Easy To Make Math Game For Practicing Math Facts

I am so excited to share this little game with you because it is a Pinterest inspired activity that I actually got around to making instead of just pinning!  I know I'm not the only one who pins something with the best intentions, but somehow never uses it.

Anyway, I ran across this pin from Primarily Speaking. I knew it would be a great way for my kiddos to practice their addition and multiplication facts.  My students always love playing games and I love finding ways for them to get better at their math facts.  Us teachers need to be sneaky sometimes!

I found these 5 gallon paint stir sticks at Wal-Mart for 38 cents.  I grabbed four of them to start.

 

Then using a sharpie, I sectioned off parts and numbered each one.  The above one is an addition version.  I used the red/yellow disks instead of the linking cubes because I happen to have a lot more of these (just in case the kiddos manage to lose one or two). Each student picks a color and then lines up their pieces around the paint stick.

The students take turns rolling the dice.  They find the sum (if they are using the addition version) or product (with the multiplication version) and then take their opponent's piece away from that number.  The object of the game is to take as many pieces of the other player's pieces as you can.  If they roll a number that has already been removed, they simply lost that turn and it is the next player's turn.

 

They absolutely loved the game and begged to play all week long!  You can easily modify this game for greater or less challenge by changing the numbers or the amount of dice you use.  You could even make a division or subtraction version if you want.  Easy, cheap, and fun!

For more ideas like this, be sure to follow my Pinterest Boards to see what other things I have pinned!

Poppin' Place Value Freebie

 

If you are looking for a way to review place value with your students, you will love this adorable Poppin' Place Value I Have Who Has Game. I Have Who... Has? games  are a great whole group activity that can be used for review, test prep, fluency, listening skills, and mental math.

This set includes 30 cards that focus on place value with an adorable bubble gum - poppin' theme. Answer key is included. Your students will love practicing place value with this fun game! 

You can download this freebie here.

Minecraft Multiplication Fun

I don't know about your students, but mine are definitely crazy for all things Minecraft.  They barrage me all day with comments about videos they watch and things they have built.  Capitalizing on the Minecraft mania in my classroom, I made this fun little game to get them to practice their multiplication facts.

We played today, and just as I hoped, they went mining crazy!  

The object of the game is to earn as many cards as you can during the game.  To earn a card you answer the multiplication fact on it. If you get it right, you get to keep it, if not it goes back in.  BUT... there are a few special cards in there that can really change the game!

Some intense thinking going on!

Laughter and smiles during math time??? Love it!

Some close-ups of the cards:

I LOVE the looks on the faces of the kiddos in the background when they saw we were playing a Minecraft game!  If you want your students to be as excited about math fact practice as mine were, you can find this product at my TpT store using the link below.

Multiplication Mining Madness

Water Fight - Or How to Get Students to Practice Their Math Facts the Last Few Weeks of School

If I had to pick one thing that almost all of my students need to practice more it would be math facts!  They do not want to take the time to memorize them, so I get sneaky and make it fun - a game really.  I try to have a Kaboom type center available for my students at all times to practice their facts.  I change up the theme throughout the year to keep it fresh and exciting.  My latest game centers around water balloons - because what kid doesn't LOVE water balloons this time of year?

I took some pictures of my students playing the game and I had to share a ton of them because the expressions on their faces are priceless!  You can tell they are having a great time... but did they realize how hard they were working?

They pick a card and answer the fact on it.  If they get it correct, they get to keep the card.  They try to have the most cards by the time the timer goes off  (or I say the game is over).

I try to put the cards into containers that match the theme for extra fun ... I used a pail and shovel for this one.  (We had quite the discussion about the words bucket and pail being synonyms).

Oh no!  The dreaded splash balloon means they lose all of their cards!

If you would like to try this fun game with your class you can find them at the links below:

Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

Easter Egg Showdown - Reviewing Division Game

This week I got a newsletter from Laura Candler which reminded me of an activity that I hadn't done in quite awhile.  Showdown!  I didn't even realize how long it had been until I pulled out my eggs...

Yep - that was from 7th grade math.  I haven't taught 7th grade in almost 2 years!

Well luckily Laura has division  problems in her Easter Egg Showdown which was a perfect review for my 4th graders.

When they came in from lunch, this is what they saw.

They were so excited to see Easter Eggs on their desks.  The best part?  They weren't even disappointed when they found out they were filled with math problems!

Each table had a team captain who opened the egg and pulled out the problem.  They read it out loud (a great way to practice since they like to reverse the divisor and the dividend when reading them) and placed them on the table for all to see.  Each team member answered the problem on their board and placed them face down when finished.  The captain called, "Showdown" and they shared their answers.  When they finished all of their eggs, they traded eggs with another team (which saved me copies!).

They had a blast!