fun math problem solving activities

9 Fun And Engaging Math Problem Solving Activities Your Students Will Enjoy

Are you looking for math problem solving activities that are fun and engaging? Then continue reading on! I will be sharing with you 9 fun math problem solving activities that you can use in your class.  

What are mathematics problem-solving activities?

According to the National Council Of Teachers Of Mathematics, Mathematics problem solving refers to mathematical tasks that have the potential to provide intellectual challenges for enhancing students’ mathematical understanding and development. 

Problem-solving is a skill that we try to teach to our students in math class. A lot of times we will use word problems as problem-solving tasks. But there are actually more activities that do not involve story problems. 

You can use these problem-solving activities as a lesson themselves, math starters, review, fast finishers, with small groups or a large group.  

9 Fun Math Problem Solving Activities

Students often dread doing math word problems and tasks that are challenging. And forcing them down their throat is not the long-term solution as it can lead to math anxiety.

There must be a better way!

And the solution is…to find a fun way to tackle them!

Here is a list of 9 different ways to do problem-solving tasks. And I even gave some educational materials that you can grab if you are interested to use them in your class.

• Online Word Problems Practice
• Short Video
• Non-Routine Word Problems
• Hands-On Math Problem Solving Activities
• Math Puzzles
• Mystery Puzzles
• Scavenger Hunt
• Digital Treasure Hunt
• Escape Room

1) Online Word Problems Practice

Children love to go online. So by giving them a chance to play with the tablet or computer, they will already be more interested in the task on hand than usual. 

Consider the digital interactive task cards available on the Boom Learning site. They are often self-checking and require no preparation. This means they do not require much time from you and students can accomplish the mathematical practice independently.  

Furthermore, if you assign the Boom Cards to students, you can look through the reports of your student’s progress and results.   

These digital versions of word problems not only add a bit more fun to them but also help to develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

2) Short Video

Video provides a multisensory experience that helps to capture students’ attention. It is also great for memory retention and can enhance their learning experience. 

A) Show short videos that help them build their problem-solving skills. 

For example, matchstick puzzle examples. 

Related read: 3 Free Math Puzzles With Answer For You To Enjoy This Summer

B) Show them videos that teach them math skills or review math skills. 

This can be just a short review or a math hook for more math practice. 

Related read: 5 Hooks For Math Lessons That Will Engage Your Students Easily & Quickly

C) Show them a real-life problem and ask them to solve it using math.

Linking math to a real-life issue can always help to make math lessons more exciting. 

You can show them an existing issue and let them brainstorm on how to solve them. How can we use our math knowledge or other knowledge to solve it? (Sounds familiar? Consider project-based learning.)

Or you can show how real-life problems were solved due to our knowledge of math. Will they be the next mathematicians that make an impact on the world? 

3) Non-Routine Word Problems

What is more challenging and interesting than word problems? It’s non-routine word problems! 

They can be tricky and require different problem-solving strategies than the usual problem-solving approach. 

It requires some critical thinking to get to the correct answer. Sometimes there may also be different solutions to these challenging problems.

4) Hands-On Math Problem Solving Activities

By incorporating hands-on activities with word problems, word problems look more attractive now! 

Furthermore, kinesthetic learners will benefit greatly from math craft or math craftivity. Hands-on activities are engaging. 

Be aware of the suitability of the craft as young children or older students may require different sets of activities. One way to differentiate is by grade level. 

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5) Math Puzzles

There are many types of math puzzles. For example, logic puzzles, sudoku puzzles, and magic squares.

These math puzzles can help build logical reasoning. 

6) Mystery Puzzles

Students get to practice rigorous word problems and develop a deep conceptual understanding with these mystery puzzles!  

Students now have to solve word problems to know which are the correct clues. 

Furthermore, these worksheets are differentiated which means students of different standards can also utilize them. There are different culprits for the different sets which means students can do all of them if needed. 

7) Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are great movement activities for students. However, to incorporate word problems with a scavenger hunt, I would prefer to use them for lower elementary students. 

That’s because word problems for lower grades are usually shorter and require less time to solve. 

After all, if students have to stand for very long at a spot, it lowers the fun factors of the scavenger hunts.   

8) Digital Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunt is similar to a scavenger hunt. But what I have in mind for you is a digital treasure hunt that requires students to solve word problems prior to “digging” the spot. 

These digital versions of treasure hunting help you save some hassle but still engage students. 

9) Escape Room

Escape room is great for practicing problem solving skills as it usually includes a variety of problems and puzzles. The types of problems will vary, depending on the creator. So choose the ones that suit your students’ needs. 

Some elaborate escape rooms let students practice decision-making skills, collaboration skills, spatial reasoning, logical reasoning, deductive reasoning, and/or a variety of mathematical knowledge. 

Of course, we can always stick to the less fussy way and make students solve logic problems.

Final Thoughts

To make math problem-solving activity fun and engaging, the questions must be either interesting enough or within the student’s ability. 

The fun part of any puzzle is always those that we can solve if we think harder or out of the box. 

If it is too hard, students will get discouraged very soon and all of us will not meet our goals.

However, we also need to develop students’ growth mindset so that even if they can’t solve complex tasks, they will have the correct mindset facing their “failure”.

Hopefully, by using these ideas and tips mentioned above, your class will start looking forward to problem-solving activities. And we can also start looking forward to an increase in their math abilities and test scores! 

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25 Fun Math Problems For Elementary And Middle School (From Easy To Very Hard!)

Fun math problems and brainteasers are loved by mathematicians; they provide an opportunity to apply mathematical knowledge, logic, and problem-solving skills all at once.

In this article, we’ve compiled 25 fun math problems and brainteasers covering various topics and question types. They’re aimed at students in upper elementary (3rd-5th grade) and middle school (6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade). We’ve categorized them as:

How should teachers use these math problems?

Teachers could make use of these math problem solving questions in a number of ways. They can:

• incorporate the questions into a relevant math lesson.
• set tasks at the beginning of lessons.
• break up or extend a math worksheet.
• keep students thinking mathematically after the main lesson has finished.

Some are based on real life or historical math problems, and some include ‘bonus’ math questions to help extend the problem-solving fun! As you read through these problems, think about how you could adjust them to be relevant to your students and their grade level or to practice different math skills. 

These math problems can also be used as introductory puzzles for math games such as those introduced at the following links:

• Math games for grade 4
• Middle school math games

25 Fun Math Problems

Engage your elementary and middle school students with these fun math problems, suitable for individuals, pairs and small groups! Includes a range of challenge levels to engage all learners.

Math word problems

1. home on time – easy .

