Math Activities
Here are a few games you can play at home with your child:
CARD GAMES
Eliminate the face cards, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. The Aces are considered to be a zero.
1. Divide the deck in half. On the count of three, each player turns over his/her top card. The first player to add or multiply the two numbers correctly, keeps the cards. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game.
2. Divide the deck between the number of players. Each player selects their top 2-6 cards, depending on grade level. Using these cards, make your largest number possible. The winner is the one with the largest number. Place your cards back in your deck. Keep tallies as to who the winner is. You can also play this game looking for the smallest number.
3. Divide the deck in half. Each player turns over their top two cards. These two digit numbers are multiplied. You will need a pencil and paper or a white board. The first player to come up with the correct answer is the winner. A “judge” can be a person with a calculator to check for correct answers.
4. One player chooses two – three cards and organizes them into a 2 or 3 digit number. This number will be divided by the number that is rolled by a dice. The first person with the correct answer is the winner.
5. Shuffle the cards and divide the deck in half. Each player turns over 2 cards and subtracts the smaller number from the larger number. The player with the largest difference wins the round and takes all of the cards.
6. Take the top card from the deck and turn it over. This is the target number. Each player then takes 5 cards. Try to name the target number by using at least 2 of the 5 cards. You can add, subtract, multiply, or divide. A card can be used only once. If you can name the target number, take the cards you used and the target number card. Then replace the cards you used by drawing from the top of the deck. Draw a new target number from the top of the deck.
CHECKERBOARD GAME
Write addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts on the red squares of a checkerboard. Play a typical game, using the red squares. In order to move to a new space, you must give the correct answer to the basic fact written on the square. When you jump an opponent, you must also give the correct answer to the square they are on.
DICE GAMES
1. Roll two or three dice and add or multiply the numbers. Keep a running total to see who can reach fifty or one hundred first.
2. Start at one hundred. Roll the dice and subtract the number total. First player to get to zero wins!
3. If you can find blank dice, put a Q for quarter (2 sides), D for dime, N for nickel, and P for penny (2 sides) on the 6 sides. Using one or 2, depending on your child’s level, roll 3-5 times and add the amount of money that comes up. Keep a running total. The winner is the one with the most money!
OTHER GAMES
Practice telling time, counting out a collection of money and bills, as well as using flashcards, will help to strengthen your child’s basic facts. You will notice a difference by simply taking 15-20 minutes each day to practice. This can take place in the car, during TV commercials, dinner time, or right before bedtime. Make it part of your family routine.
CARD GAMES
Eliminate the face cards, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. The Aces are considered to be a zero.
1. Divide the deck in half. On the count of three, each player turns over his/her top card. The first player to add or multiply the two numbers correctly, keeps the cards. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game.
2. Divide the deck between the number of players. Each player selects their top 2-6 cards, depending on grade level. Using these cards, make your largest number possible. The winner is the one with the largest number. Place your cards back in your deck. Keep tallies as to who the winner is. You can also play this game looking for the smallest number.
3. Divide the deck in half. Each player turns over their top two cards. These two digit numbers are multiplied. You will need a pencil and paper or a white board. The first player to come up with the correct answer is the winner. A “judge” can be a person with a calculator to check for correct answers.
4. One player chooses two – three cards and organizes them into a 2 or 3 digit number. This number will be divided by the number that is rolled by a dice. The first person with the correct answer is the winner.
5. Shuffle the cards and divide the deck in half. Each player turns over 2 cards and subtracts the smaller number from the larger number. The player with the largest difference wins the round and takes all of the cards.
6. Take the top card from the deck and turn it over. This is the target number. Each player then takes 5 cards. Try to name the target number by using at least 2 of the 5 cards. You can add, subtract, multiply, or divide. A card can be used only once. If you can name the target number, take the cards you used and the target number card. Then replace the cards you used by drawing from the top of the deck. Draw a new target number from the top of the deck.
CHECKERBOARD GAME
Write addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts on the red squares of a checkerboard. Play a typical game, using the red squares. In order to move to a new space, you must give the correct answer to the basic fact written on the square. When you jump an opponent, you must also give the correct answer to the square they are on.
DICE GAMES
1. Roll two or three dice and add or multiply the numbers. Keep a running total to see who can reach fifty or one hundred first.
2. Start at one hundred. Roll the dice and subtract the number total. First player to get to zero wins!
3. If you can find blank dice, put a Q for quarter (2 sides), D for dime, N for nickel, and P for penny (2 sides) on the 6 sides. Using one or 2, depending on your child’s level, roll 3-5 times and add the amount of money that comes up. Keep a running total. The winner is the one with the most money!
OTHER GAMES
Practice telling time, counting out a collection of money and bills, as well as using flashcards, will help to strengthen your child’s basic facts. You will notice a difference by simply taking 15-20 minutes each day to practice. This can take place in the car, during TV commercials, dinner time, or right before bedtime. Make it part of your family routine.
