ favorite Beast Academy game, hands down. They loved trying to score as many baskets as they could. They had so much fun that they decided to keep playing even after our math lesson was finished!

Learn how to play Trashketball here.

In this math game for young children, kids race to stack towers of number cards. This is a great way to review numbers and counting. My kids really enjoyed trying to build the tallest tower that they could!

Learn how to play Towers here.

Bumper Cars

Although it took us a few tries to understand the strategy behind this game, my kids loved the concept of trying to figure out new ways to move the cars on the road. This was another great mathematical practice for strategy and solving difficult math problems.

Learn how to play Bumper Cars here.

Hungry Monster

This was a great way to practice inequalities and comparing numbers, and my kids loved feeding the correct answer in each inequality to the hungry monster!

Learn how to play Hungry Monster here.

Fruit Flies

In this math game for older problem solvers, kids try to claim as many grapes as they can for themselves, while blocking their opponent from getting any. This game is like an interactive logic puzzle, and it’s a good way for kids to learn critical thinking skills.

Learn how to play Fruit Flies here.

Blind Heist

In this game, Battleship meets addition as kids try to build the highest towers on their own secret side of the board. There are many different solutions and strategies to be successful, and my kids loved trying different solutions to this open-ended problem.

Learn how to play Blind Heist here.

Möbius Madness

This is a classic brain teaser for a reason- my kids were fascinated by the magic of a piece of paper with only one side. My kids were able to follow the directions easily and afterwards, they were excited to show their magical piece of paper to everyone who would watch.

Learn how to play Möbius Madness here.

This fast-paced card game was the perfect way to help my kids practice their addition facts.

Learn how to play Fifteen here.

Cookie Cutter

This game helps kids practice both spatial reasoning skills and fine motor skills at the same time. And, the result is a fun picture that they can color!

Learn how to play Cookie Cutter here.

Odd Knights

This was a fun way to practice even and odd (and it even led to a history lesson about the Knights of the Round Table!)

Learn how to play Odd Knights here.

What math problem solving activities will you use?

Whether it’s for extra practice or math review , Beast Academy Playground has something for every math learner. This site is a great resource to find exciting games that help kids develop number sense, problem solving, and logical thinking skills. If you want fun and engaging math activities that don’t require a textbook, this is the place to go. For more math problem solving activities and fun math games, check out Beast Academy Playground !

Find hands on activities to teach spelling and reading here!

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20 No Prep Math Activities

• Sarah Cason
• July 7, 2021
• No Comments

Looking for more ways to incorporate MATH into your daily schedule, but need ideas that are NO PREP and ENGAGING?

Are the daily math lessons just not cutting it and you need more MATH VARIETY?

Are your students getting bored with the same DAILY MATH ACTIVITIES?

Whatever the reason, if you need NO PREP math ideas, you are in the RIGHT PLACE!

This list will give you PLENTY of ways to fill extra minutes throughout your day with critical math skills and extend upon your daily lessons to keep it fun and engaging for your students. Included below are a variety of simple, NO PREP math activities for centers, whole group, small group, and individual work time.

Math Activity 1 – No Prep Number Booklets

No Prep Number Booklets provide students with an entire booklet for each number from 1 – 20. These are perfect for morning work, early finishers, centers, homework, or review. The activities inside the booklet include number art, story problems, before and after, dice, cubes, dominoes, and MORE!

2 – Clap and Count

This activity is so simple but students LOVE it! The teacher or designated student selects a number, says it out loud, or writes it on the board, and then the class claps and counts to that number. So simple right? This is a great movement activity to practice one-to-one correspondence. You can do this activity sitting down, standing up, or even add a little dance move to it. It is the perfect way to incorporate math into those few minutes you have during transition times or between lessons.

3 – Addition Math Fact Practice

Addition Math Fact Practice sheets are SIMPLE to print and give to your students for supplemental practice during morning work or for early finishers. The practice sheets reinforce math facts students are learning in class and help them build fact fluency for math facts to 10. This resource includes BOTH a number bond format along with the traditional number sentence practice pages. Two options for differentiation, you choose which one works best for your students!

