Fun activities for maths


7 Classroom Math Activities That Will Make Math Engaging and Fun

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Fun, hands‑on math games are a great way to make early math concepts clear and keep your students engaged.

Introducing math games into the classroom is a great way to make learning fun, engaging and motivating for young learners.

And the best part about starting early (kindergarten to grade 2) is that it helps your students to develop a positive attitude toward math from an early age, setting them up for a successful academic future.

Here are some fun classroom math activities that will have your students begging to do more.

Math Bingo

This math game is sure to become a fast favorite with your students. You can choose whatever skill you want to review, such as addition, subtraction, or number sequencing. The game works just like regular bingo, except students have to solve math problems in order to know what number to mark off of their sheet.

To prepare, make a list of 25 math problems (e.g. 2+1, 3–0, or 2, 4, 6, _ ). Write the answers on the same sheet of paper.

Create your own 5x5 bingo cards or generate them online. At random, write the answers on the cards using the solutions from your list. There should be a bingo card for each student playing. You can laminate the cards to use for next time and have students place pennies or rocks to mark their answers.

Make a paper plate clock

Are your students learning to tell time this year? This hands‑on craft activity is a fantastic way to practice this important skill.

Start with a paper plate and make a small hole at the center. Students should write the numbers in the correct places. Using colored paper, they can then cut the clock hands to the right size and secure them using a split pin from the center. You can even use a second plate (different color) for students to write the minutes. Glue the second plate to the bottom of the first so that it creates a rim.

Guess the weight

Children love playing guessing games, and when it comes to whether something is heavy or light, there can certainly be a few surprises in store for them.

Gather several items and spread them across a table. One at a time, ask students to guess the weight of each item and write their predictions in one column on a page (you can create a simple template for this too). Using kitchen scales, invite individual students to weigh each item and record the correct answers in a second column. You can also add a column in between and pass each item around the class, so students can guess the weight after holding each in their hand.

Hopscotch math

This game is a great way to get your students outside on a nice sunny day. Using a piece of chalk, draw a hopscotch grid on the pavement mimicking a calculator layout. Ask students to form a line and one by one, give them a simple operation (e.g. 2+3, 5–0). Students should take turns hopping on each element of the equation in the correct order, landing finally on the answer.

In another game, you can call out a number and ask students to hop on any equation that equals to that number. For a fun twist, ask students to hop on one leg for odd numbers, and two legs for even numbers.

Hopscotch math is a fun activity which helps students to practice simple operations.

Pizza fractions

Fractions can be tricky, so this activity can really help students to visualize key concepts. Create an instruction sheet with five different fractions on each (you can create several so different students get a different set). Students should create a pizza (using construction paper, or even the inside of an empty pizza box) and decorate the toppings to represent each fraction.

For example, if they had a quarter (fourth), they should cover one-quarter of the pizza with a specific ingredient (e.g. mushrooms or pepperoni).

'Lengthy' scavenger hunt

Divide students into groups and give each group a list of measurements and a measuring tool (e.g. a ruler, tape, trundle wheel). Instruct students to find items that are exactly the length of what they have listed. For younger students who haven't yet been introduced to measurement, draw various lines on their sheet and ask them to find items that are exactly the same length.

Make sure you prepare items beforehand and place them in a safe and visible spot. This activity can be done outside or in the classroom.

Survey and graph

Ask each student to think of a question they’d like to survey their fellow classmates on. For example, they might like to ask their classmates what their favorite animal is out of a dog, monkey, pig, or chicken. Give students time to walk around the classroom quizzing each other and recording their data.

Once students have collected enough data, ask them to represent their results by building a bar graph using linking cubes, blocks, or Legos. They can use sticky notes or bits of paper to create labels above each bar. Take a photo of each student's graph, which you can later print out to create a class collage to display.

Looking for new ways to make elementary math fun? Mathseeds is a research-based online math program specifically designed for students in grades K–2. Created by a highly experienced team of elementary teachers, Mathseeds provides self-paced lessons, fun games, automated reporting, and a range of teaching tools to help your elementary math students succeed. Sign up for a free trial today.

25 Fun Math Activities for Middle & High School Students

By: Virginia | Feb 19, 2021 12:15 PM

If math is your student’s least favorite subject, everything from classes to homework to studying for quizzes and tests can be like pulling teeth. 

