Math Games
From LoveToKnow Kids
Math games can be an invaluable resource in helping children understand difficult math concepts. Children may become frustrated and angry when they don't understand mathematics. To make learning easier and keep their interest, try putting some fun into math through games and play.
Math Board Games
Turn a family game night or an after school activity into a fun learning session with math board games. Math learning games can be found at some department stores, teaching stores, select specialty game and education stores, and many online retailers.
Check out some of the following math board games:
- Chekkers Math Game: For ages 2 - 6. Based on the family favorite Checkers, this math-oriented version requires math concepts or problems in addition to strategic play. Several levels of play allow this game to grow with your child.
- Pie in the Sky: For ages 7-9, 2 to 4 players. A game that focuses on learning fractions through fun. The board has different types of pies divided into pieces. Each player receives pie "toppings" as their game pieces. Each player spins and must put his or her topping on the correct fraction (pie). You can stack your topping on another player's pies if you spin the same fraction to keep them from winning. The player that gets three marked pies in a row wins.
- Money Bags: For ages 7-9, 2 to 4 players. A game designed to reinforce the concepts of money equivalency, the game starts with each player getting a certain amount of play money. As the game progresses, each player may lose or gain money by spinning and landing on different spaces. Some spaces require you to contribute to the money pot, and if you land on the moneybags space, you win the kitty. The player with the most money at the end of the game is the winner.
- Equate: For ages 8 and over, 2 to 4 players. A crossword-style game, players must create equations and place them on the board with number tiles. Equations receive varying point levels, and the player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.
Online Math Games
Online kids games can provide more than just fun. There are a variety of Websites that offer fun and educational games to teach and reinforce math skills. Always check out a Website yourself before allowing your children to play computer games, or better yet, play with your children.
- Counton.org offers a large variety of math games. No apparent ads, requires Java.
- Quizhub.com has many different education games, including math. Games and quizzes for various ages, K-12, quizzes require flash player. No apparent ads.
- Cyberchase, based off the popular PBS kids show, provides plenty of fun, interactive math fun.
- Maggie's Earth Adventures has math, language arts, and geography games as well as parent pages. Requires flash player. No apparent ads.
- Learning Planet offers math-based and other educational games for ages pre-K through grade 6. Site contains some ads.
Software
Another way to get learning games on to your computer is through math-oriented CD-Rom games. Popular math games for the computer include:
- Math Blaster
- Jumpstart Math
- Leapfrog Math Circus
- Mighty Math series
- Cluefinders series
- Reader Rabbit's Math
- Arthur's Math Games
- Zoombini's math series
Making Your Own Math-Oriented Games
You don't have to purchase games to have fun with math. Since math is all around us, use opportunities in daily life to teach your child about math. You can also create your own math games using coins, counters such as blocks or bingo chips, and paper and pencil.
An easy game that never gets old and can be adapted to various age levels is "Race the Clock Math." You'll need some index cards, markers, and a timer or clock. Put age-appropriate facts on each index cards and see how many the child can get right before the timer goes off. You can use simple number recognition for young children, or multiplication and division problems for older children.
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