Math Activity 4 – Human Number Line to 100

My students love this one EVERY time! Sometimes we end up in line waiting to go somewhere, such as lunch, recess, or library, and we are a little bit early. This is the perfect time for a Human Number Line. The first person in line says the number “1” out loud and students continue down the line saying the next number. When you get to the end of the line, simply go back to the first person in line and continue counting. Whoever ends up saying the number 100, gets to go to the front of the line! They love the suspense and trying to look ahead to figure out who will say 100.

5 – Color by Number

Students love to color, and I love to add a little quiet, relaxation music to the background when they color. It’s a great way for students to relax or settle back into class after recess while practicing math skills. There is a variety of color by number resources to choose from. Depending on the season, there is a winter or spring color by number and students will enjoy the adorable hidden pictures. Winter Color by Number includes addition, subtraction, and number options. The spring resource includes a version for Kindergarten and First Grade , as well as a version for 2nd and 3rd grade .  And coming soon!!! Our Summer Color by Number set for Kinder/First or 2nd/3rd . ? Get on the waitlist TODAY! 

6 – Shape Scavenger Hunt

A shape scavenger hunt is a great way for students to become aware of shapes all around them! You can do this in your classroom, take a trip throughout the school, or head outside to the playground. Encourage students to find circles, squares, rectangles, and more wherever they are looking! Talk about the shapes they find, compare them, and make connections. A great way to encourage and build math vocabulary skills along with shape recognition.

Math Activity 7 – Dry Erase Boards

Dry-erase boards can be used for SO many activities and students love them. It’s something that is definitely worth having a class set of if possible. To practice math activities, grab some dry erase boards and give your students a few options for math practice:

• Write to a specified number (Depending on the skill you are working on, encourage students to write to 20, 50, or 100; write by 1’s, 5’s, or 10’s.)
• Use the dry erase board to play Mystery Number (explained below in #8).
• Write and solve addition problems on the dry erase board.

8 – Mystery Number

This can be played with the teacher and the entire class, or students can work with a buddy. Either way, one person thinks of a number and writes it on the dry erase board, hiding it from everyone else. Then, the person with the mystery number gives clues about the number and students take turns trying to guess the mystery number. Examples of clues are, “The mystery number is bigger than 5, but less than 20”, and so on. Guessing games always keep students engaged!

9 – Bingo Daubers and Chips

Grab the bingo daubers (or chips), print these 1:1 centers and you are ready to go! Students will practice finding the number, finding the sum, and more! ANYTHING with bingo daubers is always a hit and with 30 different centers, you have A LOT of options with this resource.

Math Activity 10 – Verbal Story Problems

If you have a few minutes to fill during transition times or before the next activity, this is a perfect way to keep your students thinking. Make up simple addition stories, but include the students in the stories! They always get a kick out of being in the story. Put the principal in the story and they think it’s hilarious. Here’s an example. “John went to school and the principal (insert name here) gave him three pieces of candy. Then the music teacher (insert name here) gave him 4 more pieces of candy. How many pieces of candy does John have in all?” Students can’t wait to have a turn to be in the story, so include as many names as you can in each story problem!

11 – Card Games

Grab a deck of cards, pair students with at least one buddy, and play a traditional card game of “War”.  Here’s a quick refresher of this game if you haven’t played in a while. Deal the deck of cards, face down to the students playing. Each student flips over one card. The student that laid down the card with the greatest number keeps all of the cards that were laid down. Keep playing until someone runs out of cards. The player with all of the cards in the end wins! For younger students, I sometimes take out the jacks, queens, kings, and aces to keep only the number cards in the deck. This is a fun way for students to practice comparing numbers. Simple, no prep, and great for early finishers too!

12 – Dice Centers

Dice Centers are 1:1 activities that include a HUGE variety of math skills. Students use dice to practice addition, graphing, plus one, even or odd, subtraction, counting to 100, and more with these printable center activities.

Math Activity 13 – Play Dough Numbers and Shapes

The possibilities are endless with playdough! Give students math-focused tasks such as making numbers or shapes. Students can also put those little finger muscles to work creating snakes or balls and making a designated number of them. Write a number on a dry erase board or chalkboard and have students make that many playdough snakes. Great for building fine motor skills, improving number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence. Giving each student their own container of playdough to keep in their supply box makes this a quick task for filling extra minutes throughout the day.