Type: Elapsed time, Number, Addition

A movie theater screening starts at 2:35 pm. The movie lasts for 2 hours, 32 minutes after 23 minutes of previews. It takes 20 minutes to get home from the movie theater. What time should you tell your family that you’ll be home?

Answer: 5:50 pm

2. A nugget of truth – mixed

Type: Multiplication Facts, Multiplication, Multiples, Factors, Problem-Solving 

Chicken nuggets come in boxes of 6, 9 or 20, so you can’t order 7 chicken nuggets. How many other impossible quantities can you find (not including fractions or decimals)?

Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, or 43

There is actually a theorem which can be used to prove that every integer quantity greater than 43 can be ordered.

3. A pet problem – mixed

Type: Number, Problem Solving, Forming and Solving Equations, Simultaneous Equations, Algebra

Eight of my pets aren’t dogs, five aren’t rabbits, and seven aren’t cats. How many pets do I have?

Answer: 10 pets (5 rabbits, 3 cats, 2 dogs)

Looking for more word problems, solutions and explanations? Read our article on word problems for elementary school.

4. the price of things – mixed.

Type: lateral thinking problem

A mouse costs $10, a bee costs $15, and a spider costs $20. Based on this, how much does a duck cost?

Answer: $5 ($2.50 per leg)

Math puzzles

5. a dicey math challenge – easy.

Type: Place value, number, addition, problem-solving

Roll three 6 sided dice to generate three place value digits. What’s the biggest number you can make out of these digits? What’s the smallest number you can make?

Add these two numbers together. What do you get?

Answer: If the digits are the same, the maximum is 666 and the minimum is 111. Then, if you add the numbers together, 666 + 111 = 777. If the digits are different, the maximum is 654 and the minimum is 456. Then, if you add the numbers together, 654 + 456 = 1,110.

Bonus: Who got a different result? Why?

6. PIN problem solving – mixed

Type: Logic, problem solving, reasoning

I’ve forgotten my PIN. Six incorrect attempts locks my account: I’ve used five! Two digits are displayed after each unsuccessful attempt: “2, 0” means 2 digits from that guess are in the PIN, but 0 are in the right place. No two digits in my PIN are the same.

What should my sixth attempt be?

Answer: 6347

7. So many birds – mixed

Type: Triangular Numbers, Sequences, Number, Problem Solving

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave me one gift. On the second day they gave me another pair of gifts plus a copy of what they gave me on day one. On day 3, they gave me three new gifts, plus another copy of everything they’d already given me. If they keep this up, how many gifts will I have after twelve days?

Answer: 364

Bonus: This could be calculated as 1 + (1 + 2) + (1 + 2 + 3) + … but is there an easier way? What percentage of my gifts do I receive on each day?

8. I 8 sum math questions – mixed

Type: Number, Place Value, Addition, Problem Solving, Reasoning

Using only addition and the digit 8, can you make 1,000? You can put 8s together to make 88, for example.

Answer: 888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000 Bonus: Which other digits allow you to get 1,000 in this way?

Fraction problems

4 friends entered a math quiz. One answered \frac {1}{5} of the math questions, one answered \frac {1}{10} , one answered \frac{1}{4} , and the other answered \frac{4}{25} . What percentage of the questions did they answer altogether?

Answer: 71%

10. Ancient problem solving – easy

Type: Fractions, Reasoning, Problem Solving

Ancient Egyptians only used unit fractions (like \frac {1}{2} , \frac{1}{3} or \frac{1}{4} . For \frac {2}{3} they’d write \frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{3} . How might they write \frac{5}{8} ?

Answer: 

\frac {1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{8} is correct. So is \frac {1}{2} + \frac{1}{8} (They are both still unit fractions even though they have different denominators.)

Bonus: Which solution is better? Why? Can you find any more? What if subtractions are allowed?

Learn more about unit fractions here .

11. everybody wants a pizza the action – hard.

An infinite number of mathematicians buy pizza. The first wants \frac{1}{2} . The second wants \frac{1}{4} pizza. The third & fourth want \frac{1}{8} and \frac{1}{16} each, and so on. How many pizzas should they order?

Answer: 1 Each successive mathematician wants a slice that is exactly half of what is left:

12. Shade it black – hard

Type: Fractions, Reasoning, Problem Solving What fraction of this image is shaded black?

Answer:  

Look at the L-shaped part made up of two white and one black squares: 

\frac{1}{3} of this part is shaded. Zoom in on the top-right quarter of the image, which looks exactly the same as the whole image, and use the same reasoning to find what fraction of its L-shaped portion is shaded. Imagine zooming in to do the same thing again and again…

Multiplication and division problems

13. giving is receiving – easy.

Type: Number, Reasoning, Problem Solving

5 people give each other a present. How many presents are given altogether?

14. Sharing is caring – mixed

I have 20 candies. If I share them equally with my friends, there are 2 left over. If one more person joins us, there are 6 candies left. How many friends am I with?

Answer: 6 people altogether (so 5 friends!)

15. Multiplication facts secrets – mixed

Type: Area, 2D Shape, Rectangles

Here are 77 letters:

B Y H R C G N E O E A A H G C U R P U T S A S H H S B O R E O P E E M E E L A T P E F A D P H L TU T I E E O H L E N R Y T I I A G B M T N F C G E I I G

How many different rectangular grids could you arrange all 77 letters into?

Can you reveal the secret message?

Answer: Four: 1 × 77, 77 × 1, 11 × 7 and 7 × 11. If the letters are arranged into one of these, a message appears, reading down each column starting from the top left.

Bonus: Can you find any more integers with the same number of factors as 77? What do you notice about these factors (think about prime numbers)? Can you use this system to hide your own messages?

16. Laugh it up – hard

Type: Multiples, Least Common Multiple, Multiplication Facts, Division, Time

One friend jumps every \frac{1}{3} of a minute. Another jumps every 31 seconds. When will they jump together? Answer: After 620 seconds

Geometry problems

17. pictures of matchstick triangles – easy.

Type: 2D Shapes, Equilateral Triangles, Problem Solving, Reasoning

Look at the matchsticks arranged below. How many equilateral triangles are there?

Answer: 13 (9 small, 3 medium, 1 large)

Bonus: What if the biggest triangle only had two matchsticks on each side? What if it had four?

18. Dissecting squares – mixed

Type: Reasoning, Problem Solving

What’s the smallest number of straight lines you could draw on this grid such that each square has a line going through it?

19. Make it right – mixed

Type: Pythagorean theorem

This triangle does not agree with Pythagorean theorem. 

Adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing each of the side lengths by the same whole number can fix it. What is the number?

Answer: 3 

The new side lengths are 3, 4 and 5 and  32 + 42 = 52.

