Engage students in a race in which they must correctly order a given set of numbers. Write out a set of numbers on small squares of paper, jumble them up in a pile and give the piles to children. Children spread out the numbers and place them in the correct sequential order. The first child to arrange the numbers in the correct order wins the mathematical race.
Children grab a set of manipulatives and arrange them into an addition problem in this game. Fill a bag with small manipulatives in two colors; for example, blue and green jelly beans or red and yellow M&Ms. One student at a time reaches his hand inside the bag and pulls out a handful of the manipulatives. Upon pulling out the items, he must sort them into color-coded piles, write an addition problem and determine the sum of the problem. For example, if a child pulls out two blue and three green jelly beans, he would place the blue and green jelly beans into two piles, count the number of jelly beans in each pile, write the addition problem 2+3 and then count the total number of jelly beans to determine the sum. This noncompetitive game provides students with hands-on addition practice.
Have your students compete in a math pattern race. Provide a small group of students with a set of manipulatives. On your mark, students decide on a pattern to create and arrange the manipulatives into. The first student to arrange the manipulatives into a pattern wins the round. Continue playing, instructing children to create different patterns with each round of the game. The player who wins the most rounds of the pattern race wins the game.
Divide your class into two teams and randomly select a student from each team to come up to the board. State two numbers -- 20 and 22, for example -- the first student to write the number that comes between the two given numbers earns a point for his team. The two students at the board take their seats, and two new students replace them. Continue playing until all students have had a turn. The team that collects the most points wins.