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What is your favorite mental maths game for kids?

Playing math games in the classroom is a fantastic way to not only stimulate students, but is also an ideal way of improving students’ number facts and number work. Last…

Playing math games in the classroom is a fantastic way to not only stimulate students, but is also an ideal way of improving students’ number facts and number work.

Last week I shared with you a fun and easy way to review math facts. We talked about mental computation, what it is and how you can develop the mental maths strategy of compatible numbers.

As games can be a fantastic way to stimulate students I thought it would be fun to share your favorite fun mental maths game for the classroom.

As games can be so beneficial I thought it would be fun to share your favorite fun mental maths game for the classroom. Whether you have maths games for year 6 or mental maths games for year 3, I’d love to hear about them all.

In the comments below share your ‘go to’ mental maths games. It’s pretty simple just tell us the following:

  • What is the name of the math game?
  • What grade is the math game for?
  • What do you need to play the game?
  • A few instructions for how to play the math game?

If your favorite math game is one that you found online, then please feel free to just share the link to the game.

My favorite mental maths game

To kick things off I thought I would share one of my favorite class maths games that my students enjoy playing.

What is the name of the mental maths game?

Counting on card game

What grade is the math game for?

This card game is most suited to junior primary students who are just learning the mental maths strategy of counting on.

What do you need to play the game?

This is a card game for 2 players.

  • Deck of cards with the picture cards removed (Jack, Queen, King, Joker).
  • The ace can be used as a 1 in this game.

Instructions

1. Separate the cards in two piles, one with the cards: ace, 2, 3 and 4 and the other pile with the cards 5 – 10.

2. Shuffle each pile so they’re in a random order and place face down on the playing surface.

3. Players take turns turning over the top two cards. They add the two numbers using the counting on strategy: count on from the larger number, and count on the smaller number. For example, if the two cards turned over were 9 and 4. They would start with 9, count on 4: 10, 11, 12, 13.

As games can be a fantastic way to stimulate students I thought it would be fun to share your favorite fun mental maths game for the classroom.

4. If players have the correct answer, they get to keep both cards.

5. If the answer is incorrect the other player can have a go at answering the question to keep both the cards.

6. Continue play until one of the piles run out of cards.

7. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game.

See how easy peasy that was. Now it’s your turn to share your favorite mental maths games in the comments below.

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5 Comments

  1. Ter

    multiplication war is so much fun!

    Reply
    • Melinda

      Thanks Abbie there are some great ideas there. I like the sound of the back 2 back game.

      Reply
  2. Math trainer

    Thanks for this. Was very help in my case.

    Reply
  3. Maryann PERRY

    My grade 1 and 2 students like the game, “Make 10”. Place a deck of cards (with face cards removed) upside down in an array. Player one turns 2 cards over and hopes that the 2 cards add up to 10. example: if the player turns over an 8 and a 2, he/she states, “8 plus 2 equals 10” and then keeps the cards. My students like to include the number 10 cards because they get excited when they turn it over since they know they will have won a card. They must say, “10 + 0 =10” in order to keep it. Play with a partner or small group.

    Reply

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