20. A most regular math question – hard

Type: Polygons, 2D Shapes, tessellation, reasoning, problem-solving, patterns

What is the regular polygon with the largest number of sides that will self-tessellate?

Answer: Hexagon.

Regular polygons tessellate if one interior angle is a factor of 360 ° . The interior angle of a hexagon is 120°. This is the largest factor less than 180°.

Problem-solving questions

21. pleased to meet you – easy.

Type: Number Problem, Reasoning, Problem Solving

5 people meet; each shakes everyone else’s hand once. How many handshakes take place?

Person A shakes 4 people’s hands. Person B has already shaken Person A’s hand, so only needs to shake 3 more, and so on.

Bonus: How many handshakes would there be if you did this with your class?

22. All relative – easy

Type: Number, Reasoning, Problem-Solving

When I was twelve my brother was half my age. I’m 40 now, so how old is he?

23. It’s about time – mixed

Type: Time, Reasoning, Problem-Solving

When is “8 + 10 = 6” true?

Answer: When you’re telling the time (8am + 10 hours = 6pm)

24. More than a match – mixed

Type: Reasoning, Problem-Solving, Roman Numerals, Numerical Notation

Here are three matches:

How can you add two more matches, but get eight? Answer: Put the extra two matches in a V shape to make 8 in Roman Numerals:

25. Leonhard’s graph – hard

Type: Reasoning, Problem-Solving, Logic

Leonhard’s town has seven bridges as shown below. Can you find a route around the town that crosses every bridge exactly once?

Answer: No!

This is a classic real life historical math problem solved by mathematician Leonhard Euler (rhymes with “boiler”). The city was Konigsberg in Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). Not being able to find a solution is different from proving that there aren’t any! Euler managed to do this in 1736, practically inventing graph theory in the process.

Math puzzles are everywhere!

Many of these 25 math problems are rooted in real life, from everyday occurrences to historical events. Others are just questions that might arise if you say “what if…?”. The point is that although there are many lists of such problem-solving math questions that you can make use of, with a little bit of experience and inspiration you could create your own on almost any topic – and so could your students. 

For a kick-starter on creating your own math problems, read our article on middle school math problem solving .

READ MORE :

• Math problems for 3rd graders
• 4th grade math problems
• 5th grade math problems
• 6th grade math problems
• 7th grade math problems

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The content in this article was originally written by primary school teacher Tom Briggs and has since been revised and adapted for US schools by math curriculum specialist and former elementary math teacher Katie Keeton.

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3rd to 8th Grade Practice Tests

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51 Easy Math Fact Games and Activities To Make Practice Fun and Effective

Level up math practice with these games.

Kids have to know their math facts. Practicing them can be fun, even when flash cards are involved, when you use these math facts games and activities. Check out these ideas for engaging kids in practice with hands-on games, center activities, crafts, and online games.

Hands-On Math Facts Activities and Games

Online Math Games

1. An egg-citing game

This is a quick hands-on way to practice math facts. For more excitement, try hiding the egg halves and letting kids hunt for them before they match them up! And check out so many more ways to use plastic eggs .

Learn more: Practice Addition Facts with Plastic Eggs

Buy it: Plastic eggs at Amazon

2. Roll and multiply

This is a simpler version of Yahtzee, and it’s a cool way to practice multiplication. If you use two dice instead of one, kids can practice their facts up to 12.

Learn more: Fun and Simple Multiplication Dice Game

3. Multiplication Squares

If you’ve ever played Dots and Boxes, this will look familiar. Players roll two dice (try these polyhedral dice to expand the facts in play), and draw a line to connect two dots next to the answer. If they complete a box, they color it in with their own marker.

Learn more: Multiplication Squares Game

4. Four in a row

This free printable is completely editable, so you can use it for any type of math facts practice. Kids choose a problem and give the answer. If they get it right, they cover it with their marker. When they get four in a row, they win!

Learn more: Penguin Four in a Row Game

5. Sticky math

Don’t confuse Sticky Math with timed tests. The goal is just for kids to complete as many problems as possible in a set amount of time, then work to beat that record each time.

Learn more: Sticky Math

6. Dice wars

Dice games are fun and versatile! With this one, kids practice their addition facts and get a little work with subitizing too. The concept is so simple: Each player rolls the dice and adds up their numbers. The highest sum wins that round. This is three math facts games in one since you can use it for subtraction and multiplication as well as addition.

Learn more: Fact Fluency

7. Math fact grab bags

Fill a variety of bags with collections of small objects. Kids grab a handful from two different bags, then count and add up the results. Be sure they write it all down to get practice at setting up equations. (Try this with subtraction and multiplication facts too.)

Learn more: Addition Grab Bags

8. Shut the box

This game has been played for hundreds of years, but it’s a fun and sneaky way to practice addition facts fluency. The goal is to “close” each of the numbers in the box from 1 to 9 by rolling the dice. For instance, if a player rolls 11, they may close 1, 2, 3, and 5, as these add up to 11. If no numbers are available to add up to the dice total, play passes to the next player and continues until someone finally “shuts the box” by closing the last available number. You can play this game as people have for centuries with a specially designed box. You don’t need the box, though; simply have kids write out the numbers 1 through 9 and cross them out as they play.

Buy it: Shut the Box Game at Amazon

9. Math facts war

Each student flips two cards, then adds them (or subtracts or multiplies). The person with the highest total keeps both cards. For a tiebreaker, flip another card. See more rules at the link.

Learn more: Addition War Card Game

10. Egg carton math game

Using an egg carton, have students write the numbers 1 through 12 in the bottom of each depression. Place two marbles inside the egg carton and close the lid. Shake the egg carton, open the top, and then add, subtract, or multiply whichever two numbers the marbles have landed on.

Learn more: Egg Carton Scramble

11. Domino puzzle

Dominoes are perfect for math facts practice! Keep it simple by pulling a domino from a bag, then adding, subtracting, or multiplying the two numbers.

For even more fun, print the free puzzles at the link below. Then start filling in the puzzle one piece at a time by placing a domino that adds up to the number shown in each rectangle. The trick is that regular domino rules still apply, so each number must touch another domino with the same number on that end.

Learn more: Dominoes Math Puzzles

12. Number search

These number search puzzles are harder than they look. First, kids complete the addition facts. Then, they search for those equations in the puzzle. Get three free puzzles at the link, where you can purchase more if you like them.

Learn more: Number Search Math Fact Worksheet

13. 15 in a row

When it comes down to it, flash cards are still one of the best ways to practice fact fluency. The goal of this flash-card game is to lay out 15 flash cards in a row by the total of their sums (or differences, products, or dividends), from smallest to largest.

