My Favorite Math Games

Connect four and flashcards

Materials: Flash cards & connect four game

Directions: Students will take turns drawing a flashcard from the pile, if the student answers the question correctly they get to add a checker into the connect four game, if the student answers the question wrong then they lose that turn. Whoever gets connect four wins! Students who are on different ability levels can use different flash cards (mult., division, add., sub.), but can play with whoever!

Multiplication or adding board game

Materials: Giant playing cards, large foam dice, counters

Directions: Set up playing cards in a spiral (mocking a board game), then have students choose a counter. Students will roll a dice and multiply (or add) the number on the card by whatever number is on the dice. If students answer correctly then they can stay on that card. First one to the end wins!

Math Ball

Materials: Beach ball, sharpie

Set up/ Directions: Write math facts on the ball; I did this with multiplication and subtraction. Toss around to students as a warm up activity. My class and I established the rules that the fact that was under your right hand under your thumb was the fact you answered! I always have the students toss the ball to me in between students to control the rowdiness of throwing a ball around the classroom.