Looking for math games, teacher friend? I’ve got a ton of resources for you there. But today, I want to take a bit of a different look at math games. Now more than ever, we need to build relationships with our students, and giving the kids in our classrooms the opportunity for them to build relationships with each other. As important as it is, it can be really hard to find the time to do it.
The Struggle
The principal tells you to keep up with the pacing guide. Your instructional coach reminds you that certain students need to build math skills from grades prior. And your students are just burned out. Heck – you’re burned out. Everyone has been beyond exhausted for the past year if not the past two years.
So in this article, we’re looking at 20 ways you can build math skills, and relationships through games in the classroom. Let’s get into it.
The Benefits of Learning Through Games
As a teacher, you already know how important it is to build relationships with students. We know it’s completely foundational to fostering a classroom community. This is especially crucial when it comes to math – because learning and practicing math in front of peers and strangers can be really stressful. It’s vulnerable. This is why games are magical when you’re looking to build relationships with students.
It gives you a fun, low-stress, high-engagement way to interact with the kids in your class that doesn’t require a certain level of rigor, or depth of knowledge in a particular topic. Most of the games in my TeachersPayTeachers store (when you click here, you’ll follow my store) focus on spiral review of foundational math concepts (i.e. multiplication facts, division facts, place value, etc).
So when students do things like math fact tournaments, they’re focused on something they can actually do and participate in; they aren’t focused on what they don’t know, or what others know.
Why Math Games Are Important
Games in general provide a great way for students to build relationships with each other. It’s the reason why they play games without much prompting at recess – and from my background in summer camps, I can tell you that friendships are formed quickly when students are constantly playing with each other!
Students that start as strangers on Monday, become fast friends by Friday. I’d argue that, games in general are important. They help students learn rules and practice enforcing boundaries. They help students develop time awareness, practice working together in teams, and they learn their individual strengths and weaknesses. But when it comes to learning math, they’re even more important.
Math can be scary and intimidating for students – so providing several fun and engaging ways for students to interact and engage with grade-level math content might be exactly what they need to build upon the knowledge they already have (and/or, to develop scheme with a skill if a concept is completely new to them).
It’s super easy to make existing activities into games – and when you’re short on time to play a proper game, you can gamify otherwise boring practice worksheets by adding a self-checking element. I personally love to do this with Google Sheets!
I get that it can be time-consuming to adapt all of those worksheets – so if you’d rather save yourself some time, you can find several self-checking Google Sheet math activities in my TpT store (by clicking this link, you’ll follow my store on TeachersPayTeachers).
How Math Games Help Students
There are many reasons for math games in the classroom, and it’s not just about academics. But, what are they? And are any of these reasons for math games backed by research or evidence?
Let’s dig into those reasons now.
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Increased attention from student
While I know that we’re educators and that we’re not in the entertainment business, we need to get their attention and investment in what they’re doing before we can expect excellence.
And it just makes sense, right?
When we go to professional development sessions and training for teachers, we don’t really participate until we see how, where or when we can use it.
It’s the same for our students.
Games help to catch students’ attention, and keep them captivated enough to stay present throughout the whole lesson. -
Authentic student engagement
I am a HUGE advocate for authentic student engagement.
But, what is engagement anyway?
And what does it look like when students are truly engaged?
There are different levels of attention and engagement. This is not my chart, but it’s a great one to give you a sense of where your students could be in relation to what they’re learning:
We definitely don’t want for students to be constantly retreating, rebelling against learning or in compliance just to appease us.
We want for them to truly learn.
That all starts with them being invested in whatever’s happening in the classroom.
3. Improved relationships between teachers and their students
I’ll expand a bit about this below when I share the how.
But when we think of kids and how they bond, they make friends and forge relationships through play.
Even from a very young age, they form close relationships with their parents through play and imagination.
It’s the same for students and teachers.
When we spend time with them human-to-human (which includes play), that automatically results in stronger, more positive connections.
4. Improved relationships between students
Since students also bond with each other through play, games allow for students to make friends and practice social-emotional skills.
Students learn important lessons about sharing, taking turns, losing graciously, winning humbly, collaboration, and sportsmanship through competition.
5. Improved relationships between students and their parents & caregivers
When students get what they need at school, they come home excited to share that with their families.
Often, we bring our stresses from the day home with us – whether we’re adults or kids.
But when we feel like we’re doing well and getting what we need throughout the day, that allows more room for positive connections at home.
6. Improved relationships between teachers and students’ parents
When students enjoy school, and when they have positive relationships with their peers and teacher, they’re more likely to view school in a favorable light.
At the end of the day, most parents just want for their children to be happy and thrive.
When parents see that their kids love school, and when they can see evidence that their child’s teachers love them, they feel reassured and positive about the teacher.
This means that, whenever you do need to talk to the child’s parent, the conversation will be more collaborative and not adversarial.