Learn more: Flashcard Math Facts Game

Buy it: Math Flash Cards at Amazon

14. Math facts wheel

All it takes is paper plates, glue, and a marker to help your students learn their math facts. Up the fun factor by having students decorate their plates any way their imagination can dream up!

Learn more: Paper Plate Multiplication Practice Activity

15. Whack a ball

You know your elementary math students are going to love this! Build your own whack-a-mole 10-frame with a shoebox and Ping-Pong balls. Then, have kids whack the balls to practice their subtraction facts. So fun!

Learn more: Whack-a-Ball Subtraction Game

16. Jump on facts

Lay out a grid like the one shown that has the answers to whatever set of math flash cards you’re currently working with. (This teacher used masking tape; you could also do sidewalk chalk on the playground.) Two players face off, one on each side of the board. Show the flash card, and kids race to be the first to jump to the correct square with both feet inside the lines. Get all the rules at the link below.

Learn more: The Doubles Game

17. Flash-card race

Tape a series of flash cards to the floor and challenge kids to see who can correctly make their way from start to finish the fastest. They can call out the answers or write them 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.

Learn more: Active Math Activities

18. Math fact flower

This is a creative way to teach math facts. Start by drawing the center of a flower and write any number from 1 to 9 in the middle. Next, draw 12 petals around the center, labeling them 1 through 12. Last, draw another 12 petals and write the sum or product of the center number and the petal adjacent to the new petal.

Learn more: Waldorf-Inspired Multiplication Crafts

19. Beach ball facts

Beach balls are so much fun in the classroom. Scribble numbers all over one with a Sharpie, then toss it to a student. Wherever their thumbs land, they add (or subtract or multiply) those two numbers together before tossing the ball to the next student.

Learn more: Have a Ball With Math Facts

Buy it: Beach balls at Amazon

20. Stack math facts

We’re not sure why, but kids simply  love stacking cups. Label yours with math problems and answers, then have kids build pyramids and towers galore.

Learn more: Addition and Subtraction Cups

21. Math fact hopscotch

Draw a winding path and fill the spaces with math equations. Kids roll the dice and move from space to space (have them jump, skip, or twirl to mix things up). If they get the answer right, they move to the new space. If not, their turn is over. Customizable math facts games like this can be used at any level.

Learn more: Outdoor Math Game

Buy it: Sidewalk chalk at Amazon

22. Math bingo

Math facts bingo is so easy to set up and play. Give kids empty grids and ask them to write various sums, differences, products, or quotients, depending on what you’re working on. Then call out math problems and have them cover the answers. First to fill in a row wins.

Learn more: Multiplication Bingo

23. Math facts checkers

Label a checkerboard with math facts. Play checkers as usual, following the traditional rules. The twist is, you must solve the math problem you land on.

Learn more: Math Checkers

24. The name game

This is so clever. Grab some name tags and write math facts on each. Give a tag to each of your students. For the remainder of the day, everyone will refer to one another by the answer to the equation on their tag (e.g., the student with the name tag that says 7×6 would be referred to as “42”).

Learn more: Multiplication Name Tags

Buy it: Name Tag Stickers at Amazon

A classic game for practicing skills, play Memory (also called Concentration) with math facts.

Learn more and get a free printable: Math Fact Memory Game

26. Math Twister

Who doesn’t love to play Twister? Use stickies to place answers to addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems on a standard Twister mat. Write numbers used in the problems on stickies and place them on the spinner. Your students will love getting out of their seats to place their hands or feet on the correct answer!

Learn more:  Math Twister

Buy it: Twister game at Amazon

27. Swat letters

Here’s another great activity for your students who like to learn on the move. Prepare a game board with the answers to the math facts you want to review. Call out the problem, and your students will enthusiastically swat the answer. This can be played with individual students or with two or more as a competition.

Learn more: Super Cool and Fun Math Game

28. 101 and Out

This exciting game combines strategic thinking and fact mastery. Students roll a die and decide if they want the digit to count as a 1 or a 10, i.e., a roll of 3 could be used as 3 or 30. Students add their results as they go. The winner is the student who gets closest to 101 without going over.

Learn more: 101 and Out

29. Multiplication toy store

In this activity, the teacher sets up a class “toy store” and prices each type of item. Students get to shop and fill out an order form, on which they write the unit price and number of items they wish to purchase. Finally, they multiply the number of items by the price, add it all up, and come up with a grand total.

Learn more: Multiplication Toy Store

30. Subtraction bowling

Get 10 empty toilet paper rolls, a ball, and a pencil and paper for keeping score. After setting up the “lane,” students roll the ball, knock down as many pins as possible, then record the result on their scoresheet. For example, 10 – 3 = 7. On the second roll, they start with 7 and subtract the number of pins they knock down on their scoresheet.

Learn more: Subtraction Bowling

31. Strike it out

This is another great game that combines strategy with mastery of addition and subtraction facts. Students begin by writing a number line from 0 to 20. The first player circles two numbers, then circles the sum or difference of the first two numbers. Player 2 takes the first player’s result, circles another number, then circles the sum or difference of those two numbers. The winner successfully blocks their opponent from being able to complete another problem.

Learn more: Quick and Easy Math Game: Strike It Out!

32. Back-to-back

This exciting competition is for the entire class. Two students stand back-to-back and write a number on the board that they can see but their opponent can’t. A third student calls out the answer to a math problem using the two numbers, like “the product is 30” or “the sum is 11.” The first student to identify their opponent’s number is the winner!

Learn more: Back 2 Back

33. Window math

If your students are having a hard time actually getting the numbers down on the paper correctly, shift gears and have them write on the windows with paint pens to further engage them.

Learn more: How To Teach Kids To Write the Number 5

Buy it: Washable window markers at Amazon

34. Baseball math

Use a printable sheet to turn math into an interactive game of baseball that your classroom will love.

Learn more: Baseball Math

35. Nerf gun math

Set up little targets with math facts to enrich your students’ knowledge of the topic. Then students get to shoot the targets that have the correct answer with a Nerf gun!

Learn more: Nerf Gun Math

36. Math Chutes and Ladders

Your students will understand and recognize this familiar game, which will make it that much easier to set it up in the classroom.

Learn more: Practice Math Facts With Chutes and Ladders

37. Math cootie catcher

As long as your classroom doesn’t get too rowdy trying to mess around with these cootie catcher activities, this is one of the perfect math facts games to get your entire classroom involved, from setting up the actual cootie catchers to playing multiple different games with them.

Learn more: Make Math Fact Practice Fun With Cootie Catchers

38. Sum, Say, and Spray

Write answers to math facts on the sidewalk. Give students water bottles and tell them a math fact. Students say the answer and spray the number to erase it. A great activity for a sunny day.

