All children like to hunt for treasure, and leaders can create a game that can be personalized for a child's math level. Create clues for a child to go from place to place in the room, and incorporate math facts to figure out the clue. For instance, a child in kindergarten may need to count to the fifth block to find the next clue, but a third grader could be more challenged, such as "Find the 23rd page after page 101 in a book about a horse for the next clue."
This classic game is great for competitive kids who need to work on math facts. Learn with Math Games suggests gathering children around a table or in a circle and having a set of flashcards available. Leaders can use addition, subtraction, multiplication or division facts. One challenger stands behind another student and the leader holds up a card. Whoever says the correct answer first wins the round and stands behind the next person in the circle. The loser sits down wherever he lost. The person who makes it around the circle (at one time or through a series of turns) to his original seat is the winner.
A supply of games will keep children entertained, and many of them use math skills. UNO will help young children learn numbers and counting. Monopoly Junior can help students with counting money. Children will have to use their addition facts to keep track of points in games like Yahtzee or Scrabble. If students need to work on specific skills, leaders can create their own board games to incorporate them, or replace some of the cards in an already-made game with some math questions.
Children always enjoy playing Bingo for the potential to win a prize, but one of the advantages of this game is the ability to tailor it to specific math skills. Create boards with math fact answers on them (make multiple sets for different levels). Instead of just calling out numbers, call out math facts, and children will have to figure out the answer and see if they have that number on their board. A child who gets a full row filled calls out "Bingo!" and wins a small prize.
According to Multiplication.com, Flip-Up is a card game designed for two players. Remove Jokers and face cards from a deck of cards, and split the deck between the players. Players each flip their top card over and they must multiply the two numbers. The first person to say the answer gets to keep the cards if she is correct, but if the answer is wrong, the other player gets the cards. The player with the most cards at the end of the time allotted is the winner. This game can also be used with addition facts.