7. Increased motivation for students to learn on-level math
This is a short oversimplification, but – when students look forward to something, they’re more likely to give it their all!
I love to inject fun into every facet of learning, and into every part of the instructional day.
The more we can keep that magic up with school, the more we’ll see student participation and motivation increase.
8. Increased motivation for students to remediate math basics
It can be really difficult to remediate foundational math skills when needed – especially if the student sees the skills as “easy,” “babyish,” or something that “everyone else already gets.” So if everyone is playing the same game, it takes away the focus from that one students’ need to improve upon that skill.
This also gives any students who are struggling the chance to see that they’re not alone in this, which gives them the opportunity to bond with their peers.
9. Encourages students to recognize each other for their strengths, acquired skills, hard work, etc.
This is where we really start to see those deep peer relationships. Often, students see learning as a very black-and-white endeavor. “Some kids are good at math,” or, “Other kids are good at school, but I’m not.
But with some guidance, games can foster a sense of appreciation for other students’ strengths – as well as building one’s own confidence in their own skills.
10. Encourages students to see, recognize and appreciate their own talents, skills, strengths and accomplishments
As mentioned above, many students really struggle to see and appreciate their own strengths.
Self-awareness is tough for kids in general since this is something they’re usually developing, especially in the upper elementary years.
11. Makes math less of a win-lose situation for students
All too often, we as teachers focus on helping our students “solve the problems,” or “find the answers.”
This can make math a win-lose situation for kids.
When we start to reframe math as an adventure or a journey that the students are on, it automatically becomes less stressful for them.
Students get to actually ENJOY the process, and the field of mathematics.
12. Reduces math anxiety, stress and trauma around learning math
When students see math as something fun and exciting, it will be less likely to induce stress.
This is especially important for students who struggle with anxiety, and especially for kids who suffer from math anxiety.
If you’ve never heard of math anxiety before, or if you’re wondering if it’s a real thing, I highly recommend reading this article.
In that blog post, I share an overview of what math anxiety is, and what every teacher should know about it.
13. Makes class more enjoyable for the teacher, which leads to increased teacher retention
In many articles centered around the benefits of social-emotional learning, the focus is usually on the students.
And that’s completely understandable. Teachers, parents, admins… we’re all working together to ensure students learn.
But taking care of teachers is a huge part of that, too.
When teachers are burned out and not enjoying their jobs, it’s not good for anyone.
So if you’re a teacher reading this, it is SO ESSENTIAL that you take the necessary steps to prevent burnout and keep your job fun for yourself!!
This includes making your instructional day more fun by adding in games.
Whatever it takes.
One day, I was SO STRESSED, that I led an extended brain break where my class did a Frozen sing-along with YouTube videos.
It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done!!
Related to math? No – but relationship-building and stress-reducing? 100%.
14. Takes the pressure off of everyone needing to “be a math expert”
As teachers, we really should strive to have a working understanding of our states’ standards, as well as vertical and horizontal alignment of those standards and how they present as skills in our classrooms.
So yes, there is a sense of being experts in our content.
But, do we NEED to be experts to be effective at teaching math?
I would say “no.”
I’d go further than that and say that our students don’t need to be experts, either.
What we’re really doing, is helping them develop skills to solve problems and find answers – no matter what the topic or method is.
These are interdisciplinary skills.
15. Improves the relationship between students and learning, and students with their schools
When students have several negative experiences with learning and school, it completely makes sense as to why students wouldn’t be excited to keep learning.
Playing more math games with students is a great way to combat this.
When students love learning and start to actually look FORWARD to math, it totally changes the dynamic of your classroom.
16. Increases the frequency of spiral review, which helps test score and standardized test preparedness
Test scores cause a lot of stress.
There’s pressure from admin, politicians, the public, etc.
By giving students more chance to succeed on these tests, and more fun ways to practice with game-style formatives, they’ll have less stress about the actual test when it happens because they’ll be more prepared.
17. More spiral review also increases the likelihood of skill mastery and standard readiness
In high school, I started taking vocal lessons because I had a natural talent for singing that I wanted to develop.
Instead of saying “practice makes perfect,” my vocal coach always said, “practice makes permanent.”
She was right, and I’ll never forget it.
When we give students more frequent opportunities to practice skills and build understanding of the concepts, they get more chances to be successful.
And, they’ll be more likely to succeed when it IS time to take those pesky tests.
18. Students learn about rules and boundaries
Every game has some kind of rules.
As simple as it is when we’re adults, kids are constantly learning and re-learning the need for rules and boundaries.
Math games are a great way for students to practice listening to rules and acting within given boundaries.
19. Students learn how to create their own boundaries
Games require socialization naturally.
And of course, with socialization, comes interpersonal conflict.