Learn more: Sum, Say, and Spray Math Game

39. Plus 1 minus 1

Start by drawing a card, then add 1 and subtract 1 to/from the amount. You can also play plus 5 minus 5 and plus 10 minus 10.

Learn more and get the free printable: Plus 1 Minus 1 Card Game

40. Addition pancakes

Make these DIY pancakes and have your students serve up addition problems to one another. The possibilities for these math facts games are endless with this fun format of addition problems.

Learn more: Addition Pancakes

41. Island hopping

Cut out pieces of paper with addition and subtraction problems on them, and spread them across the floor of your room so your students can hop from problem to problem.

Learn more: Math Fact Islands

Online Math Facts Games

42. Math Bingo

Who doesn’t love a game of math bingo? This classic online version uses silly monsters as bingo chips.

Play it: Math Bingo

43. Cannon Ball

Answer eight multiplication problems before aiming and shooting cannonballs at targets. Students will get their math fact practice in and sharpen their aim.

Play it: Cannon Ball

44. Math Lines Multiplication

Aim and shoot dinosaur eggs in a line to solve multiplication problems in this game. The faster you clear the line of balls by solving problems, the more points you earn.

Play it: Math Lines Multiplication

45. Monster Mansion Math Match

Match equations and solutions … with monsters.

Play it: Monster Mansion Math Match

46. Kitten Match

In this multi-player game, students solve math facts and steal balls of yarn to win the game.

Play it: Kitten Match

47. Drag Race Division

Race cars, gaining speed when you answer more division problems.

Play it: Drag Race Division

48. Splash Facts

This game has basic flash cards for practice, which is sometimes just what students need to review without distraction.

Play it: Splash Facts

49. The Legend of Multiplico

This game is for more advanced mathematician gamers. The evil Horrefedous has hidden four mythical creatures in a castle. Players defeat enemies to get to the creatures using multiplication and division skills.

Play it: The Legend of Multiplico

50. Baseball Pro Multiplication

A good ol’ game of online baseball with math facts. Perfect for spring practice.

Play it: Baseball Pro Multiplication

51. Color Dots Division

See how fast you can complete division problems and clear the colored dots in this online game.

Play it: Color Dots Division

What are your favorite ways to practice math facts? Come share in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

To find out when more articles like this are posted, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletters .

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22 Fun Math Activities for Your Classroom

Written by Marcus Guido

• Game Based Learning
• Teaching Tools

• 1. Prodigy Math
• 2. Read a Math Book
• 3. Create Mnemonic Devices
• 4. Deliver a Daily Starter
• 5. Visit the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
• 6. Run a Round of Initials
• 7. Play Math Baseball
• 8. Start a Game of Around the Block
• 9. Play Math Tic-Tac-Toe
• 10. Modify a Classic Card Game
• 11. Share TeacherTube Videos
• 12. Co-ordinate Live Video
• 13. Research the Leaning Tower
• 14. Party on Pi Day
• 15. Hold a Scavenger Hunt
• 16. Play One-Metre Dash
• 17. Put a Twist on Gym Class
• 18. Run Think-Pair-Share Exercises
• 19. Hold a Game of Jeopardy
• 20. Take on a Challenge from Get The Math

When students think “fun,” memories of math class likely won’t be the first to pop into their heads. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

There are approaches and exercises, with and without computers, that can  enliven your math lessons .

You’ll likely find that the reward justifies the work of preparing and introducing them. After all, according many studies from as early as the 1960s, engaged students pay more attention and perform higher than disengaged ones.

But while making math fun for students is definitely effective, it's not always easy for busy educators to plan, prepare and deliver them on the spot.

That's why we've put together a list of 22 fun math activities for students.  Use these fun activity ideas to engage your students and help them build a lifelong love for learning math.

1. Play Prodigy Math

Grade levels: 1st-8th

Best for: Reinforcing lesson content, differentiating instruction and engaging students through game-based learning.

Use Prodigy — the standards-aligned math platform used by millions of students and teachers worldwide — to  engage your class while reinforcing lesson content and teaching essential skills.

Prodigy uses elements from students’ favorite video games as they compete in math duels against in-game characters. To win, they must answer sets of questions. You can customize these questions to supplement class material,  deliver assessments ,  prepare for tests  and more.

And the best bit? Educators and schools get full access to teaching tools at zero cost!

Here's a sneak peak of Prodigy in action! 👇

Grade levels: K-6th

Best for: Introducing new concepts, reinforcing learned skills, and encouraging independent learning.

Show your students that  reading engaging stories isn’t exclusive to language arts class.

There are many age-appropriate math books that effectively explain skills and techniques while providing exercises to help students understand content.

For example, the Life of Fred series introduces and teaches essential math skills aligned with most elementary school curricula.

The four books, each containing 19 lessons, present content through stories about cats, ice cream and other child-friendly subjects. With full answer keys, the series lends itself to practicing, reviewing or learning entire skills.

You can find age- and topic-specific math books through a few Amazon searches or a brief bookstore visit.

Grade levels: 3rd-8th

Best for: Helping learners remember math facts, equations and sequences.

Dedicate time for students to create mnemonic devices — cues such as rhymes and acronyms — to  help  recall math facts .

A popular example is “I need to be 16 years-old to drive a 4×4 pickup truck.” Such cues should be rhymes or quick stories that distill larger chunks of information, always using tangible objects or scenarios to make them memorable.

Although you can think of mnemonic devices yourself and share them with students, it’s beneficial to run an activity that gets them to make their own. They’ll likely find it easier to remember ones they create.

Grade levels: PreK-8th

Best for: Kicking off the day, focusing students' attention and warming up brains for math learning.

Drop by Scholastic’s Daily Starters page  each morning to  find entry tickets suited to solo and group work. This includes skills and topics like mental math, place value and number sense.

Content levels range from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade, including problems from subjects other than math. Many teachers either print the questions or project them onto a whiteboard.

Aside from entry tickets, there are different ways to use Daily Starters — such as including them in learning stations or wrapping up a lesson with them.

Grade levels: K-12

Best for: Interactive learning and engagement, especially for visual learners.

Have students visit the online  National Library of Virtual Manipulatives  to  access activities that involve digital objects such as coins and blocks.

Created by Utah State University, the online library aims to engage students. To do so, there are manipulation tasks for students at every grade level.

For example, a 6th grade geometry activity involves using geo-boards to illustrate area, perimeter and rational number concepts. Ideal for classes with one-to-one device use, the website can also act as a learning station.

Grade levels : 4th-8th

Best for: Content reviews and encouraging students to work in teams.

Add a  game-like spin to content reviews  by playing Initials.

Hand a unique sheet to each student that has problems aligned with a common skill or topic. Instead of focusing on their own sheets, students walk around the room to solve questions on their classmates’.

