Classroom Math Games

Classroom math games are an invitation to do mathematics. Using easy math games for children will engage them and give you critical insights into their thinking.

One of the goals of mathematics is to create a culture that embraces learning and the way students think about math.

Math practice games should be practical, easy to implement and empower students to come up with their own approaches to problem solving.

These are very easy math games. They are classroom math games that require higher order thinking and the ability for students to share their discoveries.

Easy Math Practice Games

These games are perfect for whole class or partners. I have also used the for math center games..

However, all you really need to make a mathematics center is a deck of cards and a bit of creativity.

Make a list of numbers that begin with a "starting number." Increase by a fixed amount called a "jump number."

For example, start with 2 and use the jump number of 5. Write the start number at the top of your paper then start "jumping." Stop when you reach 97.

Examine the list of numbers and share as many patterns as you can find with your group.

Questions about patterns you may find are:

• Is there an alternating pattern?
• Is there a pattern of odd and even numbers?
• What happens to the numbers in the tens place?

It is quite insightful to what the students observe with this math game. Try changing the start and jump numbers and see what is the same and different. Or, keep the same start number but only change the jump number.

This activity is very easy to use for differentiated math instruction.



Apples and Bananas

Use two colors of counters. Set out 24, 16 of them being red and 8 being yellow.

Group the counters into different parts of the whole. use the parts of create fraction names. Depending on the grade level, you may wish to do this together, independently, or a mixture of both.

For example, we could show that 16/24 are apples, and 8/24 are bananas. Then, make the 16 reds into 4 groups of 4. The yellows are 2 groups of 4. Now we have 4/6 groups are apples and 2/6 groups are bananas.

Take the 16 red and make 2 groups of 8. The yellow becomes 1 group of 8. Our fractions now are 2/3 groups are apples and 1/3 groups are bananas.

The interesting part comes when we allow students to make self-discoveries about what fractions are and how a whole can be divided into equal parts. Their oral talk is key here to further developing their understanding.

This lesson is from Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally (7th Edition). If you really want to understand about classroom math games and how to teach math, you need this book.

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