But these experiences are SO HELPFUL in a child’s development!
When students face conflict with others, they learn to develop self-awareness, and they learn to implement their own boundaries.
They learn what they like, what they don’t like, and how to respect the varying preferences and perceptions of students around them.
20. Students are pushed to develop new relationships in a safe environment
It’ natural for us to want to work with people we already consider to be friends.
During games, students have opportunities to develop new relationships that might not have been formed otherwise.
I have seen this happen time and time again as a camp counselor, and not just with school-aged students!
I’ve seen young adults become friends who might have otherwise never hung out with each other “in real life.”
Experiencing things together like challenging games could be a catalyst to a new, otherwise unlikely friendship.
And even if/when this doesn’t happen for your students, they’ll at least get more interactions with students who are different from them – which is something all kids can benefit from.
I know that this blog post is long! And I can’t blame you if you’re ready to tap out.
If you’d rather learn all of this in video form (and in addition, snag some math games that you can try with your class tomorrow), snag this short mini training in my TeachersPayTeachers store!
How to Use These Math Games With Students
In this section, I’m going to share where you can find some of the best math games out there – in fact, most of these pop up in Google search when students search for cool and fun math games – so that’s a pretty strong endorsement!
But instead of just sharing the games with you, I’m sharing some tips on HOW you can use these games to build math skills and meaningful relationships with students.
- Whole-Group Math Games Indoors
There are so many great and simple games you can modify or play with your whole class indoors.
Even something as simple as “Heads Up, 7 Up” can be modified to help your students build math skills!
Pass out white boards, then have students complete a simple problem (multiplication facts work great for this, as it’s easy spiral review).
Students place their answers on the white board, then the put their heads down and their thumbs up.
Students who are “it” can either only select the students who got the correct answer, or they can comment on the white board where the other student made an error, if that applies. - Whole-Group Math Games During Recess
I’m a HUGE fan of “Mingle, Mingle!” when you’re teaching basic addition, multiplication, subtraction or division facts.
When you get my mini-training on using games to increase rigor, and improve relationships, you’ll hear me talk more about this.
Otherwise, a quick YouTube search should bring up some example on how it looks when it’s played. - Small-Group Math Games During Centers
Even when you’re not directly interacting or playing with your students, you can use math games to help them build conceptual understanding and practice skills.
In this Place Value Guided Lesson & Activity Pack, I have students roll dice to practice naming and identifying the value of digits in a number.
They also get to write checks to each other at the end while practicing number form, expanded form and word form.
You can grab it here!
Or, if you just need some printable place value charts?
I have some you can get for FREE!! Just click here (this will subscribe you to my email list).
- Small-Group Math Games With the Teacher
If you do math workshop, centers, stations, or any kind of rotations, then you probably already know that small-group time with students is precious.
It’s so limited, and it seems that things are constantly encroaching on that time.
When you’re using games to pre-teach, re-teach or differentiate concepts, I recommend keeping the games light and simple.
Whenever possible, use the same games procedure-wise, so you’re not spending that time explaining or reminding students of rules.
I recommend having dice, playing cards and dominoes at the teacher table.
You can create and modify so many small group games with those tools! - Differentiated Small-Group Math Games
I’ve noticed that students who struggle with steps and procedures in math, often struggle with procedures and rules in games.
And that totally makes sense.
Sometimes, this means you have to differentiate the content itself, AND the game.
If you can, simplify the steps or rules for students who show a lot of frustration during a particular game.
If it’s ‘too easy’ for others, see if you can make the games themselves more challenging.
6. Games for Math Center Stations
There are so many options here!
Board games, worksheet activities, or even using apps and websites for online games.
I actually recorded an episode for the Learning to Love Math Podcast where I shared my favorite online games, apps and websites.
And most of these are PERFECT for digital math center activities.
7. Low-Tech Partner Games
Nothing beats old school playing cards, dice games and domino games.
You can even use simple manipulatives like base ten blocks, connecting cubes, counters or play doh to challenge students working in pairs.
Include a timer to make it feel more like a challenge.
Students can work together collaboratively, or they can compete against each other.
8. Tablet Friendly Partner Games
My students looooove Prodigy! They’re seriously obsessed with it.
It’s very easy for students to start and catch on – and since students need to correctly answer questions to get health points and win battles, they’re automatically motivated to work hard!
Sumdog is another one that students love. It’s differentiated automatically, since students only receive problems at their level. But students get to play with and against their friends in real time, which is great.
You can even assign contents and challenges in Sumdog to motivate them further.
9. Partner Games for Chromebooks
SplashLearn is one of my favorite sites for games.
More specifically, I love the math games they have available.
I even use them in my instruction when I’m teaching concepts like long division and multi-digit multiplication!
10. Tablet-Friendly Solo Games
SplashLearn is one of my favorite sites for games.
