Games with Math Facts
I love using games with math facts to help my students learn their math facts throughout the school year. But here’s the thing… Everything we do in our classroom does not need to be a game. However, having games as options for students gets them excited to practice the skills they have learning in class. In my classroom, I use games with math facts as a fast finisher activity and my students love it! During free time or inside recess, students will come to me and ask if they can play Math Facts Old Maid. And my response is “Oh Yeah! Go for it!”
I will be sharing the math fact games that I use in my classroom. They are simple, yet engaging for students. And the best part about it, students are playing together to learn their math facts and I love seeing that in my classroom.
Games to Teach Math Facts
My first game for math facts is Math Facts Don’t Eat Pete. All I have to do to prepare this game is print it out and put it in a sheet protector! That’s it. It is ready! Students get in a small group and one player goes a bit off so they can’t hear or see the game. The remaining players pick one square to be “Pete.” The player comes back and starts taking the bingo marker off of each square as they say the math fact. If they pick up the bingo marker that is “Pete” the group says “Don’t Eat Pete” and they pick a new player to go.
I have made a version of Don’t Eat Pete for every season of the year. I have one for Back to School, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Spring time, and more! I switch out the board for the season to keep things new and exciting for students. I also have different versions to help differentiate for my students. I might set out a couple versions that have addition math facts 1-10. I will also put out one with sums 1-20. I will also put out subtraction ones. That way, students can work on the facts they need. I have an addition and subtraction year long Don’t Eat Pete Games I want to share with you! Here is the link for the Addition Don’t Eat Pete Math Fact Game. And here is the link for the Subtraction Don’t Eat Pete Math Fact Game.
The next game with math facts that I use in my classroom is Math Facts Memory Match. Students can play with a partner or a small group. They lay out the cards and try to find matches of equal equations. By doing this, it really gets them figuring out the math facts in their head and using different math fact strategies. I love to have my students use math fact strategies rather than rote memorization. That is why I also made a ten frames version. Students have to find the equation and the ten frame that matches it. I love how it gets the students to visualize the math facts.
A favorite math fact game in my classroom is Math Fact Old Maid. Students really get into this game! Each match in the Old Maid game has an equation. As students find matches, they have to figure out the math fact and say it. I also have students record the matches on a piece of paper so I know they are playing the game correctly and practicing their math facts with it. This game is so popular in my classroom that I set out both an addition and subtraction version for students to play.
Another math fact card game I have in my classroom is Math Facts Go Fish. Students are again looking for matches by asking another player for an answer to a math fact. Cards have equal equations. Students have to sort through their cards to find the match, doing math facts in their head as they do so. I love how much practice they get with math facts in this game!
I also set out a set of Math Facts Go Fish with ten frames. Students have to find the ten frames that match the equation as they play go fish. I also have a recording page with this game to keep students accountable as they are having fun!
When it comes to math fact games, I especially love the ones that are low prep for me! That is why I love Math Facts Bingo as much as my students do! All I have to do is print off a card for each of my students and print out the call cards. Then I can quickly cut apart the call cards and we are ready to play!
Best part about it, it is perfect for whole group since their are 25 different bingo cards. So it’s rare that students get bingo at the same time! I can also differentiate this game easily. There are three different versions of call cards: addition, addition & subtraction, and doubles and near doubles.
Most of all, I love Math Facts Bingo because it gets my students practicing addition and subtraction math facts in an engaging way. Want to play Math Facts Bingo in your classroom? Find it here.
I hope that learning about the games I use in my class inspires you to incorporate more games in your classroom. These games with math facts engage students and bring in more fun inside the classroom. Find the bundle for these math fact games here to get one game free!
Looking for more math fact games in your classroom? Check out this blog post about 3 Easy to Make Math Facts Games.
I know. You want to make math fact instruction fun and meaningful. But where to start? Make your math fact instruction plan with this free workbook, The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency.
