Trying to find good math games for math centers or cooperative learning can be a time consuming prospect. I've found some really good ones for different areas of the math curriculum. One site has PDFs, and the IXL site is an amazing resource for Common Core activities. Hope you enjoy them!

This is a great game called "Ivy's Meadow". It's perfect for second and third graders to practice addition and subtraction. Click the lady bug to begin, then choose easy, difficult, or expert. Then start playing! Students can choose to add or subtract a particular number by clicking on the up and down arrows. Cute, colorful and good practice!

This is a FUN way to practice those math facts in addition, subtration, multiplication and division! Enjoy!

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If you are not familiar with IXL, don't waste another minute. This link goes to fourth grade, but you can click your grade level on the left hand side. Every Common Core math strand is listed, with a corresponding activity to use in the classroom. OHHH so helpful!

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Defeat the Math Monster is terrific practice for grades 1-4 (you choose the difficulty, plus addition, subtraction, multiplication or division). It's great for math centers. Students get 15 answers right to defeat the monster. There is a video to watch that shows just what to do!

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I love this one! Kids drag and drop answers and the pictures are totally engaging!

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This site is FILLED with second grade math PDFs, activities and handouts for many strands of the math curriculum. (Great for 3rd grade review too). It includes penguin math, snowflake activities, snowmen and glyphs! Don't miss this one!

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OMG! I LOVE this one for fast math practice. Kids choose the pretzel they want to be, then arm wrestle another pretzel. To win they must answer a math question fast! It includes an instructional video on how to play the game…it doesn't get much better than this!

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Are you working on time? This fun game has four skill levels that include time to the half-hour, to the quarter hour, the minute and elapsed time. Be sure to watch the instructional video to learn how to move the clock hands. VERY nice game!

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Freebie Time!

Mental Math is a vital skill for all students.  Here's a little freebie to get them started on developing this important skill!

Are you are interested in Math resources?  If so, check out the resources below, just click on the cover.

10 Reasons to Put PLAY Back into Math

Math that really sticks, is math done through play! When kids play, their brain is activated by the excitement of the activity, not fear of an unknown concept. What's the best way to beat math-phobia? The answer is PLAY! Classroom and online games might be just what your kids need!

Why use play in the math classroom?

1.  "Playful math is to numbers what poetry is to words, music is to sounds, and art is to visual perception." Mathematicians play with math, so do 4 year olds. Losing that playful outlook on math is where the problems begin. Using a playful approach to math encourages out-of-the-box thinking and problem solving.

2.   Games provide unlimited practice. To achieve math mastery takes lots and lots of practice. If that practice is dull, minds wonder and practice ends up being wasted time. Games make kids focus because they have to in order to play the game. It gives a purpose to practice!

3.  Games promote math talk. If playing the game with a partner, students must discuss how to get the right answer, and rethink together when the answer is incorrect.

4. Since there is a natural desire to win, students can easily be lead to achieve above what they are normally expected to achieve. 

5.  Games don't define how a problem must be solved. Students are set loose to find their own ways of discovering the answer….they find their own meaning!

6.  While kids play math games, this gives teachers the perfect time to observe an assess. Kids rarely notice!

7. Playing classroom math games encourages cooperative learning. Math isn't the only thing kids will learn in math class, they'll also learn how to be a team play, problem-solve, and be a good winner or loser.

8. Games are the perfect differentiation tool.  Visual learners see pictures, kenesthetic learners are active with movement (throwing dice), auditory kids love the communication involved, and the kids who love to write can be the note-taker or record the answers.

9. It's hard to develop strategic thinking unless you do activities that make kids use strategic thinking. Gamres are perfect for this. Losing says to kids that there is a better way, what is it? This also promotes metacognition. Kids have to think about their thinking to figure out how to win.

10. If you want to motivate kids, just tell them that the next day in math will be game day. They'll come in with big smiles eager to start. That includes that little math-phobic kid in the corner. A few sessions with fun math games will draw him out and into the fun. 

Some great classroom games include:

10 Games to play with Dominoes: http://www.upperelementarysnapshots.com/2015/10/10-math-games-to-play-with-dominoes.html#.Vhue8CsZTT8

It's amazing the concepts kids can learn from a couple of dice!

20 engaging, skill-building math games for Kids: https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/classroom-math-games-for-kids/

5 math Games Every Classroom Needs to Play; https://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2015/01/5-math-games-every-classroom-needs-to.html 

Great Online Games

This terrific site called Math Game Time has great math games (as well as other subjects) by grade level. Don't be afraid to check out games on the grades above your own, there are many at each level that can be used by lower grades. GREAT for differentiation. Best part....there are lots of teacher videos on how to teach different concepts in the curriculum at the bottom of the page of each grade level.  This game is called "Meteor Multiplication". It's perfect for third and fourth grade practice!

http://www.mathgametime.com

This site from Funbrain is a math arcade that is more than fun. Students select their ability level, so it easily goes from second grade to fifth grade practice. 

