A group counting game, a magic deck of number cards, and some magic beans that seem to count themselves….these math games require two, three, or more players. They’re ideal in a classroom (small groups) setting or family setting depending on the number of people required to play.
Cool Math Games that Get Kids Thinking
Counting Activities for Kids This counting game for kids requires no math skills, some luck, and a sense of humor. Challenge a group to count to 10 – the trick is that the individuals randomly call out a number (they can’t go around in a circle or down the line). If two people speak at the same time, then the group must start over at “1.” This is harder than it sounds. Once they’ve made it to 10 – they’ve won! Mystery Math Game Have your child shuffle a stack of cards numbered one to 10, and then add up the cards your friend sets down on a table in an instant. Don’t tell them the secret to this math trick, and he’ll think you’re a math whiz. Start with five index cards. On the first piece, write “1” on the front and “2” on the back. On the next piece of paper, write “3” on the front and “4” on the back. On another sheet, write “5” and “6”, “7” and “8”, and “9” and “10.” Give the papers or cards to a friend and ask him to mix up the cards. Tell him to spread out the cards with either side turned face up. In an instant, you can tell your friend the sum of the numbers showing. The trick is that all of the even numbers equal 30. (2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 30) For each odd number showing, subtract “1” from “30” because each odd number is one less than the even number on the reverse side of the card. If one odd number is showing, subtract one for a sum of 29; if four odd numbers are showing, then the total is 26. Will your child figure out the trick? Teach them to play this game with others! Magic Beans Math For this bit of number magic, you’ll need three players. One person, the math magician, will direct Players One and Two to pass dried beans, toothpicks, pennies, candies, etc., back and forth and then announce the number of toothpicks held by Player Two. The math magician stands with her back to the two players. Direct the two players to avoid counting or saying numbers aloud. 1. Player One selects any number of toothpicks between 10 and 20. Player Two counts Player One’s toothpicks and then takes twice that number from the box. 2. The math magician tells Player One to give any number of toothpicks, between one and 10, to Player Two. (Remember the number that you tell him.) 3. Player Two counts the number of toothpicks Player One has left. Player Two gives twice that number of toothpicks to Player One. 4. The math magician announces the number of toothpicks Player Two is holding. The number is three times the number of items you told Player One to give to Player Two during step 2. Looking for additional math games and printables? Check out this FREE Math Skip Counting Printable Game and this Math Flash Cards Memory Game!These cool math games will have your young kids experience fun with numbers, and just maybe turn them on to a love of math!
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