Math Games

Archive for October, 2006

Question: How to make math fun?

Hey,
I am currently tutoring a 5th grader, she is good at math, yet she enjoys incorporating a game of some kind with math problems, would you have any recommendations or examples of what I could do to motivate her? Please keep in mind, I prefer games that have no physical activity or yelling involved, for I tutor in a library.
Thank you so much

Answer: depending on what topic/concept you are teaching, make a few teaching aids that she can use & have fun with.
convert problems into visuals with the help of these aids.
eg. for proportions, make a nice pizza-shaped [& colored] pie with slices. the base can be whole, while the slices can be inserted or taken out.
you may be able to use the same pizza for other concepts - may be use the toppings [different types & quantities/numbers] for simple maths or equations. eg. if one slice has 3 pieces of olive how many will the entire pizza [with 8 slices] have? ....
the possibilities are numerous.

also, allow her to make up a problem & have you solve it. that will not only reinforce her learning & application, but will amuse her too - to have her teacher solve something she created )

try making some crosswords, word-search, number-search, simple kakuro & sudoku style puzzles based on the concepts being taught.

make a simple jigsaw puzzle or tangram related to topic. the pieces can have numbers, signs, solutions, etc. You can give her an equation with some elements missing which she will have to choose from her lot & solve.

and, look for multiplication pyramids - she will be amazed at the symmetry of multiplication.
let her also play with numbers artistically - convert any number into an animal or thing, or use a set of numbers to make something pictorial.

if you have some specific queries, may be i can give more detailed/specific ideas/answers. but i hope you get the general picture & can use some of the ideas above. and since you've mentioned the library restrictions, i've focused mainly on paper-pencil type activities - stuff you can carry easily too.

hope this gets you inspired
all the very best & have fun both )

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Below are some division free Math Games. For answer to the division free Math Games, use the link at the bottom of the page.

Division free math game 1

In a car race the third place winner drove at 10 miles per hour, the second place winner 10% faster, and the winner 20% faster than the second place winner.

How fast did the winner of the race drive in miles per hour (mph)?

Division free math game 2

The steps of a staircase in a building are 9 inches tall.

How many steps are needed to go from one floor to the next if the floor height in the building is 9 feet?

Division free math game 3

The flying distance between two cities is 4,500 miles and it takes 8 hours to cover the distance by plane.

At what average speed do planes fly between the two cities in miles per hour?

Division free math game 4

An ant is 0.125 inches long. You see an ant family move in a line 15 feet long.

How many ants are there in the line?

For answers to the above division free Math Games, click here.