Elementary Math Games

Math is a very intriguing subject. Either a student completely understands the subject else it can make no sense to them. It is the task of the elementary school teacher that such an important subject be taught with exceptional care so that it does not become a nightmare for the students as they grow up. One of the best ways to teach students the subject is via simple games as it will hold their interests better and will make concepts clearer.

Below are some of elementary math games that you can make young children play at school and help learn the subject better.

The Astrolabe Game

The astrolabe has been used during the ancient times to measure the position of the stars in the sky. Sailors also used it for navigation directions. The game is suitable for children of grade 3 and up and will help improve their concepts of angles.

Requirements:

Each student will need the following set of tools:

• An Astrolabe pattern (You can easily download a pattern from the Internet and circulate the same in the class)
• A 5 inch square poster board
• A string that is about 6 inch long
• A long soda straw
• A metal washer
• Cellophane tape
• Scissors
• Glue

Play the Game:

• Ask the students to cut out the astrolabe along its edges. The nest step is to glue it on the poster board ensuring that corner of the astrolabe is at one edge of the poster board. Punch the hole at the corner (90 Degree angle) of the astrolabe.
• To one end of the string, tie the washer. Insert the other end of the string through the hole punched in the astrolabe. Adjust it in a manner that the washer hangs just below the curved edge of the astrolabe. Stick the free end of the string (through the hole) behind the pattern.
• The straw has to be taped along the edge that connects the punched hole and the 90th Degree on the astrolabe.
• Now, ask the students to place their eye at the end of the straw that is nearest to the curved edge of the astrolabe and look for the object whose elevation is to be measured. The poster board has to be held vertical with the straw at top.
• The washer will swing and will hold the string vertical. Once the object has been captured through the pipe, carefully grab the washer and hold it in its position. The string will provide the angle of the object.
• For children of higher grades, the same game can be used to further explain the concept of similar angles by asking them to measure the elevation of the same object from different distances.

Guess the Sequence

This is a highly interactive and an entertaining game that is sure to help your students do more math calculations mentally. You make the game even more challenging by dividing the students into 2 or more groups and making them compete with each other. This game can be played from grade 2 onwards. You can make the questions more difficult as you go higher up the grades.

Requirements:

The basic requirement is the blackboard and chalk pieces. You can even supply the students with paper and pencils if you want. Beware that this game will also require you to prepare a lot of questions beforehand.

Play the Game:

• The basic concept of the game is that you write a series of numbers on the blackboard that follow some pattern and the students have to guess the number on the list.
• Considering a simple example, let us assume that you have written 1, 4, 16, 128 on the blackboard. You will notice that the pattern here is that the first number is multiplied by 4 to get the second number and the second number is again multiplied by 4 to get the third number and so on. Hence the fifth number here, which the students have to guess, is 512.
• To illustrate with another example, the list that is written on the blackboard is 1, 3, 5, 7. The pattern here is that 2 is added to the first number to get the next number. Hence, the answer that the students need to provide is 9.
• Some of the common patterns that you can use are odd number series, even number series, prime numbers, multiplication factors, Fibonacci series and so on.

Apart from these, there are thousands of interactive games available on the Internet. With young kids being highly computer savvy, at least you will not have to teach them to use the mouse and keyboard. Just look up a game on the Internet and watch the kids flourish.