Let’s Get Moving with Math!
Active math games are just what you need to beat the January blues! Kids who just can’t sit still will have so much fun, they won’t even realize they’re learning important math concepts along the way. Many of these math games can be customized to teach a variety of math skills, so pick a few to try. Your kids will be begging for more math time!
Chalk One Up for Math Facts
Chalk out a grid of squares that has the answers to whatever set of math flashcards you’re currently working with. Players face off, one on each side of the board. Show the flashcard, and kids race to be the first to jump to the correct square with both feet inside the lines. This can be adapted to one player, by allowing them to
‘beat the clock’ and timing their progress.
Flashcard Facts Race
Tape a series of flashcards to the floor and challenge kids to see who can correctly make their way from start to finish the fastest. The kids step on a card and write the answer down, but they have to get it right before they move on. Kids can race side by side, or work independently to beat their own best time.
Life-Sized Number Line
Chalk a giant number line on the driveway or sidewalk. Depending on the age of the child, you can count by 1’s, 5’s, 10’s, 100’s, etc. You are only limited by your imagination for practicing math! Add, subtract, multiply or divide to find the target number. An additional challenge is to chalk out a number line from 0 to 1 and find fractions on the line!
Dance Dance Revolution
Create a number mat, as shown, or chalk one up outside. Make sure the number mat is not too slippery! Flash an equation with an answer between 10 and 99. Kids figure out the answer and jump to put their left foot on the correct tens place, right foot on the ones. They’ll be dancing and spinning as they learn!
Uno Action Math Game
Grab your UNO deck and get ready to move! Assign each card color a movement (hop, touch toes, jumping jacks, squats, spins, etc.). As kids draw the cards, everyone completes the movement the correct number of times. Skip and Reverse work as usual, but anyone who gets Draw Two has to draw two more cards and complete the actions on their own while others cheer them on.