| Looking for a fun and exciting way to teach math | | | | is that the child doing the talking can only give a set |
| concepts to children? Increase motivation and learning | | | | number of clues and can only use numbers for how |
| in a way that is enjoyable and pleasant by using the | | | | many feet or yards, and the words forward, |
| following math games for kids. | | | | backward, right, or left. You can put obstacles in the |
| A Book Scavenger Hunt | | | | way such as orange road cones or beach balls that |
| This is a game that teaches counting and ordinal | | | | they have to maneuver around to get to the mat. The |
| numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd...). The first thing to do is find a | | | | kids giving the directions must stay stationary while |
| book for each child. It works well, and takes less time, | | | | giving the clues. Make sure this game is supervised by |
| for all children to use the same book title and edition, | | | | an adult who can make sure that the kids do not run |
| but it is not necessary. The idea is that the answer will | | | | into one another or trip and fall. |
| spell out a sentence or two and the winner is the first | | | | Board Games |
| one to decipher it. Each child will be provided with a | | | | Board games offer a variety of creative and |
| clue sheet which will list directions for finding each | | | | interesting ways for teaching math concepts to |
| word. | | | | children. There are many math games for kids that are |
| An example would be to say "find the 5th word of the | | | | in board game format. Some of these include Sorry, |
| 3rd paragraph on the 11th page after page 101." The | | | | Yahtzee, and Rummikub. There are also many board |
| children would then look for this word and write it | | | | games for kids that can be altered to include math |
| down. You can also work in math problems, such as | | | | skills. One example is to play Scrabble and give triple |
| "go to the page that is twenty-one less than | | | | the points for each math term spelled out, as well as |
| eighty-four and find the 7th word in the 2nd paragraph | | | | having the children keep a running score for every |
| from the end of the page." Increase the complexity for | | | | player. |
| older children and simplify for younger ones. | | | | Matching Math Cards |
| Picture Shapes | | | | This is a twist on Old Maid where the goal is to match |
| Math games for kids, especially the younger ones, can | | | | two cards by putting all of them face-down and turning |
| benefit from including pictures from books or coloring | | | | over two cards at a time on each turn to see if they |
| books. This game accomplishes this by using a picture | | | | match. This game is different than Old Maid because it |
| that has obvious shapes in it, such as balloons for | | | | is centered around math concepts. You start by |
| circles, doors for rectangles, etc., then seeing who can | | | | writing a math problem on an index card, using addition, |
| find the most shapes hidden. For older children you can | | | | subtraction, multiplication, or division. Then you make |
| include things such as octagons, cylinders, and cones. | | | | another math problem on the next index card that is |
| Taking Directions | | | | different but has the same answer. After you have |
| This is a great math game for a larger group of kids to | | | | made between twelve and twenty of these cards |
| play. The great thing about this game is that it shows | | | | you lay them face down. Whenever someone turns |
| us that math games for kids do not need to involve | | | | over two cards with the same answer they get to |
| sitting at a table with a pencil in hand. This is played | | | | keep them. The person with the most cards at the |
| outdoors and involves putting a mat, or other flat | | | | end of the game wins. |
| object, in the yard and pairing the kids up. One child in | | | | Learning math does not need to be dull and boring. It |
| each group wears a blind fold. The other child will give | | | | can be fun and challenging by using the above math |
| them directions. | | | | games for kids, where math becomes play instead of |
| The goal is for the child with the blind fold to follow the | | | | work. |
| directions so that he/she ends up on the mat. The trick | | | | |