If math is your student’s least favorite subject, everything from classes to homework to studying for quizzes and tests can be like pulling teeth. The good news is: making math fun to learn for kids isn’t a mystery, and these ideas are simple to implement at home with elementary, middle, or high school students.
Here are 25 fun activities that will spice up your child’s learning routine and can help build community in the classroom, plus students will reap the benefits of “gamified” learning: increased motivation, engagement, and pure enjoyment of learning just for the sake of it.
More good news: reluctant and enthusiastic mathematicians alike will get a kick out of gamified learning. Take a look with your student, and pick out a few to try this week at home, in math club, and among friends.
Fun Math Activities for Elementary & Middle School Students
1. Play Math Tic-Tac-Toe
This handy resource adapts the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game for a range of skills and grade levels. Best for elementary and middle school students, this activity can be a quick brain break or an all-out challenge with a prize at stake.
The game uses a standard Tic-Tac-Toe grid, but instead of simply marking spaces with X's and O's, students must solve math problems correctly to claim a square.
So, for example, each player takes turns attempting to solve a math problem provided by the teacher. A correct answer allows the player to place their mark (X or O) on the grid. If the answer is incorrect, they lose their turn, and the other player gets a chance to solve a new problem in a different square.
As you can see, the game promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork, while also reinforcing key math concepts in an enjoyable format. It encourages students to think strategically as they solve math problems and decide where to place their marks to achieve three in a row.
2. Try the Exponent Battle Card Game
As the website cleverly describes this game, it "raises math fun to a higher power”! Kids will enjoy playing against parents, siblings, or friends, and they’ll have an extra incentive to master the exponents they’ll need for science and math class.
Players take turns rolling dice to generate a base and exponent, calculating the resulting value to earn points, with the goal of achieving the highest score. This game combines learning with fun and competition, making it an effective tool for reinforcing exponent rules and enhancing mathematical fluency.
3. Explore math with Minecraft
Yes, you read that correctly! Minecraft has an incredible math educator’s guide that’s guaranteed to intrigue young gamers who could use an extra incentive to bolster their math skills.
The Math Subject Kit from Minecraft Education offers a collection of interactive, game-based learning activities to help students grasp a range of math concepts, from basic arithmetic to more advanced topics like algebra and geometry.
The kit includes ready-made lesson plans, challenges, and customizable worlds that align with educational "Common core" standards, providing teachers the tools needed to support different learning styles. Lessons encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, with topics like M.A.T.H. Mummy Mayhem and more.
Learn more about the incredible educational applications of Minecraft. And here is an expert tutorial if your student could use some extra help solving for x.
4. Roll Into a Math Dice Game
Foundational skills becomes a lot more enjoyable in game form, and students will strengthen their mental math muscles as they play.
These "16 Math Games You Can Play with Cards or Dice" provide a variety of simple and engaging activities that use everyday items like playing cards and dice to reinforce math skills. Suitable for different age groups, the games over concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and fractions.
Each game includes easy-to-follow instructions, requiring minimal setup and materials—making them ideal for homeschooling or supplementing classroom learning.
5. Slice Some Sandwich Fractions
Ideal for lunch time, kids will be extra-motivated to master proportions and fractions. Converting fractions into decimals, or vice versa? These tutorials will help your student convert the numbers in a trice.
For example, teachers (or parents) can use a real or paper pizza divided into equal slices to help children visualize and understand the concept of fractions. As in, f a pizza is cut into eight slices, taking two slices helps demonstrate that 2/8 (or 1/4) of the pizza has been taken.
Fractions can be intimidating, but by incorporating play into learning, the article aims to make fractions less scary and more accessible for young learners.
6. Play Math Jeopardy
Was there any day better than "Jeopardy" day in class when trying to learn something new?
Well, from averages to exponents to algebra, these pre-designed Jeopardy games will elevate study time and make review something to look forward to. Kids can compete with siblings or virtually with friends!
While the content is an important piece, it's really up to you—the key is the Jeopardy formatting that really engages the young (competitive) mind.
7. Pull Off an Order of Operations Heist
To crack the safe in this online game, students must correctly use the order of operations. They'll get 4 problems like the one pictured below, and are then asked to solve the different pieces until a final number is reached.