More specifically, I love the math games they have available.
I even use them in my instruction when I’m teaching concepts like long division and multi-digit multiplication!
To keep students from getting too distracted or overwhelmed by the site, I recommend assigning specific games onto an assignment in Google Classroom.
Challenge your students to share screenshots of their high scores on the Stream of your Google Classroom, if you allow them to post in there.
11. Friendly Competitions
Students naturally hold competitions with each other.
Use that to your (and their!) advantage!
Challenge your students to see who can complete a worksheet or activity the fastest.
Or, you can even have them compete against themselves to see if they can beat their last best time.
I’ve seen other teachers put up leaderboards in their classrooms, similar to what a student would see at an arcade game, and I think it’s BRILLIANT.
12. Classwide Tournaments
I’m a huge fan of classwide tournaments.
You can use a tournament bracket generator like this one to create a tournament based on how many students, groups or teams you have in your class.
13. Grade Level Tournaments
Same deal as classwide tournaments, but turn them up a notch!
Make it all even more fun by having your students compete against students, groups and teams in other classes within your grade level.
14. Schoolwide Tournaments
There are a few ways you can do schoolwide tournaments.
You can have grade-levels (3rd grade, 4th grade, etc) compete against each other, or you could have winners of classwide tournaments have a final battle against the finalists from other classes or grade levels.
Soooo many options!
The world is your oyster when it comes to math games.
15. Differentiated Homework
I am a HUGE fan of personalizing and differentiating assignments.
And that includes homework.
Now, I’m not a huge fan of graded homework, because I feel like that defeats the actual purpose of homework (which is to encourage practice and foster skill-building in students).
But using an LMS (Learning Management System) like Google Classrooem makes it super easy to differentiate, assign and grade homework if that’s what you’d like to do.
I’m a huge fan of making games and interactive activities in Jamboard, then assigning them in Google Classroom.
I actually have a video on my YouTube channel where I walk you through how to do this!
16. Boredom Busters, Time Fillers and Sponge Activities
Let’s be honest.
Sometimes, as teachers, we just need to kill a few minutes (and towards the end of the school-year, or before breaks? We might need to kill a few HOURS).
Games are a great way for you to have fun with your students when they seem over learning, and when you feel like teaching is futile.
When Halloween and Valentine’s Day fall on weekdays?
I’m playing a TON of games with my students.
17. Incentives and Rewards
Because my students love games like Sumdog and Prodigy so much, it’s easy to use these websites as prizes and rewards.
I’ve met so many teachers who spend hundreds and even THOUSANDS of dollars per year for classroom rewards and prizes.
If that’s your thing, go for it!!
But I find some of the best things we can give to the kids are absolutely free.
I work at a PBIS school, and I use Class Dojo to track points, milestones and rewards.
One of the rewards a student can earn is extra time on Prodigy or Sumdog.
And the kids LOVE IT!!
Now, the kids know that they can’t rush through whatever they’re doing – because I have them go back and redo it if I feel it’s not their best work.
So my students know they need to work well AND fast if they want to have that extra time.
And it’s been extremely effective.
18. Do Some Just for Fun
Sometimes, there doesn’t need to be an academic reason to do something.
Just as we visit with friends recreationally to bond with them, the same goes for our students.
Yes, we’re their teachers.
We want to set high expectations for them, and set firm boundaries from a place of love and respect.
But at the end of the day, we’re all humans first.
Celebrate this humanness with your classroom!
We know brain breaks are important for learning and retention, and that breaks allow for our stress levels to come down.
So if anyone needs another reason to play more games in class, feel free to take any of those.
When we were all teaching virtually, every Friday, I built in time for me to play ‘Among Us’ with students.
That simple gesture did SO MUCH with relationship building!!
Even students who felt like they were struggling academically had something to look forward to every week.
And, this is important – when the main goal of a game is bonding, don’t let academic success or progress become a pre-requisite for it.
This game time was as ESSENTIAL as a morning meeting.
Everyone was required to play.
It was a great opportunity for the students to practice collaboration, critical thinking, taking turns, patience, and how to win or lose with grace.
And of course, it was just a lot of fun – and I had a great time being sneaky when I was an Impostor. 🙂
Let’s Wrap This Up…
The argument for math games in the classroom goes far beyond making learning fun, that that is an amazing by-product. When games are integrated into the learning community of a classroom, they really become the vehicle that fosters personal growth, builds relationships between students, and helps teachers create a sense of safety.
About the Author
Brittany Roberts is the teacher-author behind Math With Minis.
Brittany’s a former teacher turned tutor, coach, and math content creator.
Before she taught in a classroom, she spent years creating fun activities for kids at recreation centers and summer camps.
She believes games can be powerful tools for learning and socio-emotional growth when students play with a purpose.
Here’s how you can learn from her and connect with her:
