Finding the sum is one of the first mathematical skills learned. Practice with adding can turn into a fun game using household objects like an empty egg carton, a pair of dice, and 12 little candies such as Skittles or jellybeans. First, have the kids label each section from the egg carton with an asterisk and the numbers two through 12. Next, have each child roll a pair of dice and add the numbers together. Put a piece of candy in the section of the egg carton that is labeled with the same number as their answer; the asterisk can be filled with any duplicate answer. This is repeated until each section is filled with candy. The winner is the child who fills up her egg carton first.
Memorization of multiplication facts is crucial to success in higher mathematical classes. To play a game that promotes constant repetition of this, you only need a large white board and markers. Begin by making two large circles on the board, leaving enough room between them for children to write. Around the inside of each circle, write the numbers zero through 10 in no particular order. (It's best to make both circles different.) Next, put one child at each circle with pen in hand. Now call out a number for the kids to write in the middle of the circle and say, "Go." Students will multiply the given number by each of the factors in the circle and write the answer around the outside. Whoever gets all of the answers correct first is the winner.
Written communication is important within any environment. Practicing to spell correctly helps individuals with efficiency in this area. A game that can be played to help this is a variety of Tic-Tac-Toe. First, draw a large tic-tac-toe board. In each of the empty squares, write a spelling word using dashes in place of two or three of the letters. As kids take turns, they will fill in one missing letter. When they complete a word correctly, they may place an X or an O in the square. The winner is the first child with three in a row.
Reading is necessary not only in the context of school, but can be a source of relief and relaxation at home. Strengthening this skill helps students live a well-rounded life. A sentence matching game is an excellent opportunity to develop this. Start by selecting a coloring book or story book with a picture and a sentence on each page, for each child. Next, make copies from four or five pages of each book. Carefully cut the words off of the page doing your best to make sure the cut is as straight as possible. Mix up the words and pictures for each child. Finally, have students match the correct sentences to each picture as quickly as possible. The child with all of the pages correct first is the winner.