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Copyright (C) 1995-2008 Ruth Ingulsrud

Math Games         Reading Games

These are math games that I observed or learned about while teaching with Eileen Keane at Birch Lane Elementary in Davis, California. Some of the games were altered and tweaked for my purposes.

Math Games

Speed War
*Each table gets one deck of cards; remove the jokers
*3 to 4 per table
*Put two cards down on the table at once
*The first student to call out the answer, (product or sum) gets to take both of the cards
*If there’s a tie, one card to each student or back in the deck

Variations: add the cards, or multiply, or call out the lower or higher number

Blitz Bag
Two class team; one student gets a problem to answer; if they get it right they get to go for the bonus points by tossing a beanbag onto a table; different points for diff. areas

Dollar Math
Students try to find words that are worth exactly one dollar
Graph paper helps them to write out the code; A=1 cent, B=2 Cents, etc.

Fly Hunter
Teacher puts a dot on a grid on the overhead; Call out two numbers; indicate whether the hunter has hit close or not; students clap their hands together when they have hit the fly. You can just start playing this game and continue until all students have caught on. Hunter can only walk straight along the x axis and shoot straight up along the y axis.

(Variation: A point on a x-y axis grid is preselected by the teacher. An equation for a line that intersects this point can be given as a clue and then students call out x-y coordinates to try to guess the exact point. The correct student is knighted offical flyhunter and given the flyswatter for the day.)

Idiot Poker
You have to figure out which card is being held against your forehead; you can look at the card in your other hand; the class calls out the product and the “idiot” has to figure out the other card.

Pick a Number from One to a Million
One student picks a number and others start to guess; the student writes above or below until the exact number is chosen. One student could pick name sticks while the other writes on the board; the class can see if the number they’re thinking of is higher or lower.


Highest or Lowest
Decide whether you want the highest or the lowest number; you have four blank spaces to fill; you have to decide where to put the number rolled

Group Geometry Challenge
Flashcards with quick problems or definition on them; team tries to get answers

Exit Interview
Ask the kids a curriculum related question as each of them leave the room at the end of the day. Ie. Pick one of the math terms and explain or define it; mean, mode, range, etc.

Prime Factorization
Write two numbers down that have some factors in common