Mathematics

Maths Games

Over the past few newsletter editions, I have explored the importance role games have in supporting student understanding in Mathematics. Games provide a wonderful opportunity for you to engage in Maths with your child, in a non-threatening, fun way. 

Below are a few wonderful games and activities which you can play with your child at home. The more we practice, the better we get! 

Foundation to Year 2: 

3 Guesses

Concepts covered: Variety of concepts (e.g. even/odd, square numbers, prime numbers, greater than/less than etc.)

Equipment: deck of cards, paper and pens

Good questions to ask while playing:  “Why did you choose to make ___ as your number?”;  “What other clues could you have given for that number?” 

109 

Concepts covered: Place Value and addition

Equipment: Dice (6 sided), paper and pens, counters

Good questions to ask while playing:  “What are you hoping to roll?”; “How did you work that out?”

Credit to Paul Swan and LoveMaths for this activity.

Year 3 to 6: 

Double Double Cross

Concepts covered: Place Value

Equipment: Dice (6 sided), paper and pens

Good questions to ask while playing:  “What are you hoping to roll?”; “Why did you cross this 5 out instead of that 5?”; “What would you do differently next time you play this game?”

Credit to Paul Swan and LoveMaths for this activity. 

Double Hat Trick 

Concepts covered: Place value

Equipment: 0-9 dice (or deck of playing cards), paper and pens

Good questions to ask while playing:  “What numbers can you make?”; “Why did you decide to make __ instead of __?”; “How do you know that goes there?”; “What are you hoping to roll?  Why?” (This is especially good to use if you get students to roll the dice one at a time); “What would you do differently next time you play?”

Shout-out to James Russo for creating this game.