14- Write the Room

Get students up and moving AND practicing math skills with  Write the Room Kindergarten or Write the Room First Grade . Both of these include various math skills including addition, counting, geometry, measurement, and subtraction just to name a few! Students will love searching the room for hidden cards while using their clipboards and recording sheets. There are various recording sheet options available to fit your needs in this resource.

15 – Human Shape Building

So simple, and still so fun! These are perfect for outside in the grass or in the classroom on your carpet. Draw a shape on the board, show students a shape card, or just shout out a shape. Then, set the timer and let students figure out how to make the shape on their own with a few classmates.

Math Activity 16 – Exercise and Count

Get moving! The perfect brain break and counting practice. Write a variety of exercises (one on each index card or popsicle stick) and then mix them up. Next, select a card and also draw a number card or select a random number and complete that number of exercises. Include the students and let them have a turn drawing an exercise card! Examples are jumping jacks, karate kicks, squats, and so on.

17 – Roll and Count

Grab some  dice , roll them, and have your students quickly count and write the number rolled on a dry erase board or paper. Also, another option is to roll two dice and write an addition problem using the two numbers rolled. I use my document camera for this activity when I roll the dice. The whole class can easily see what was rolled by looking at the Promethean board. You could also play roll and count by sitting in a circle and rolling jumbo dice in the center of the circle. Students love getting a turn to roll!

18 – Domino Addition

It’s as simple as it sounds. Grab a bucket of dominos and let each student take turns selecting a domino. Then, create an addition problem by adding how many dots are on each side together. Students can write the addition problems on their dry erase boards.

Math Activity 19 – Math Videos

There are SO many amazing math videos for kids on YouTube! A classroom favorite for my students is Jack Hartman of course! Search the math skill you are working on in class and chances are that there will be at least one Jack Hartman video. There are also many other videos to choose from. I like to find my favorites ahead of time and create shortcuts to them for quick access. Math videos are great for brain breaks, or to reinforce math skills in different ways.

20 – Math Warm-Ups 

Math Warm-Ups are completely digital and require no prep! They are perfect for using as a warm-up as you transition to your math lesson. Math warm-ups save time and paper, are quick checks for understanding, and a fun option for “turn and talk” in your classroom. This resource includes all of the fundamental math skills such as counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, geometry, measurement, and more. 45 weeks of spiraling math review at your fingertips!

Many of the activities listed above require absolutely NO printing OR prep. Just grab a few supplies and you’re all set! A few of the suggested activities are simply PRINT and GO math activities. These are great for the times when you need a paper and pencil task for students but have no time to prep.

Using a variety of math activities keep students engaged, encourages higher-level thinking skills, and allows students to see and apply math in the world around them. Do you have any other no-prep math activities you could share with us? Please leave them in the comments below.

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3 Math Games You Can Use in Class Today

These games for upper elementary and middle school students require little to no preparation and reinforce math facts.

For many students, math class can feel overwhelming, unwelcoming, and stressful. While there are many ways math teachers can work to shift this mindset in our students, one easy way is to infuse joy into math lessons through games. The following three math games can be done in as little as five minutes once they have been introduced to students and require little to no prep. Additionally, these games can easily be scaled up or down in difficulty to work for any classroom.

1. Buzz (No Prep)

Buzz is a quick and easy way to help students recognize multiples. To play, first have all students stand up. This game works well when students are arranged in rows or a circle but can be done with any arrangement as long as students know the order in which they will participate.

Once all students are standing, select a student to start counting. Before that student says 1, tell the students which multiple they must “buzz” on. For example, you may say that students will buzz on multiples of 3. That means that as the students count, any student whose number is a multiple of 3 will say “Buzz” instead of the number. Any student who says the wrong number or forgets to say “Buzz” is out and sits down.

The game can continue until you have a few students left as the winners. If you have a few students who are particularly nervous about being put on the spot, encourage them to keep track of the numbers called on a piece of paper to better prepare themselves for their turn. Remind those students that the game moves quickly and very little attention will be given to any single mistake.

The game will sound like this if students are going to buzz on multiples of 3:

Student A begins counting at “1.” The next student in the given order (make sure to tell students the order in which they will go) continues with “2.” The third student says, “Buzz.” The next student then picks up and says “4.”

