Games ideas for developing children maths skills
Games with Playing Cards
Pelmanism
Rather than looking for matching pairs of numbers, look for pairs of numbers which total 10,
or total 12, or have a difference of 5, or triplets of numbers where 2 numbers added
together total the other number.
Snap
Rather than ‘snapping’ matching pairs of numbers, snap bonds to 10, or have a difference of
5 etc..
Pontoon
Collect cards which total as close to 21 as possible.
Elevens Patience
Lay 9 cards face up in a 3x3 rectangle arrangement and place rest of pack face down in a
pile.
Using cards from the pack, cover any pairs of numbers which total 11, face up.
If a J Q and K all appear at the same time, these can be covered over with cards from the
pack.
The aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards before you run out of pairs of numbers.
Spades
Take the spades cards out of the pack and lay them in a circle, face up.
Each player needs a red suit.
Take the first two cards from your pile. Add them together or
subtract them. Cover over the spades card with that value.
If you can’t go, put the cards to the bottom of your pile.
Carry on until one player uses up their cards, all the spades are
covered, or neither player can go.
Winner is the person with fewest cards left.
Games with Dice
Bowling
Draw 10 circles in a bowling pin arrangement and write a number from 1 to 10 inside each
one.
Roll two dice then + - x or ÷ to give you an answer from 1 to 10. Cross off that skittle.
Keep going until you have scored a strike.
Play in pairs/teams and set a time limit. Who knocks down the most skittles in the time?
Make 50
Roll a die and count that number of points. You can then roll again and again and you keep
adding the numbers unless you roll a 1. A one means the end of your turn and you lose all
the score for that turn. At any time you can stop rolling the die and bank your score.
The winner is the first person to reach the agreed target number.
A variation of this game is cricket. You roll the die to score that number of runs and you
keep rolling the die until you roll a 5, then YOU’RE OUT. You cannot stop and bank your
score.
The winner is the person with the highest score (number of runs) at the end of their turn.
Other Games at Home
Dominoes
Rather than matching numbers, place dominoes together which are bonds of 10, or have a
difference of 5 etc..
Countdown
Make up four or five 1 and 2-digit numbers.
Make up a target number between 50 and 500.
Using + - x ÷ and the 1 and 2-digit numbers, generate an answer as close as possible to the
target.
The numbers could all be created by rolling a dice.
Darts
Traditional darts involves a lot of adding and subtracting as well as doubling and trebling.
Or invent new games like numbers which add up to 10, or 20 or 30, or with a difference of 5,
or 10 etc..12