Students will use basic math skills by computing their own scores. Draw a large circle in the center of a piece of poster board and a smaller circle inside of it. Label the small circle with a plus one, the large circle with a plus one, and the area outside the circle with a minus two. Place the poster board on the floor and have the children line up behind it. Give each child 10 paper clips and instruct the children to toss the paper clips onto the board. Each child uses multiplication, addition and subtraction to calculate his score and then returns to the back of the line when his turn is done. The child with the highest score wins.
The multiplication showdown allows children time to practice their times tables. Split the children up into pairs and give each pair a deck of cards with the jokers, kings, queens and jacks removed. Instruct the children to shuffle and deal the cards equally between themselves. Each child then draws two cards at a time and places them face up on the table, desk or floor. The children multiply the numbers on the cards they have drawn, and the child whose answer is greater wins the round. The winner gets to keep the four cards and add them to her pile. The first child to run out of cards loses the game.
This game works well in the classroom or at home. Set up nine empty 2-liter pop bottles on the floor in a triangular formation. Line the children up and give the first one a small beach ball or dodge ball. Instruct the student to roll the ball across the floor to knock the pins down. The child will then form a subtraction problem from the results and write it down on a piece of paper. If the child knocks down three pins, his subtraction problem would be nine minus three equals six. Tell the child to return to the back of the line and set the pins back up in their original position for the next child.
The speed math worksheet activity will give children the opportunity to practice basic math skills while competing against their classmates. Print out worksheets containing various multiplication, addition and subtraction problems. Pass out a worksheet to each student and instruct the students to keep the worksheets facedown on their desks. Return to the front of the room and instruct the children to begin. Give the children two minutes to complete as many math problems as they can. After the time is up, have the students check their answers and share how many they completed correctly. Repeat this game as many times as desired.