To scale up the difficulty, you can have students buzz on a more difficult multiple, such as 7 or 12. You could even require students to buzz on common multiples of a given two numbers such as 3 and 4.

2. What Number Am I? (No Prep)

This game is a great way to practice not only fact fluency but math vocabulary, too. To play, select one student to be the first player. That student will come to the front of the class with their back to the board. On the board behind them, you will write a number so that the student cannot see what it is.

All other students will then give the player clues to help him or her guess the number. Students must raise their hands and, when called on by the player, can give one math fact as a clue. When the player accurately guesses the number, they select the next player to come to the board.

The game will sound like this:

Student A comes to the board and faces the class. The number 18 is written on the board. Student A calls on student B for a clue, and student B says, “You are the product of 3 and 6.” If student A knows this product, they can say, “I’m 18!” but if they are not sure, they can call on another student for a new clue.

To scale down the difficulty, you might tell students to only use addition and subtraction facts as clues and to emphasize words like sum and difference. You may want to focus on smaller numbers to write on the board.

To scale up the difficulty, you may give students larger numbers to work with, encourage the use of multiplication and division facts, or have students use square roots and exponents in their clues.

3. Fact Fluency Challenge (Minimal Prep)

This game allows students to engage in a competition as they work on given fluency practice. To play, split the class into two teams and select a representative from each team to start. I like to bring two chairs to the front of the room so the participants are right in front of the board when they play. On the board, post a math fact; the first student to answer wins a point for their team. The participants rotate so that each team member gets an opportunity to compete.

I use an online math fact generator so that I can quickly present math facts for a given operation and number range. If you want math facts that address a specific topic not easily found in an online flashcard version, you can make your own slide show to use with your students.

To scale down the difficulty, focus on single-digit numbers dealing with addition and subtraction, and to scale up the difficulty, you could focus on larger numbers dealing with multiplication or division, use decimals or fractions, or require students to simplify a multi-operation expression.

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3 Problem-Solving Math Activities

Scottie Altland · September 5, 2018 · 1 Comment

A problem is simply a “problem” because there is no immediate, known solution. Problem solving activities in mathematics extend well beyond traditional word problems .

You can provide your student with activities that promote application of math skills while “busting boredom” at the same time! Puzzles and riddles, patterns, and logic problems can all be valuable exercises for students at all levels of mathematics. By engaging in short, fun activities like these, you can help your student become a more skillful, resilient, and successful problem-solver.

When practicing problem-solving skills, be certain to give your student time to explore a problem on her own to see how they might get started. Then discuss their approach together. It is important to provide support during the problem-solving process by showing that you value their ideas and helping them to see that mistakes can be useful. You can do this by asking open-ended questions to help your student gain a starting point, focus on a particular strategy, or help see a pattern or relationship. Questions such as, “What have you done before like this?”, “What can be made from …?” or “What might happen if you change…?” may serve as prompts when they needs inspiration.

Try the activities below to boost your student’s problem-solving skills.

Download the activities here .

1) Toothpick Puzzles

Toothpick puzzles (also referred to as matchstick puzzles) provide students a visualization challenge by applying their knowledge of basic geometric shapes and orientations. The only supplies you need are a box of toothpicks, a workspace, and a puzzle to solve. The goal is for students to transform given geometric figures into others by adding, moving, or removing toothpicks. These puzzles range in complexity and can be found online or in math puzzle books. As an extension, challenge your student to create their own puzzle for someone else to solve.

Sample toothpick puzzles of varying difficulty:

Download solutions to this activity here.

2) Fencing Numbers

The goal of this activity is to create a border or “fence” around each numeral by connecting dots horizontally and vertically so that each digit is bordered by the correct number of line segments.

Print a sheet of dot paper .

Use pencils and scissors to cut the size grid you want to use.

This game can be modified for abilities by adjusting the size of the grid and amount of numerals written. For example, a beginning student might begin with a grid that is 5 x 5 dots with a total of four numerals, while a more advanced student might increase the grid to 7 x 7 dots with six to eight numerals.