Here’s the catch: A student can only complete one question per sheet, signing his or her initials beside the answer. The exercise continues until all questions on each sheet have answers,  encouraging students to build trust and teamwork .

Grade levels: 2nd-6th

Best for: Creating a competitive environment and reinforcing a variety of math concepts.

Divide your class into two teams to play math baseball —  an activity that gives you full control of the questions students answer.

One team will start “at bat,” scoring runs by choosing questions worth one, two or three bases. You’ll “pitch” the questions, which range in difficulty depending on how many bases they’re worth. If the at-bat team answers incorrectly, the defending team can correctly respond to earn an out. After three outs, switch sides.

Play until one team hits 10 runs, or five for a shorter entry or exit ticket.

Grade levels: 2nd-5th

Best for: Practicing any math skill in a fun, dynamic way.

Play Around the Block as a minds-on activity, using only a ball to  practice almost any math skill.

First, compile questions related to a distinct skill. Second, have students stand in a circle. Finally, give one student the ball and read aloud a question from your list.

Students must pass the ball clockwise around the circle, and the one who started with it must answer the question before receiving again.

If the student incorrectly answers, pass the ball to a classmate for the next question. If the student correctly answers, he or she chooses the next contestant.

Grade levels: 3rd-6th

Best for: Practicing a range of abilities and offering a familiar but math-focused game.

Pair students to  compete against one another while building different math skills  in this take on tic-tac-toe.

To prepare, divide a sheet into squares — three vertical by three horizontal. Fill these squares with questions that collectively test a range of abilities. The first student to link three Xs or Os — by correctly answering questions — wins.

This game can be a  learning station , refreshing prerequisite skills in preparation for new content.

Best for: Reinforcing basic math operations in a competitive and enjoyable manner.

Put a mathematical twist on a traditional card game  by having students play this version of  War .

Students should pair together, with each pair grabbing two decks of cards. Cards have the following values:

• Two to 10 — Face value

The rules of the game will depend on the grade you teach and the skills you’re building. Each student will always play two cards at a time, but younger kids must subtract the lower number from the higher.

Older students can multiply the numbers, designating a certain suit as having negative integers. Whoever has the highest hand wins all four cards.

Best for: Visual learners and supplementing lessons with video content.

Cover core skills by visiting TeacherTube  — an education-only version of YouTube.

By searching for a specific topic or browsing by category, you can quickly find videos to supplement a lesson or act as a learning station.

For example, searching for “middle school algebra” will load a results page containing study guides, specific lessons and exam reviews.

Students and parents can also visit TeacherTube on their own time, as some videos explicitly apply to them.

Grade levels: 6th-12th

Best for: Enhancing class content with expert insights and diversifying teaching approaches.

Don’t limit yourself to pre-recorded videos — straightforward conferencing technology can allow  subject matter experts to deliver live lessons to your class.

Whether it’s a contact from another school or a seasoned lecturer you reach out to, bringing an expert into your classroom will expose your students to new ideas and can lighten your workload.

Add the person on Skype or Google Hangouts, delivering the lesson through the program. Skype even has a list of guest speakers who will voluntarily speak about their topics of expertise.

Grade levels: 4th-8th

Best for: Interdisciplinary learning, integrating math with real-world structures and events.

Delve into the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of Italy’s famous landmarks, by running this  popular  interdisciplinary activity .

Although the exercise traditionally spans across subjects through guided research, you can focus on math by requiring students to:

• Develop an itinerary, complete with a budget, for a trip to Pisa
• Calculate measurements such as the tower’s area and volume
• Investigate the tower’s structure, determining if or when it’ll fall

For younger students, you can divide the activity into distinct exercises and allow them to work in groups. Older students should tackle it as an in-class or take-home project.

You can easily adjust the skill complexity to your students' needs, starting off with key math skills like subtraction, addition, multiplication, division and advancing into more complex areas like percentages, fractions and averages. Students at higher grades can even explore graphing and data analysis.

Best for: Making math fun, celebrating a mathematical constant and promoting math-themed camaraderie.

Celebrate Pi Day on March 14 each year by  dedicating an entire period, or more, to the mathematical constant.

Although specific activities depend on your students, you can start the lesson by giving a historical and conceptual overview of pi — from Archimedes to how modern mathematicians use it. After, delve into exercises.

For younger students, get construction paper and choose a colour to represent each digit. Red can be one, blue is two, green can represent three and so on. Their task is to arrange and order the paper to represent as much of pi’s value as possible.

For older students, run learning stations that allow them to complete questions, process content and play  math games  related to pi. For a fun finish, serve students pizza or another kind of pie.

Best for: Integrating technology, promoting research skills, and teaching new math concepts in a fun way.

Send your students on an Internet scavenger hunt, a potential addition to Pi Day fun, allowing them to  build research skills while processing new math concepts.

The exercise starts by providing a sheet of terms to define or questions to solve, which students can complete by using Google or a list of recommended websites. Regardless, the terms and questions should all fall under an overarching topic.

For example, “Find the definition of a negative integer” and “If you multiply a positive integer with a negative integer, will the product be positive or negative? What about multiplying two negative integers together?”

More than engaging, educational hunts introduce your students to resources they can regularly refer to.

Best for: Teaching students about estimation and measurement; hands-on learners; kinetic learners; group work.

Start this quick game to  build students’ perception and understanding of measurement.

Grouping students in small teams, give them metre sticks. They then look around the room for two to four items they think add up to a metre in length. In a few minutes, the groups measure the items and record how close their estimates were.

Want more of a challenge? Give them a centimetre-mark to hit instead of a metre. You can then ask them to convert results to micrometres, millimetres and more.

Best for: Linking physical activity and mathematics; catering to active learners; cross-curricular education; students who enjoy physical activities.

Fuse math and physical education by  delivering ongoing lessons that explain and explore certain motions.

It’s time to practice long jumps. But first, students can estimate how far they’ll jump. After, they can see how close they were.

Such activities can also supplement lessons about lifting, throwing and other actions — potentially interesting students who don’t normally enjoy gym or math.

Grade levels: All grades

Best for: Encouraging discussion and cooperation; fostering critical thinking; aiding understanding and retention; catering to a range of learning styles.

Launch a think-pair-share exercise to  expose students to three lesson-processing experiences in quick succession.

As the strategy’s name implies, start by asking students to individually  think  about a given topic or answer a specific question. Next,  pair  students together to discuss their results and findings. Finally, have each pair  share  their ideas with the rest of the class, and open the floor for further discussion.

The three parts of this exercise vary in length, giving you flexibility when lesson planning.

