Math Games

Teachers are discussing more often how to keep children interested in classroom activities when they are so accustomed to sitting in front of screens and beeping and blinking toys. Studies have shown that children retain more information when learning is active and is relevant to everyday life. Similarly, mathematics education doesn’t need to consist entirely of pencil and paper exercises. Using math games that incorporate real life situations is a great tool for learning.

Math games range from elementary levels to trigonometry and calculus games. Favorite math games for elementary school age kids are those that involve play money and transactions. These math games are the most versatile, because children can apply their knowledge of addition and subtraction (and in some cases, multiplication and division) to every day situations. Also, having money in their hands can make children feel “grown up”, and this always sparks their interest. Try setting up a store in your classroom or home and spend hours on fun “shop” math games. Not all math games require preparation; one good “game” is to quiz your children in the supermarket: “If Mommy has $20 left, can she buy the cola, the candy, the toy and the notebook? If so, how much will she have left?”

Other great math games involve story problems, but story problems for young children should be as tangible as possible and involve actual objects. Math games for division can involve giving away candies or small toys for the whole class. The advantage of this game is that it teaches the moral value of generosity as well as math. Pizzas and pies (even imaginary ones can be mouth watering) are good math games for teaching fractions

Black board races are popular math games because they involve the excitement of racing and competition to the development of math skills. Geometry math games identifying drawing shapes and fitting shapes together. Combine this with regular arithmetic by giving the dimensions of the shapes or the radii and asking if they can fit on the same page.