But with an extra dose of creativity and fun, dread can turn to delight!

Like any challenging (and important) skill, mastering key math concepts takes practice; unfortunately, that can often look like a worksheet or some other list of tasks that feels more like a mental laundry list than a puzzle kids would be eager to solve.

This genre of practice can be necessary, don’t get me wrong, but if you could use a little help in giving math practice a makeover, we’ll need to step outside that box. The good news is: making math fun to learn for kids isn’t a mystery, and these ideas are simple to implement at home with elementary, middle, or high school students.

Here are 25 fun activities that will spice up your child’s learning routine, plus they’ll reap the benefits of “gamified” learning: increased motivation, engagement, and pure enjoyment of learning just for the sake of it. 

More good news: reluctant and enthusiastic mathematicians alike will get a kick out of gamified learning. Take a look with your student, and pick out a few to try this week! 

Fun Math Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

1. Play Math Tic-Tac-Toe

This handy resource adapts the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game for a range of skills and grade levels. Best for elementary and middle school students, this activity can be a quick brain break or an all-out challenge with a prize at stake.

2. Try the Exponent Battle Card Game

As the website cleverly describes this game, it "raises math fun to a higher power”! Kids will enjoy playing against parents, siblings, or friends, and they’ll have an extra incentive to master the exponents they’ll need for science and math class. 

3. Explore math with Minecraft

Yes, you read that correctly! Minecraft has an incredible math educator’s guide that’s guaranteed to intrigue young gamers who could use an extra incentive to bolster their math skills. Learn more about the incredible educational applications of Minecraft. 

4. Tackle Fantasy Football Equations

Though football season may be over, this activity is a great one to stash away for the next draft. Algebraic equations can be challenging for many middle school students, and this sporting twist will not only make the practice more bearable, kids will get to see the (sometimes elusive) real-world application of what they’re learning.  

And here is an expert tutorial if your student could use some extra help solving for x.

5. Roll Into a Subtraction Dice Game

This foundational skill becomes a lot more enjoyable in game form, and students will strengthen their mental math muscles as they play. 

6. Slice Some Sandwich Fractions 

Ideal for lunch time, kids will be extra-motivated to master proportions and fractions. Converting fractions into decimals, or vice versa? These tutorials will help your student convert the numbers in a trice. 

7. Play Math Jeopardy

From averages to exponents to algebra, these pre-designed Jeopardy games will elevate study time and make review something to look forward to. Kids can compete with siblings or virtually with friends!

8. Pull Off an Order of Operations Heist

To crack the safe in this online game, students must correctly use the order of operations. Kids will need to know this to solve math problems, but as they master the skill, a reward like pulling off a heist is a useful motivator.

9. Have a Math Board Game Night

If you’re looking to revamp your family’s board game collection, why not infuse some fun with math? Proof!, Prime Climb, and Real World Math were each created by teachers and boast hundreds of rave reviews from parents. 

10. Bring Math to the Grocery Store 

Discounts, fractions, budgeting—there are so many mathematical applications when it comes to shopping for kids’ favorite foods. This activity can easily be done virtually through grocery delivery services or online shopping. 

11. Battle in a Multiplication “War” Card Game 

The game that has entertained kids for countless hours gets mathematical in this rapid fire edition of “War”. 

12. Hit the Negative Number Piñata 

Learning to add and subtract negative numbers can be tricky. So, to stave off student frustration, this game is a fun way to practice. Plus, this platform offers quick tutorial videos as well, just in case your student could use a refresher.  

13. Chart a Graphed Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love a great scavenger hunt? Not only would this make a great at-home (and outdoor) activity, kids will practice graphing coordinates and slopes in a hands-on way. 

14. Shop for Algebraic Reasoning Sweets

A sweet introduction to algebraic thinking, this is one of many colorful games Math Playground offers. Players solve for the value of each candy in this online “sweet shop.”

15. Jump into Multiplication Hopscotch

Kinesthetic learning, or learning through movement, is a great way to increase students’ engagement (and energy levels). If your student is learning to memorize multiplication tables and could use a break from paper and pencil, take a break outdoors with some chalk, and get moving!

16. Place Value with LEGO

Young learners mastering place value will benefit from the visual and kinesthetic aspects of exploring the concept with LEGO. This activity will work with just about any LEGO set you have on hand.