Begin by writing the digits 0, 1, 2, and 3 spread repeatedly in between “squares” on the dot paper. Each digit represents the number of line segments that will surround that square. For instance, a square that contains a 3 would have line segments on three sides, and a square that contains a 2 would have line segments on two sides, and so on. See the example boards and solutions for a 5 x 5 grid below.

Beware; there may be multiple solutions for the same problem! Thus, encourage your student to replicate the same problem grid multiple times and look for different solutions. A more advanced student can be challenged to create their own problem. Can they make a grid with only one solution? Is it possible to make a problem with four or more possible solutions?

3) It’s Knot a Problem!

Exercise lateral thinking skills– solving a problem through an indirect and creative approach that is not immediately obvious. You need two people, two pieces of string (or yarn) about one meter long each (or long enough so the person who will wear it can easily step over it), and some empty space to move around. If possible, use two different colored pieces of string. Each person needs a piece of string with a loop tied in both ends so it can be worn like “handcuffs”. Before tying off the loop on the second wrist, the participants loop the string around each other so they are hooked together. The figure below illustrates how the strings should appear when completed.

The goal is to unhook the strings while following these guidelines:

1) The string must remain tied and may not be removed from either participant’s wrists. 2) The string cannot be broken, cut, or damaged in any way.

Caution! This activity not only tests problem-solving skills, but it also promotes positive communication, teamwork, and persistence.

Problem-solving skills are not always taught directly but often learned indirectly through experience and practice. When incorporating problem solving activities aim to make them open-ended and playful to keep your student engaged. Incorporating fun activities like these from time to time foster creative and flexible thinking and can help your student transfer problem solving skills to other subject areas. By providing guidance and helping your student to see a problem from different perspectives, you will help foster a positive disposition towards problem-solving. As your student continues to learn how to effectively solve problems, they increase their understanding of the world around them and develop the tools they need to make decisions about the way they approach a problem.

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February 25, 2020 at 11:13 am

The ideas are very brilliant it encourages critical thinking and also help student think for a solution. Awesome!😍

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How to put whole-class differentiation strategies into practice

Editor’s Note:

This is an updated version of a blog post published on September 18, 2019.

Just because learners are focusing on the same task doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for differentiation. Learn how to differentiate through content, process, and product.

In a mastery programme , all pupils are expected to achieve the same learning. The idea of having differentiation within whole-class teaching might seem a bit contradictory. But I promise it isn’t!

Differentiation doesn’t have to mean cutting out harder topics for struggling learners, or adding in trickier concepts for more advanced learners. You can still teach the same topic ⁠— so all children achieve the same learning ⁠— but vary the depth of learning.

But what does this look like in practice?

Differentiation in practice

Differentiating through depth of learning will give you a huge advantage in the classroom. Differentiation strategies help meet children’s individual needs while keeping the whole class learning at the same pace.

Educator and author Carol Ann Tomlinson says that:

“Differentiation is responsive teaching rather than one size fits all teaching. This means that teachers proactively plan varied approaches to what students need to learn, how they will learn it, and/or how they will show what they have learned in order to increase the likelihood that each student will learn as much as he or she can, as efficiently as possible.”

Start by challenging pupils who grasp concepts quickly with rich and sophisticated problems within the topic. For children who are not sufficiently fluent, make sure you provide them with extra support to consolidate their understanding before moving on to a new topic.

Before using differentiation in your classroom, it’s useful to understand how to differentiate three aspects of the curriculum: content, process, and product.

Differentiation by content

Differentiation by content means encouraging your learners to use different approaches when learning new topics. The learning objectives for the whole class stay the same, but your methods of teaching the knowledge or skill can vary.

A simple and effective way to differentiate by content is to try the mysterious envelope strategy .

All you need to do is prepare three sets of envelopes, A, B, and C, which each contain different information to help pupils start the same task. Set A has the highest level of support and set C has the least support. The benefit of using envelopes is that your pupils won’t be able to tell what set their classmates have.

It’s a good idea to have extra sets of envelopes at hand. If one group gets stuck, you’ll have the option to provide a set with more support such as Set B, then Set A if necessary. If a group finishes quickly, you can extend their learning by providing Set C.

The envelopes also could contain:

• Different materials: concrete materials for struggling learners, abstract materials for advanced learners, and pictorial materials for the rest.
• Instructions for advanced learners to think a little more deeply.