And because it allows your students to process content individually, in a small group and in a large group, it caters to your classroom’s range of learning and personality types

19. Hold a Game of Math Jeopardy

Grade levels: 3rd-12th

Best for: Reviewing multiple topics; competitive learners; group work; interactive class reviews.

Transform this famous game show to focus on your latest skill or unit,  preparing students for a quiz or test.

Setup involves attaching pockets to a bristol board, dividing them into columns and rows. Each column should focus on a topic, whereas each row should have a point value — 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1,000.

A team can ask for a question from any pocket, but other teams can answer first by solving the problem and raising their hands.

Once the class answers all questions, the team with the highest point total claims your prize. But each student wins in terms of engagement and practicing  peer support .

Looking for more fun math games? Check out this list of 23 classroom math games for kids .

Best for: Applying math to real-world scenarios; career-focused learning; students interested in how math is used in the professional world.

Teach your students about  how math is used in different careers and real-world situations  by visiting  Get the Math .

The website, aimed at middle and high school students, features videos of young professionals who explain how they use algebra. They then pose job-related questions to two teams of students in the video.

Your class can also participate, learning how to apply algebraic concepts in different scenarios. It’s a straightforward way to vary and contextualize your lesson content.

21. Virtual Math Escape Room

Grade levels: 4th-12th

Best for: Group activities where teamwork and problem-solving skills are essential. This activity is excellent for tech-savvy students andfor situations where you want to increase engagement through interactive digital tools.

Escape rooms have been a rising trend in recent years. Take advantage of their popularity by setting up a virtual math escape room. Develop a series of math puzzles that students must solve to "escape." Use a digital platform that allows you to hide clues and puzzles in an online environment. The time pressure and narrative can make solving math problems an exciting adventure!

22. Break the Code (Cryptography)

Grade levels: 5th-9th

Best for: Students who enjoy solving mysteries and puzzles. It's an engaging way to introduce abstract mathematical concepts like modular arithmetic and to showcase the practical applications of mathematics.

Awaken the budding mathematicians and detectives in your students with cryptography. Introduce simple encryption techniques and provide coded messages for your students to decipher. This activity can be tailored to different complexity levels, right from elementary to high school level.

Here's a simple version of math code breaking activity below!

Need further support? Check out these math worksheets!

As well as using fun math activities to deliver math content, you can also use worksheets. Ideal as part of a station rotation, these quick exercises can help students tackle math problems so you can gauge their understanding.

Here are some free printable worksheets to get you started:

• 1st Grade Math Worksheets
• 2nd Grade Math Worksheets
• 3rd Grade Math Worksheets
• 4th Grade Math Worksheets

Final Thoughts

Each of these exercises can inject engagement into your lessons, helping students process content and demonstrate understanding.

What’s more,  they’re versatile.  You can use many of the above activities to introduce concepts or reinforce lessons, and as minds-on exercises or exit tickets. Useful for you, fun for students.

Who says math can’t be engaging?

👉 Try Prodigy today — the standards-aligned, game-based learning platform that delivers fun math activities based on the student’s unique strengths and skill deficits. It’s used by more than 700,000 teachers and millions of students around the world.

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Research showed that Prodigy Math helped drive a significant, positive shift in students' opinion towards math in just a few months.

Small Group Math Activities

• No Comments
• Math Stations

Discover small group math activities that promote student engagement and foster a love for math. This blog post explores 10 activities, including math games, hands-on manipulatives, real-world investigations, technology tools, problem solving activities, and more to help you transform your math stations into a dynamic learning environment.

I have a secret confession to make. 

Teaching reading has never been my cup of tea. 

Don’t get me wrong, I adore immersing my students in captivating books and opening their minds to new worlds. 

But when it comes to reading workshop, let’s just say it didn’t exactly light a fire in my soul. 

The never-ending cycle of reading from the textbook series and completing author’s purpose, inference, and comprehension worksheets felt mundane and, dare I say it, a bit dull. #yawn 🥱 

Despite my best efforts, I struggled to make it truly exciting. 

So, when the opportunity to introduce math workshop came knocking, I must admit, I wasn’t exactly jumping for joy.

It’s All About Engagement

Math stations are a powerful tool for promoting student engagement and deepening our students’ mathematical understanding. 

By incorporating engaging activities into your math station rotations, you can create a dynamic learning environment that sparks excitement and curiosity in your students. 

In this blog post, we will explore 10 engaging small group math activities that will captivate your students and inspire them to develop a love for math.

10 Small Group Math Activities for Any Math Station Rotation

Activity 1: Math Games Galore

Math games are a fantastic way to make learning fun and interactive. These small group math activities provide opportunities for students to practice math skills while communicating mathematically with their peers. Here are a few examples of card and dice games that can be incorporated into your math station rotations:

• War Games: This classic math game requires only a deck of cards. Partners each turn over a card and use their math skills to compare the numbers, such as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or even simple expressions. The player with the higher value wins the round. Players continue playing until no cards are remaining. 
• Cover-Up Games: This simple board game requires two dice. In turn, each student rolls the dice and completes the problem associated with the dice sum. Then, they cover the solution with a marker in a grid trying to get four in a row, column, or diagonal. 
• Traditional Board Games: Pair a set of task cards with a traditional board game to create this math station activity. After correctly answering a question, students can roll a die or toss a coin to move along the path.

Activity 2: Hands-On Manipulatives

Hands-on manipulatives bring abstract math concepts to life, making them more concrete and tangible. These activities provide students with a visual and kinesthetic experience, enhancing their understanding of mathematical concepts. Consider incorporating the following manipulative-based activities into your math stations:

• Pattern Block Puzzles: Provide students with pattern blocks and challenge them to create different shapes and designs, exploring concepts like symmetry, fractions, and geometry.
• Base Ten Blocks: Use base ten blocks to reinforce place value concepts. Students can build and represent numbers and explore operations with whole numbers and decimals.
• Data Analysis with Spinners: Use spinners with different sections labeled with numbers or categories. Students spin the spinner multiple times, record the results, and represent the data they collected by creating a frequency table, bar graph, or dot plot.

Want to use math manipulatives but need more resources? Try virtual manipulatives !

Activity 3: Puzzle Power

Puzzles are not only engaging but also promote critical thinking and problem solving skills. They challenge students to think creatively and persevere through complex tasks. Here are a few puzzle-based activities to include in your math stations:

• Number Crossword: Create a crossword puzzle where students respond to math-related clues and fill in the corresponding numbers in the grid.
• Logic Grids: Challenge students with logic puzzles that require them to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills to solve.
• Sudoku: Provide students with Sudoku puzzles focusing on numbers, shapes, or mathematical operations, encouraging them to apply logical reasoning to complete the puzzles.