If they answer all 4 problems correctly, the safe opens to reveal the goods!
Kids will need to know this to solve math problems, but as they master the skill, a reward like pulling off a heist is a useful motivator.
Read More: When to Stop Studying for an Exam
8. Have a Math Board Game Night
If you’re looking to revamp your family’s board game collection, why not infuse some fun with math?
Proof!, Prime Climb, and Real World Math were each created by teachers and boast hundreds of rave reviews from parents.
9. Bring Math to the Grocery Store
Discounts, fractions, budgeting—there are so many mathematical applications when it comes to shopping for kids’ favorite foods. This activity can easily be done virtually through grocery delivery services or online shopping.
10. Battle in a Multiplication “War” Card Game
The game that has entertained kids for countless hours gets mathematical in this rapid fire edition of “War”.
11. Hit the Negative Number Piñata
Learning to add and subtract negative numbers can be tricky. So, to stave off student frustration, this game is a fun way to practice. Plus, this platform offers quick tutorial videos as well, just in case your student could use a refresher.
12. Chart a Graphed Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn’t love a great scavenger hunt? Not only would this make a great at-home (and outdoor) activity, kids will practice graphing coordinates and slopes in a hands-on way.
13. Shop for Algebraic Reasoning Sweets
A sweet introduction to algebraic thinking, this is one of many colorful games Math Playground offers. Players solve for the value of each candy in this online “sweet shop.”
14. Jump into Multiplication Hopscotch
Kinesthetic learning, or learning through movement, is a creative way to increase students’ engagement (and energy levels). If your student is learning to memorize multiplication tables and could use a break from paper and pencil, take a break outdoors with some chalk, and get moving!
15. Place Value with LEGO
Young learners mastering place value will benefit from the visual and kinesthetic aspects of exploring the concept with LEGO. This activity will work with just about any LEGO set you have on hand.
Fun Math Activities for High School Students
16. Launch into Space with Math & NASA
STEM worlds collide in NASA’s math series! This website offers activities for algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus paired with the innermost workings of space exploration.
17. Explore Statistics with Real-World Scenarios
This probably sounds familiar: when will I need to know this in real life? This range of expertly-designed activities provides valuable connections to practical scenarios that will satisfy even the most skeptical students.
18. Dance With a Transversal Geometry Game
Think of this fun activity as the antidote to the geometry doldrums. Kids can pick a soundtrack (or use one of the pre-made options), clear the room, and dance their way to knowing all about transversals.
Fun Math Activities for all Ages
19. Embark on an Interdisciplinary Project
Connecting new (and potentially dull) subject matter to an area of students’ interest is a well-known best practice in education. This resource provides some excellent interdisciplinary projects that blend math skills with art, history, fascinating places around the world, and more.
20. Set Sail with a Quadratic Equation Shipwreck
If your student is just getting the hang of quadratic equations (or perhaps brushing up for a quiz), this game is a creative way to practice.
21. Plan a Pi Day Extravaganza
Pi Day, March 14th, is just around the corner, so why not make it a celebration of this all-important number! Check out these elementary and middle school activities, fun games and puzzles for all ages, high school activities, and pi card race to make the day memorable and bring smiles back into the equation.
22. Solve a KenKen Puzzle
This game was called “the most addictive math game since Sudoku” by New York Times games editor, a winning testimonial if ever we’ve heard one. KenKen puzzles are a great way to practice mental math or do a warm up before tackling more complex problems.
23. Play Trigonometry Mini Golf
Upper middle school and high school students will enjoy seeing trigonometry in action in a familiar pastime and in other real-world applications of math concepts. Each activity is interactive and includes short videos and tutorials to give each game context.
24. Learn How to Locate People Lost at Sea
This investigation answers the question: how does the Coast Guard find and rescue those lost in the vast ocean? Turns out, statistical skills are key to these missions. Kids can learn about how they work and have another great answer to the question “why is math important”?
Have Fun with Math Today!
Let us know how your explorations turn out. Looking for a little extra help? iD Tech offers live online math tutoring to help your student succeed and thrive in the classroom.
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