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If you teach upper elementary don't miss Multiplication.com. There are LOTs of good (and fun) games to practice those multiplication facts. Check out the menu bar for addition, subtraction, and division games. There is so much good stuff on this site there isn't room to list it all! This game is called "Pirates II"

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This great center/computer game gives kids a fun way to practice subtration facts! To get the correct answer the students use the bee's stinget to pop the correct number of balloons to give the answer. Adorable and so, so educational!

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This site from math playground is FULL of games for all levels. I love this one about area and perimeter!  Don't miss the game on Tangrams!!

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Hope you kids learn lots with these games, and have fun doing it!

Speaking of fun in math, check out the resources below by clicking on the picture.  There's even more in my store! 

Don't miss this fun FREE game!!!

Reinforce those division facts with this fun game!

Decimals take practice...do it the fun way with this resource!

Conquering Those Math Facts!

Learning the multiplication and division facts can be a little overwhelming for some kids. If they can practice those new skills with games and fun activities, it takes a lot of the stress away. Try out some of the great links I have included below to help your students multiply and divide with ease! Enjoy the free multiplication game!

Why use games?

1. Practicing math facts with flash cards can be beyond boring, and turn kids off to the whole process.
2. Bringing "fun" into the mix is a brain based technique that relaxes students and makes learning happen much more easily. It's biology baby!!
3. Games are a perfect solution to the problem, "What am I going to put in centers this week?".

Hope you and your students enjoy some of my favorites below:

This site has many multiplication and division game activity choices. Most are prefect for centers too!

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This set of games from Multiplication.com is fantastic! There are so many fun games here. Be sure to check out Granny Prix Multiplication! Students can choose easy, medium or hard games!

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You have to be fast for this one! It's great practice!!

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OH MY GOODNESS! I love the games here. They are just too cute, and really keep a kid's attention. Learning should be fun!

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Great group of fun and engaging games here!

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Would you like a fun game to help your kids with multiplication? Try "Feed the Chickens" for free!!

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Do you need multiplication or Division Resources?  Check out:

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Super-Charge Your Math Program with Games!

Games are a proven method to reach and teach a kid's brain.  Why?  Because they are fun!  Any learning that is fun is less stressful.  Stress kills learning, fun supercharges learning.  Games promote the mind-body connection. That is what makes retention happen. It sparks a connection in neurons in the brain.  That helps with processing and retention.  It's a win-win!  S0...I thought it was a good time to hunt around the "Net" for some great math games that could be used in centers, or for any kind of cooperative learning. I found some great ones! Enjoy!!

Terrific games here!

This is a TERRIFIC game to practice multiplication facts! There are many other 3rd grade games on this page, this one is called "Space Race".

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This site has a list of 4th grade games that are really good. This one is called "Decention".  Students group fractions, decimals, and percents that go together.

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The fifth grade games here include this one called "Spaceboy" has students move around the board using coordinates!

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This site, from Khan academy offers free tutorial lessons for kids of all ages.  It's great!

If you like using games and task cards to help reinforce those important math facts, check out my resources below:

For division practice:

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For reinforcing decimals:

Make Math Games Successful In Your Classroom

Math can be the spark that excites students into learning and solving problems, or it can be misery. It all depends on how math is taught! The old way of drill, drill, drill, worksheet, after worksheet, after worksheet just doesn't cut it.

The answer is math games. Adding fun to the whole element of learning math excites areas in the brain that keeps kids on task, and makes learning easier! There are lots of math games out there (check out Pinterest!!!).  Finding games isn't an issue, but what really makes a game successful in a classroom?

How do you make sure math games are successful in your classroom?

1.  Make sure you are using games for a specific purpose. They should not be simply time fillers.

2. Find games that match the mathematical objectives you are working on.

3. Once a child (the class) knows a game well, send it home for homework. Simple math games used with a deck of cards are really good for this. Many math games are printable, or only use pencil and paper. They are perfect to send home.

4. Look at the game carefully. Is there an element of chance? If so, even weaker students will think they have a chance of winning. That means they won't give up!

5. Keep the number of players for any game at four or less. The fewer the number of players, the more each child gets to participate.

6. Games should be short, under 15 minutes for sure. There's not much more time for that anyway in a classroom.

7. Students get overloaded when they have to learn many rules for many games. Keep the type of games to five or six. Then you can swap out concepts, but keep the game structure. For example, the simple card game of "War" can be used for any mathematical standard in almost any grade.

8. Give students the opportunity to make their own games. I used pizza boxes to keep games in. The students covered the top with fadless paper (wrape it like a present that can still open), then decorate with the name. Includes rules to attach to the inside of the lid of the box, and use a gameboard made of tagboard to construct the game. Show students a number of boardgames first to allow them to discuss what makes a good game, and good playing cards. If you base the game on one they already know (i.e. Candyland), it also makes it easier.

Try this Freebie math game that gives kids lots of fun practice!  I hope you enjoy my  multiplication game called "Feed the Chickens".  It's designed for two students at a time, and lots of fun! I've included the facts through 12 to make the game useful for older students who need some extra practice. If you teach younger students, just pull out the facts you don't yet need. Just click on the link below the pictures to download the game. I hope your kids enjoy it!

Math games not only super-charge math learning, but learning in any curriculum area!  Check out this game-board resource that can be used with any set of task cards or questions.  They are designed for any curriculum topic, sports area, or holiday!