Guided Math Games

Math Games:

I think the key is to have enough games so that the kids do not get bored at this station.  It is important to also have a variety of math skills for them to practice.  I try to supply games that fit in with our current math topic, although sometimes that is easier said than done.

You can rotate the game each day you have math stations or rotate the game once a week.  I personally rotate the game each day.  I think it leads to less boredom, which leads to less off task behavior.  At the beginning of the math stations I will announce which game is open for that day.  Sometimes I may say, "Today you may play any addition/subtraction game or multiplication."  I choose a math theme and they can have a choice within that theme.  It is a good idea to have a posted list of every game that is available for kids to choose and which math category it goes under. Once a week I have Choice day.  During this day students may choose what game they want to play.

Now as most teachers know, you cannot just let the kids start the math game station without setting rules, guidelines and practicing correct station behaviors.  You also have to teach the kids how to play the games.  I will have a post that highlights how I set this up at the beginning of the year (link to follow).

Starting up a math game station does not mean you have to go out and spent a lot of money on games.  In fact there are a lot of math games you can create yourself using simple materials such as dice.  Here are some links to some great math dice games.  There is enough here to teach quite a few different games.  This is something that I would teach at the beginning of the school year.  They are quick, simple games to learn and play.

Math Dice Games

Marilyn Burns Math Dice Games

More Dice Games

Here are some links to different math dice you can purchase for relatively low prices through Amazon.  Also remember to check Ebay, sometimes you can get great deals there.

MATH DICE

Think Fun Math Dice

CLASSROOM DICE SET

Sequence Dice

Farkle The Classic Dice-Rolling, Risk-Taking Game

Set of 5 Dice - 6 Sided Math Operators - White and Blue

My math game station consists of mainly math board games. Over the last several years I have acquired quite a variety of different board games. I have been very fortunate to receive several grants to purchase math materials through DonorsChoose. I have also used classroom money and dipped into just a little bit into my own pocket to purchase games.

One year, when I did dip into my own pocket, I invested in Frog Math.  They have a variety of different levels and one box set comes with numerous math category game cards.  Check it out...

Frog Math Game Set

Also LakeShore Learning has a great variety of math games.  DonorsChoose uses LakeShore as one of their vendors, so I was able to get my math games through LakeShore.

LakeShore Learning


Of course students have their tried and true favorites...

The Allowance Game:  The kids can't get enough of this game!!  Every year, it is a hands down class favorite.  During choice day, students always choose this one.  Of course I have two of these on hand.  I was very fortunate to find one at a garage sale on summer!  You can also find this for cheaper through LakeShore Learning.

I added this one this school year and it quickly became a favorite.  Are you familiar with the original version of Sequence?  If so, this is just like the original version, however it has addition and subtraction problems for the kids to solve.  They put their chips down on the answer.  I would also highly recommend getting the original sequence as a choice for math game station.  Remember that math is also under the realm of logic, Sequence is great for building logic skills.

Another game that fits under the logic category.  I usually make this one available during free choice day.

Dice games are the easiest math games to set up.  Dice games are great because you can teach games that focus on basic fact skills.

Here are several images of other games that I have in my classroom.