#  >> K-12 >> Elementary School

Fun Games to Practice Math Facts

Children learn best when participating in hands-on and interactive methods of learning. Integrate entertaining math games to practice answering basic mathematical equations in lieu of the more tedious methods consisting of fact memorization. Make use of existing classroom math manipulatives with new and inventive math fact games that engage each child.
  1. Operations Bingo

    • Bingo is an effective way to practice basic math facts.

      Sketch your own Bingo card or download a preexisting one from the Internet. Select 24 of the student-learned and practiced math facts. Instruct students to write the answers randomly in the Bingo squares, one number answer in each. The teacher reads aloud the mathematical equation, giving each student time to mentally figure the answer to the problem and mark his Bingo card with a counter. The first student to create a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line of five math fact answers is the winner.

    Math Fact Disciplinary System

    • Reinforce addition and subtraction with play money and a disciplinary game.

      Integrate a year-long math fact game that coincides with disciplinary techniques used in the classroom. When students are caught helping one another without being asked and performing classroom duties beyond expectations, each is rewarded with play money. Disciplinary problems result in students paying fines with fake checks. Each student keeps an accurate record of personal accounts through addition and subtraction of monetary amounts. Require the class to pay individual taxes each month and give the amount back at the end of the year. At the end of the year, students with funding remaining in the accounts are able to purchase things such as free homework passes and extra recess minutes.

    Math War

    • Use standard playing cards in a math facts game.

      Divide a common deck of playing cards between two students to play a math fact war game. Each child holds their half of the deck without looking at it. Prior to beginning the game, decide on a math operation such as addition, subtraction or multiplication. At the same time, the pair of students flips one card over each and uses the selected operation to find the answer from the card numbers. For example, if the students flip over a two and a seven, the operation being multiplication, the first child to call out "14" takes both of the cards for his personal pile. The student with the most cards when all cards have been dealt is the winner. Face cards can be designated as worth "10" or removed from the deck, and the Ace is "1."

    Online Math Games

    • Encourage children to use the Internet to practice math facts in game form.

      Utilize the Internet during school computer lab or free time, if applicable. Various children's websites, including Cool Math 4 Kids, Fun Brain and Cool Math, contain applicable choices for all grade levels learning and practicing basic math facts. Children using the internet should be supervised, and parental blocks through the Internet service provider should be set to avoid an inappropriate situation. Not only do students reinforce math operations but practice using the computer effectively.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved