When students can have fun and learn in the classroom, they actually enjoy school. Let elementary math classroom games transform your math classroom where kids can have some fun and are excited about math.
A pilot program called Musical Math is combining high school mentors, elementary students and music for academic success. It's a whole new beat to learning.Guess My Rule (Grades 2-5) Builds algebraic Reasoning Skills
This lively game builds excitement and algebraic reasoning. Call on students to give you a number. Write it on the board, then apply a secret rule and write the result on the board. Students try to determine the secret rule.
Here are some sample secret rules: double the number and add one; multiply the number by three and add 10; multiply the number by itself (square it); subtract the number from 100; multiply the number by nine; divide the number by two and round up.
If a student thinks he or she knows the rule, he or she should call out, "Rule!" rather than saying the rule, so the game can continue. That student then takes your place, applying the secret rule to other students' guesses. If the new caller gives correct answers five times in a row, you can be certain he or she really knows the rule. As other students call out "Rule!" you can give them turns being the caller until most of the class has figured out the rule.
To end a round, ask students to explain how they figured out the rule. Interesting discussions occur when multiple rules seem to work. For example, your rule might be "double the number and add four," but a student may find that the rule "add two and then double" gives the same results. Comparing two valid rules helps your students make sense of operations.
For more elementary math classroom games, check out main Elementary Math Games page. You'll find all kinds of math games on this site:
Printable Math Games
Online Math Games
Math Puzzles
Math Tricks
Math Trivia
and More....
If you are a teacher or parent and would like to share one or more of your favorite math games you use with your students please fill out the form below. And of course, we promise not to give out your email address to anyone.