Activity 4: Real-World Math Investigations

Real-world math investigations allow students to apply their mathematical knowledge and skills to authentic situations. These activities promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and the ability to connect math and the real world. Consider the following examples for your math station rotations:

• Recipe Conversions: Provide students with recipes that need to be converted to serve a different number of people. Students must adjust ingredient quantities using proportional reasoning and fractions.
• Budgeting and Shopping: Give students a budget and a list of items with prices, such as a local grocery ad or restaurant menu. They must plan a shopping trip, choose items based on their budget, and calculate the total cost.
• Measurement Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of objects in the classroom or nearby hallway students need to measure using various units of measurement. Students will use rulers, measuring tapes, or scales to gather the data and record their measurements.

Activity 5: Technology Tools

Incorporating technology into math stations can engage students and provide interactive learning experiences. Consider utilizing the following online resources and educational apps:

• Online Math Games and Activities: Websites such as IXL Learning, Prodigy, and Math Playground provide opportunities to gamify the learning experience. Students can earn points and virtual rewards while building math skills. 
• Digital Activities: Activities designed for Google Classroom and Seesaw provide engaging opportunities for students to use digital tools to review math concepts and skills .
• Digital Task Cards: Take task cards to the next level with digital task cards . Task cards created for use at Boom Learning or even with Google Forms can increase student engagement while students practice essential math skills.

Activity 6: Ready-Made Math Activities

In addition to creating your small group math activities, incorporating ready-made resources can provide a valuable and time-saving option for engaging your students. These pre-made activities offer an interactive and hands-on way to reinforce math skills and concepts. 

• Electronic Flashcard Games: Electronic flashcard games provide an exciting and interactive way for students to practice and reinforce math facts. These games often offer various difficulty levels and customizable options to cater to students’ needs. Math Whiz and Math Shark are two of my favorites!
• VersaTiles: VersaTiles is a hands-on, puzzle-inspired activity with an interactive workbook system designed to reinforce math skills. Students use a unique answer case and answer tiles to complete activities and self-check their answers. It’s a favorite of my elementary and middle school students alike!
• Marcy Cook Tiling Tasks: Marcy Cook Tiling Tasks are critical thinking activities that require students to use a set of tiles labeled 0-9 to complete math puzzles. These tasks promote problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and mathematical thinking. Students arrange the tiles to fill in the blanks and create equations and solutions that satisfy the given conditions. 

Activity 7: Math Task Cards

Math task cards offer various practice opportunities and allow students to work independently. They are also easy to make and readily available on teacher marketplaces across the web. Here are some examples of task card activities: 

• Showdown: Partners select one card and complete it individually. Then, students “showdown” and share their responses using math talk and supporting each other as necessary. 
• Math Game: Pair a set of task cards with a game board to gamify the learning experience! Students place their game markers at the start line. To move down the path, students must correctly respond to a task card, toss a die (or flip a coin), and move the number of spaces indicated on the die or based on the side of the coin visible after the coin toss (heads = 2 spaces, tails = one space).
• Cover Up: To create a Cover Up game, program a 4 x 4 grid with the solutions to a set of task cards. Then, when students respond correctly, they can cover the answer with a board marker, such as centimeter cubes, color tiles, Bingo chips, or beans. The goal is to get four markers in a row, column, or diagonal. Note: This activity works best with multiple-choice questions, true or false questions, or questions with numerical answers.  

Activity 8: Math Picture Books

Integrating math and literature activities enhances students’ mathematical understanding and develops their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Consider incorporating the following math and literacy activities into your math stations:

• Math Investigations: Use the storyline in a book to practice a skill. For example, use the Pigs Will Be Pigs book by Amy Axelrod to practice adding and subtracting decimals as the pigs find money hidden around their home and then spend it at a restaurant. 
• Story-based Problems: Use the book as a springboard to reinforce a specific skill. Either re-create scenarios from the book or create new problems based on the problems the characters faced in the story such as comparing the amounts in two different groups after reading Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander.
• Famous Mathematicians Book Study: Create a set of questions to help students learn more about famous mathematicians, such as Katherine Johnson , and provide students with access to a physical or digital biography to read and use to respond to the questions.

Activity 9: Calculator Challenges

Incorporating calculator challenges into your math stations can allow upper elementary students to deepen their understanding of math concepts while developing their computational skills. Calculator activities engage students in hands-on exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking while building their technology proficiency skillset. 

These activities encourage students to use calculators to investigate, solve problems, and make connections. Consider incorporating the following calculator challenges into your math stations:

• The Broken Calculator Challenge: In this challenge, students are shown an image of a calculator with only three or four working buttons. Students then determine how to use the remaining keys on the broken calculator to create specific values, such as using +, x, 2, and 3 to achieve a value of 8.
• Calculator Corrections: This task requires students to determine how to correct a calculator mistake without clearing the calculator. Using the calculator, students determine how to fix a mistake, check the answer, and make adjustments as necessary. After completing the task, students can justify the changes they made. For example, Brandi wanted to enter the number 4265 into her calculator. By mistake, she typed 4165. Without clearing her calculator, how can she fix her mistake? 
• Target Number: For this task, students represent place value in numbers, determine what number to add or subtract to reach the target number, and use the calculator to check their process. For example, students are given the following directions: Start with 7,254. Find a number to subtract that will result in a 0 in the hundreds column.

Activity 10: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential life skills for students to develop. Engage your students in meaningful and challenging math experiences by incorporating problem solving and critical thinking activities into your small group math activities. Click here for a list of problem solving activities ; that encourage students to think critically, analyze situations, and apply their mathematical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

A Shift in Thinking

While I never found a way to make reading workshop exciting, math workshop was my students’ favorite part of the day. 

Integrating various small group math activities into the rotation was the key to keeping students engaged in learning and wanting more. 

If you’re new to math stations, the best way to get started is to choose 1-2 new activities to implement. Consider adding another activity after students are comfortable with the previous activities and staying engaged with minimal support.

Adding new small group math activities gradually will help maintain order during the rotation and save your sanity! If you’d like more tips and tools for managing math stations, download the Math Station Management Toolbox using the form at the bottom of this post. 

Math station rotation boards are an excellent organizational tool for implementing the small group math activities above. This visual display helps students understand the structure of the math station rotation and enhances their independence and accountability. 

The small group math activities shared above can be assigned to specific stations on the rotation board. Then, teachers can use the math station rotation board to effectively monitor student progress as they rotate through various math stations. 

Experiment with these small group math activities and adapt them to meet the needs and interests of your students, ensuring math station time is an exciting and transformative experience for all.

What are your favorite small group math activities? Respond in the comments below. 

Shametria Routt Banks

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