Educational Math Games

by Liz
(UK)

Educational math games have made our homeschool math curriculum fun and easy!

When I first started homeschooling I realised that my children weren't the type to sit quietly and work through workbooks. I needed to find a way to make things fun for them - and games came to my rescue and became one of my favorite resources. Under the guise of playing, I have introduced my children to a whole range of mathematical concepts from multiplication and fractions, to learning problem solving and developing strategies.

Here are some of the educational math games we liked best.

Physical Math Games!

Math games don't have to involve sitting at a table! Homeschooling my boy has taught me that I need to add a lot of running about type activities into our curriculum! Here are some ways I turn Math into physical exercise!

1. Write out some numbers onto pieces of card and lay them around the room or yard. Use single digits for younger children and multiple digits per card for older ones. Now shout out some questions and get the children to run to the correct answer. So you might shout out '6 minus 4' and the children run to the no.2 card. As the children get older you can devise more complicated questions for them to solve!

2. Twister! Or a math variation of it. We made up a 'twister' type board by drawing on a sheet but you could chalk out circles in your yard and write numbers in the circles. Use several of the same small digit numbers. When you call out a number the children have to put at least two parts of their body onto circles that add up to the number you called. So for example, if you call out 12 – then they can touch circles containing 5+4+3. When you call out the next number, they must keep one limb in the same place – but reposition themselves to make the sum work. For example, if you next call out 8, then they may leave their foot on 4 and move their hand to a different 4. Get them to think up more complicated versions of this game to increase their math ability.

Online and PC Math Games

I am sure you already have your favorite online games. But two that get particular recommendations from us are :

1. Set

This is a great game for developing mathematical reasoning - it can be played online at http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.html or you can buy it as a card game.

2. Times Attack from Big Brainz (http://www.bigbrainz.com) This is great for learning multiplication tables. You can download a free trail version that will give you a great feel for whether your children like this game before you buy it.

Board Games

Lots of board games introduce math concepts - even if it is as simple as adding up values shown on a dice! I am sure you are now thinking about Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders - but there are a whole range of other games that your children will love.

For younger children, Bus Stop (Orchard Games) or Sum Swamp are a great introduction to both addition and subtraction. Pop to the Shops introduces money concepts and giving change. We also liked 'Inching along' which is a measuring game.

As my children got older we played games like 'Shut the Box' and Battleships - a great introduction to grids! Games like Mastermind and Reversi introduce strategy - and Equate is a great way to teach equations.

Another valuable resource has been '25 Super Cool Math Board Games'. This little book is packed with board games that cover concepts such as probability, decimals and measuring. It also inspired my children to go and create their own board games.

As with any math lesson, I found that rushing my children into new math concepts just frustrated them and made things miserable for everyone. So choose games that will reinforce what you think they already know – and perhaps stretch them a little. I am always willing to play 'baby' games with my children when they want to go back to an old favorite. You will often find they get other things from a game, or they will invent a way to make it more complex!

By varying your math games between online games, board games and physical games you will be amazed at how much they soak up while having fun.

I recently overheard my son tell his Grandma 'We don't do math lessons. I just seem to know it'! Luckily for me, Grandma is in on my educational math games secret!