Differentiation by process

Differentiation by process means varying the ways that children make sense of the learning. If you use Maths — No Problem! in your classroom, you’ll notice that differentiation by process is done through anchor tasks and teaching through problem-solving.

The following videos highlight how to adapt the same task to cater for a wide variety of learners.

• Learn how to differentiate an anchor task for struggling and advanced learners. This strategy can be applied to both primary and secondary maths lessons.
• See how one maths task can be accessed by both advanced and struggling learners .
• Discover how teachers can differentiate through effective questioning .

Differentiation by product

Differentiation by product means providing different ways for pupils to show their mastery of the mathematical content. This can be done in a few ways.

• Encouraging students to use concrete materials to show their answers rather than written methods.
• Giving students templates or scaffolded support for their work. For example, by providing pre-drawn axes and scales to help them draw graphs.
• Asking more advanced learners to show written explanations or present their answers to the class.

Differentiated instruction is the best way to meet your learners’ individual needs while keeping the whole class learning together at the same pace. Building differentiation into your lesson planning will help you be more responsive in the classroom and ultimately will set your learners up for success.

Laura Connell

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Problem Solving

The Ministry is migrating nzmaths content to Tāhurangi.             Relevant and up-to-date teaching resources are being moved to Tāhūrangi (tahurangi.education.govt.nz).  When all identified resources have been successfully moved, this website will close. We expect this to be in June 2024.  e-ako maths, e-ako Pāngarau, and e-ako PLD 360 will continue to be available. 

For more information visit https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/updates-to-nzmaths

This section of the nzmaths website has problem-solving lessons that you can use in your maths programme. The lessons provide coverage of Levels 1 to 6 of The New Zealand Curriculum. The lessons are organised by level and curriculum strand.  Accompanying each lesson is a copymaster of the problem in English and in Māori. 

Choose a problem that involves your students in applying current learning. Remember that the context of most problems can be adapted to suit your students and your current class inquiry. Customise the problems for your class.

• Level 1 Problems
• Level 2 Problems
• Level 3 Problems
• Level 4 Problems
• Level 5 Problems
• Level 6 Problems

The site also includes Problem Solving Information . This provides you with practical information about how to implement problem solving in your maths programme as well as some of the philosophical ideas behind problem solving. We also have a collection of problems and solutions for students to use independently.

Small Group Math Activities

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Discover small group math activities that promote student engagement and foster a love for math. This blog post explores 10 activities, including math games, hands-on manipulatives, real-world investigations, technology tools, problem solving activities, and more to help you transform your math stations into a dynamic learning environment.

I have a secret confession to make. 

Teaching reading has never been my cup of tea. 

Don’t get me wrong, I adore immersing my students in captivating books and opening their minds to new worlds. 

But when it comes to reading workshop, let’s just say it didn’t exactly light a fire in my soul. 

The never-ending cycle of reading from the textbook series and completing author’s purpose, inference, and comprehension worksheets felt mundane and, dare I say it, a bit dull. #yawn 🥱 

Despite my best efforts, I struggled to make it truly exciting. 

So, when the opportunity to introduce math workshop came knocking, I must admit, I wasn’t exactly jumping for joy.

It’s All About Engagement

Math stations are a powerful tool for promoting student engagement and deepening our students’ mathematical understanding. 

By incorporating engaging activities into your math station rotations, you can create a dynamic learning environment that sparks excitement and curiosity in your students. 

In this blog post, we will explore 10 engaging small group math activities that will captivate your students and inspire them to develop a love for math.

10 Small Group Math Activities for Any Math Station Rotation

Activity 1: Math Games Galore

Math games are a fantastic way to make learning fun and interactive. These small group math activities provide opportunities for students to practice math skills while communicating mathematically with their peers. Here are a few examples of card and dice games that can be incorporated into your math station rotations:

• War Games: This classic math game requires only a deck of cards. Partners each turn over a card and use their math skills to compare the numbers, such as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or even simple expressions. The player with the higher value wins the round. Players continue playing until no cards are remaining. 
• Cover-Up Games: This simple board game requires two dice. In turn, each student rolls the dice and completes the problem associated with the dice sum. Then, they cover the solution with a marker in a grid trying to get four in a row, column, or diagonal. 
• Traditional Board Games: Pair a set of task cards with a traditional board game to create this math station activity. After correctly answering a question, students can roll a die or toss a coin to move along the path.