Fun Math Activities for High School Students

17. Launch into Space with Math & NASA

STEM worlds collide in NASA’s math series! This website offers activities for algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus paired with the innermost workings of space exploration. 

18. Explore Statistics with Real-World Scenarios

This probably sounds familiar: when will I need to know this in real life? This range of expertly-designed activities provides valuable connections to practical scenarios that will satisfy even the most skeptical students. 

19. Dance With a Transversal Geometry Game

Think of this fun activity as the antidote to the geometry doldrums. Kids can pick a soundtrack (or use one of the pre-made options), clear the room, and dance their way to knowing all about transversals.

Fun Math Activities for all Ages 

20. Embark on an Interdisciplinary Project

Connecting new (and potentially dull) subject matter to an area of students’ interest is a well-known best practice in education. This resource provides some excellent interdisciplinary projects that blend math skills with art, history, fascinating places around the world, and more.  

21. Set Sail with a Quadratic Equation Shipwreck

If your student is just getting the hang of quadratic equations (or perhaps brushing up for a quiz), this game is a perfect way to practice. 

22. Plan a Pi Day Extravaganza

Pi Day, March 14th, is just around the corner, so why not make it a celebration of this all-important number! Check out these elementary and middle school activities, fun games and puzzles for all ages, high school activities, and pi card race to make the day memorable and bring smiles back into the equation. 

23. Solve a KenKen Puzzle

This game was called “the most addictive math game since Sudoku” by New York Times games editor, a winning testimonial if ever we’ve heard one. KenKen puzzles are a great way to practice mental math or do a warm up before tackling more complex problems.

24. Play Trigonometry Mini Golf

Upper middle school and high school students will enjoy seeing trigonometry in action in a familiar pastime and in other real-world applications of math concepts. Each activity is interactive and includes short videos and tutorials to give each game context.  

25. Learn How to Locate People Lost at Sea

This investigation answers the question: how does the Coast Guard find and rescue those lost in the vast ocean? Turns out, statistical skills are key to these missions. Kids can learn about how they work and have another great answer to the question “why is math important”?

Have Fun with Math Today!

Let us know how your explorations turn out. Looking for a little extra help? iD Tech offers live online math tutoring to help your student succeed and thrive in the classroom. 

Options include:

  • Pre-algebra tutoring
  • Algebra I tutoring
  • Algebra II tutoring
  • Online geometry tutoring
  • Precalc tutoring
  • Calculus tutoring
  • Trigonometry tutoring
  • Statistics tutoring 

Plus, our math tips & resources page offers tutorials and more to level up your child's math game.

interesting math problems and assignments

Tips for parents and examples of exciting math assignments. fun tasks, puzzles, exercises and tests with answers and solutions.

Try the LogicLike course in a playful way!

Choose an age to start

nine0002 4-5 years

6-7 years

1-2 class

3-5 class

6-9 grade

nine0002 15+ for myself

Why do children and parents choose LogicLike?

ALL LOGIC IN GAME FORM!

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Start classes!

The benefits of studying logic and mathematics

Elementary mathematical representations help to form in kindergarten. Basic Mathematical abilities are developed at school.

And so that the child learns to reason logically, to think outside the box - ordinary arithmetic and geometric problems are not enough. nine0003

Already at preschool age, it is desirable to develop the habit of daily tasks and exercises for the development of logical thinking.

Thanks to regular training:

  • the child learns to reason, analyze and do the right things. findings;
  • develops intelligence, memory, attention and intelligence; nine0028
  • success increases self-esteem, interest in learning at school, inspire to win in mathematical olympiads and competitions.

Children aged 5-12 enjoy walking LogicLike course in game form. In the meantime, they learn to reason develop logic, ability to mathematics and cognitive interest.

Math problems by age nine0041

It is easiest to interest preschoolers 5-7 years old, primary school students. The main thing - offer a variety of entertaining tasks, make the process of solving problems exciting, with elements of the game, and provide a moderate difficulty of the tasks.

