Math games are a great way for kids (and adults, for that matter) to learn and practice math skills while having fun.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The Game of 24
The game itself is very simple. Each card has four numbers on it. Use all four numbers and any of the basic mathematical operators (+, -, /, x) to get to 24. For example, if the card had the numbers 7 5 3 4, there are multiple ways you can get to 24, including (7 – 5) x 3 x 4 and (7 – 4) x (5 + 3). In elementary school, there is a focus on computation – how can I add, multiply, divide, and subtract numbers. With the game of 24, you have to think about how numbers are composed. Kids quickly learn that if they can find combinations that equal 3 and 8, 2 and 12, or 4 and 6, they can use those combinations to equal 24. The other thing I love about the game is that you can play it by yourself. Just pull out a card and see how long it takes you to get to 24.
Set
Set is a card game consisting of 81 unique cards that vary in four features: color, shape, number of shapes, and shading. The goal is to find three cards where all of the four features are either all the same or all different. For example, if three cards have the same number of shapes, the same color, and are shaded the same way, but have three shapes, that would be a match. It’s a game that can be played by young kids to adults and teaches great pattern matching skills.
The Game of Dave
It’s my game, so I named it after me! The kids in my math camp begged to play this game every day. It’s played with a standard deck of cards which are equally divided between two players. Each card has a value (an ace is one, a two is two, and so on. Each face card is ten. Each player turns up a card (like the game of War). If the cards are both black, the first person to multiply the value of the two cards and call out the correct answer wins both cards. If the cards are both red, they have to add the cards. If one is red and the other black, they subtract the card with the smaller value from the one with the larger value. My twist was that if both cards were the same (two jacks, for example), the winner was the first one to shout out Dave! Feel free to to not use this rule or to substitute your own name.
Here’s the little secret about the Game of Dave – it’s basically doing flash cards, but they don’t know that because they’re just having fun trying to beat their friends at a game.
All of these games are great ways to improve math skills while having fun.