Activity 2: Hands-On Manipulatives

Hands-on manipulatives bring abstract math concepts to life, making them more concrete and tangible. These activities provide students with a visual and kinesthetic experience, enhancing their understanding of mathematical concepts. Consider incorporating the following manipulative-based activities into your math stations:

• Pattern Block Puzzles: Provide students with pattern blocks and challenge them to create different shapes and designs, exploring concepts like symmetry, fractions, and geometry.
• Base Ten Blocks: Use base ten blocks to reinforce place value concepts. Students can build and represent numbers and explore operations with whole numbers and decimals.
• Data Analysis with Spinners: Use spinners with different sections labeled with numbers or categories. Students spin the spinner multiple times, record the results, and represent the data they collected by creating a frequency table, bar graph, or dot plot.

Want to use math manipulatives but need more resources? Try virtual manipulatives !

Activity 3: Puzzle Power

Puzzles are not only engaging but also promote critical thinking and problem solving skills. They challenge students to think creatively and persevere through complex tasks. Here are a few puzzle-based activities to include in your math stations:

• Number Crossword: Create a crossword puzzle where students respond to math-related clues and fill in the corresponding numbers in the grid.
• Logic Grids: Challenge students with logic puzzles that require them to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills to solve.
• Sudoku: Provide students with Sudoku puzzles focusing on numbers, shapes, or mathematical operations, encouraging them to apply logical reasoning to complete the puzzles.

Activity 4: Real-World Math Investigations

Real-world math investigations allow students to apply their mathematical knowledge and skills to authentic situations. These activities promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and the ability to connect math and the real world. Consider the following examples for your math station rotations:

• Recipe Conversions: Provide students with recipes that need to be converted to serve a different number of people. Students must adjust ingredient quantities using proportional reasoning and fractions.
• Budgeting and Shopping: Give students a budget and a list of items with prices, such as a local grocery ad or restaurant menu. They must plan a shopping trip, choose items based on their budget, and calculate the total cost.
• Measurement Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of objects in the classroom or nearby hallway students need to measure using various units of measurement. Students will use rulers, measuring tapes, or scales to gather the data and record their measurements.

Activity 5: Technology Tools

Incorporating technology into math stations can engage students and provide interactive learning experiences. Consider utilizing the following online resources and educational apps:

• Online Math Games and Activities: Websites such as IXL Learning, Prodigy, and Math Playground provide opportunities to gamify the learning experience. Students can earn points and virtual rewards while building math skills. 
• Digital Activities: Activities designed for Google Classroom and Seesaw provide engaging opportunities for students to use digital tools to review math concepts and skills .
• Digital Task Cards: Take task cards to the next level with digital task cards . Task cards created for use at Boom Learning or even with Google Forms can increase student engagement while students practice essential math skills.

Activity 6: Ready-Made Math Activities

In addition to creating your small group math activities, incorporating ready-made resources can provide a valuable and time-saving option for engaging your students. These pre-made activities offer an interactive and hands-on way to reinforce math skills and concepts. 

• Electronic Flashcard Games: Electronic flashcard games provide an exciting and interactive way for students to practice and reinforce math facts. These games often offer various difficulty levels and customizable options to cater to students’ needs. Math Whiz and Math Shark are two of my favorites!
• VersaTiles: VersaTiles is a hands-on, puzzle-inspired activity with an interactive workbook system designed to reinforce math skills. Students use a unique answer case and answer tiles to complete activities and self-check their answers. It’s a favorite of my elementary and middle school students alike!
• Marcy Cook Tiling Tasks: Marcy Cook Tiling Tasks are critical thinking activities that require students to use a set of tiles labeled 0-9 to complete math puzzles. These tasks promote problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and mathematical thinking. Students arrange the tiles to fill in the blanks and create equations and solutions that satisfy the given conditions. 