Examples of tasks by age

  • Logic for children 5-6 years old
  • Logic for children 6-7 years old
  • Mathematics for preschoolers
  • 1st class
  • 2nd class
  • 3rd class
  • 4 class

By grades 3-4, a student's motivation often decreases. It is important for parents not to miss this moment and explain to the child why to do it at all mathematics and learn to solve problems. nine0003

Logic and Math Examples

  • for preschoolers
  • for first graders
  • examples for 2 class
  • for 3rd grade
  • for class 4 nine0028
  • examples for 5 class

Logic-mathematical and other educational games by age

45 years

Entertaining tasks by type nine0041

In terms of regular training at any age, there should be at least 5-7 types of tasks. This will help the complex development of the child's logic, cognitive, creative and mathematical skills. abilities.

Among the most interesting and popular categories of tasks for logic and ingenuity:

  • Classic logic problems. nine0027 Teaching children analyze the text, highlight the main thing, reason and draw conclusions.
  • Arithmetic puzzles. Excellent performance of key mental operations: abstraction, analysis and synthesis, comparison and others.
  • Tasks on regularities, sequences. Helps develop analytical skills and creative thinking. nine0028

Examples of tasks by type

Logic tasks

Math puzzles

Search tasks patterns nine0003

Truth and lie

Find the extra in each group

magic squares nine0003

Chess problems for beginners

Riddles for logic

Puzzles with matches, permutations nine0003

Puzzles with letters and numbers

10 fascinating problems from the Soviet mathematician

September 12, 2021 Relaxation

Try to solve puzzles from the popularizer of mathematics Boris Kordemsky without using hints.

1. River crossing

A small military detachment approached a river that had to be crossed. The bridge is broken and the river is deep. How to be? Suddenly, the officer notices two boys in a boat near the shore. But the boat is so small that only one soldier can cross it, or only two boys - no more! However, all the soldiers crossed the river on this boat. How?

Show answer

Hide answer

2. How many parts?

In the turning shop of the plant, parts are turned from lead blanks. From one blank - a detail. Shavings resulting from the dressing of six parts can be melted down and another blank can be prepared. How many parts can be made in this way from thirty-six pieces of lead? nine0003

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3. At high tide

Not far from the shore, a ship with a rope ladder launched along the side is standing. The staircase has ten steps; the distance between the steps is 30 cm. The lowest step touches the surface of the water.

The ocean is very calm today, but the tide is beginning to rise, which raises the water by 15 cm every hour. After what time will the third step of the rope ladder be covered with water?

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4. Ninety-nine

How many plus signs (+) do you need to put between the digits of 987 654 321 to add up to 99?

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5. For the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric complex

A team consisting of an experienced foreman and nine young workers took part in the execution of an urgent order for the manufacture of measuring instruments for the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric complex.

During the day, each of the young workers installed 15 devices, and the foreman - 9devices more than the average of each of the ten members of the team. How many measuring instruments were installed by the team in one working day?

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6. Try weighing

The package contains 9 kg of cereal. Try with the help of cup scales with weights of 50 and 200 g to distribute all the cereal in two packages: in one - 2 kg, in the other - 7 kg. In this case, only 3 weighings are allowed.

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7. Smart baby

Three brothers received 24 apples, and each got as many apples as he had three years ago. The youngest, a very smart boy, offered the brothers the following exchange of apples:

“I,” he said, “I will keep only half of the apples I have, and I will divide the rest equally between you. After that, let the middle brother also keep half for himself, and give the rest of the apples to me and the older brother equally, and then let the older brother keep half of all the apples he has, and divide the rest equally between me and the middle brother. nine0003

The brothers, unaware of the treachery of such a proposal, agreed to satisfy the desire of the younger. As a result… everyone had equal number of apples. How old was the baby and each of the other brothers?

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8.

Divide into parts

Divide 45 into four parts so that if you add 2 to the first part, subtract 2 from the second, multiply the third by 2, and divide the fourth by 2, then all the results will be equal. Can you do it? nine0003

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9. Planting trees

Fifth and sixth graders were instructed to plant trees on both sides of the street, an equal number on each side.

In order not to lose face in front of the sixth graders, the fifth graders went to work early and managed to plant 5 trees before the older guys arrived, but it turned out that they were planting trees on the wrong side.

The fifth graders had to go to their side and start work again. The sixth graders, of course, coped with the task earlier. Then the teacher suggested:

— Come on guys, help the fifth graders!

Everyone agreed. We crossed to the other side of the street, planted 5 trees, repaid the debt, and even managed to plant 5 trees, and all the work was completed.


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