Activity 7: Math Task Cards

Math task cards offer various practice opportunities and allow students to work independently. They are also easy to make and readily available on teacher marketplaces across the web. Here are some examples of task card activities: 

• Showdown: Partners select one card and complete it individually. Then, students “showdown” and share their responses using math talk and supporting each other as necessary. 
• Math Game: Pair a set of task cards with a game board to gamify the learning experience! Students place their game markers at the start line. To move down the path, students must correctly respond to a task card, toss a die (or flip a coin), and move the number of spaces indicated on the die or based on the side of the coin visible after the coin toss (heads = 2 spaces, tails = one space).
• Cover Up: To create a Cover Up game, program a 4 x 4 grid with the solutions to a set of task cards. Then, when students respond correctly, they can cover the answer with a board marker, such as centimeter cubes, color tiles, Bingo chips, or beans. The goal is to get four markers in a row, column, or diagonal. Note: This activity works best with multiple-choice questions, true or false questions, or questions with numerical answers.  

Activity 8: Math Picture Books

Integrating math and literature activities enhances students’ mathematical understanding and develops their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Consider incorporating the following math and literacy activities into your math stations:

• Math Investigations: Use the storyline in a book to practice a skill. For example, use the Pigs Will Be Pigs book by Amy Axelrod to practice adding and subtracting decimals as the pigs find money hidden around their home and then spend it at a restaurant. 
• Story-based Problems: Use the book as a springboard to reinforce a specific skill. Either re-create scenarios from the book or create new problems based on the problems the characters faced in the story such as comparing the amounts in two different groups after reading Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander.
• Famous Mathematicians Book Study: Create a set of questions to help students learn more about famous mathematicians, such as Katherine Johnson , and provide students with access to a physical or digital biography to read and use to respond to the questions.

Activity 9: Calculator Challenges

Incorporating calculator challenges into your math stations can allow upper elementary students to deepen their understanding of math concepts while developing their computational skills. Calculator activities engage students in hands-on exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking while building their technology proficiency skillset. 

These activities encourage students to use calculators to investigate, solve problems, and make connections. Consider incorporating the following calculator challenges into your math stations:

• The Broken Calculator Challenge: In this challenge, students are shown an image of a calculator with only three or four working buttons. Students then determine how to use the remaining keys on the broken calculator to create specific values, such as using +, x, 2, and 3 to achieve a value of 8.
• Calculator Corrections: This task requires students to determine how to correct a calculator mistake without clearing the calculator. Using the calculator, students determine how to fix a mistake, check the answer, and make adjustments as necessary. After completing the task, students can justify the changes they made. For example, Brandi wanted to enter the number 4265 into her calculator. By mistake, she typed 4165. Without clearing her calculator, how can she fix her mistake? 
• Target Number: For this task, students represent place value in numbers, determine what number to add or subtract to reach the target number, and use the calculator to check their process. For example, students are given the following directions: Start with 7,254. Find a number to subtract that will result in a 0 in the hundreds column.

Activity 10: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential life skills for students to develop. Engage your students in meaningful and challenging math experiences by incorporating problem solving and critical thinking activities into your small group math activities. Click here for a list of problem solving activities ; that encourage students to think critically, analyze situations, and apply their mathematical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

A Shift in Thinking

While I never found a way to make reading workshop exciting, math workshop was my students’ favorite part of the day. 

Integrating various small group math activities into the rotation was the key to keeping students engaged in learning and wanting more. 

If you’re new to math stations, the best way to get started is to choose 1-2 new activities to implement. Consider adding another activity after students are comfortable with the previous activities and staying engaged with minimal support.

Adding new small group math activities gradually will help maintain order during the rotation and save your sanity! If you’d like more tips and tools for managing math stations, download the Math Station Management Toolbox using the form at the bottom of this post. 

Math station rotation boards are an excellent organizational tool for implementing the small group math activities above. This visual display helps students understand the structure of the math station rotation and enhances their independence and accountability. 

The small group math activities shared above can be assigned to specific stations on the rotation board. Then, teachers can use the math station rotation board to effectively monitor student progress as they rotate through various math stations. 

Experiment with these small group math activities and adapt them to meet the needs and interests of your students, ensuring math station time is an exciting and transformative experience for all.

What are your favorite small group math activities? Respond in the comments below. 

Shametria Routt Banks

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