Fun math activity for kids

35 Active Math Games and Activities for Kids Who Love To Move

Tired of hearing groans when you announce it’s time for math? These active math games and activities will spice up your learning game. They get kids up and moving, using their whole bodies to learn facts and skills. Lots of these ideas can be adapted to suit a variety of math concepts, so choose a few to try out with your own math students.

1. Throw snowballs inside or out

Clip flash cards to plastic tubs, then challenge kids to throw the correct number of large white pom-poms (“snowballs”) in from a distance. If there’s snow on the ground, bundle up and take this one outside to use real snowballs!

Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

2. Stack sticks to practice tally marks

Small sticks are perfect for practicing tally marks. Kids will have fun checking the ground under trees for twigs, then breaking them into pieces and creating tally piles.

Learn more: @amysam623

3.

It’s so easy to make your own magnet fishing pole. Float some numbered foam fish with paper clips attached, then try to catch the numbers in the right order! (Don’t want to get wet? Just lay the fish on the ground instead.)

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Fishing Math

4. Draw and measure shapes on the sidewalk

First, give kids some sidewalk chalk and let them draw a variety of shapes, as big or small as they like. Then, arm them with measuring tapes and have them practice taking measurements.

Learn more: @playexploregrow

5. Stomp and smash on a number line

Grab some paper bags and number them, then shake them out and lay them in a number line. Now, call out an addition or subtraction problem, like 3 + 2. Have a student stomp on the bag labeled three, then on the next two to arrive at an answer of five. (Feeling brave? Try this one with balloons!)

Learn more: Schooltime Snippets

6. Grow fact-family flowers

Pick up colorful fall leaves and write math facts on them. Gather them around a numbered rock to make pretty flowers.

Learn more: @discoverwildlearning

7. Toss beanbags to learn place value

Label bins with place values like ones, tens, and hundreds. Kids toss beanbags into the bins, then count them and see what number they’ve created.

Learn more: Saddle Up for Second Grade/Place Value Toss

8. Form paper-plate number bonds

Pass out numbered paper plates, then have students mix and mingle to see how many number bonds they can form.

Learn more: The Schroeder Page

9. Create a life-size number line

Number lines are wonderful for all sorts of math games and activities. Make one big enough for kids to stand and jump around on using sidewalk chalk (or painter’s tape indoors). You’ll use it over and over again.

Learn more: Childhood Beckons

10. Hit the target and graph

You can teach graphing in lots of ways, so why not make it active? Students throw balls onto a target, graphing and analyzing their throws as they go.

Learn more: Amy Lemons

11. Head out on a plot graph scavenger hunt

Create a map of your school, playground, or other area using graph paper (or even better, have kids help you do it). Then choose plot points for them to visit to find notes or small prizes. They’ll feel like real treasure hunters!

Learn more: Edventures With Kids

12. Roll the dice to count and move

Get practice with low-number counting and addition using action dice. Write activities like “jump,” “clap,” or “stomp” on a small wooden block, then roll it along with a pair of dice. Kids add them up (or subtract if you prefer) and complete the activity the number of times shown.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Math Dice

13. Whack a ball to subtract

You know your elementary math students are going to love this! Build your own whack-a-mole 10-frame with a shoebox and Ping-Pong balls. Then, have kids whack the balls to practice their subtraction facts. So fun!

Learn more: Planning Playtime

14. Make a splash with water balloons

You’re going to need to be willing to get a little wet for this one, but kids simply adore math games (or any games!) with water balloons. Fill and label balloons numbered 1 through 20 (or whatever numbers you’re working on). Draw the numbers in a big circle on the playground. Then, have a student choose a balloon, find the matching number, and head off to make a splash!

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

15. Tell time on a giant clock

Draw a giant clock face with hours and minutes on the playground with sidewalk chalk. Choose two students to be the hour and minute hands, then call out a time and send them out to become the clock. Add more complicated elements by having them add to or subtract from the initial time too. (“Now it’s 23 minutes later!”)

Learn more: Creative Family Fun/Sidewalk Chalk Clock

16. Measure your frog jumps

Have your students hop like frogs, leap like gazelles, or jump like kangaroos. Then, pull out the ruler or measuring tape so they can measure the distances they’ve covered.

Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons

17. Jump to math facts practice

Lay out a grid like the one shown that has the answers to whatever set of math flash cards you’re currently working with. (This teacher used masking tape; you could also do sidewalk chalk on the playground.) Two players face off, one on each side of the board. Show the flash card, and kids race to be the first to jump to the correct square with both feet inside the lines. Get all the rules at the link below.

Learn more: Teaching and Tapas

18. Run a flash-card race

Tape a series of flash cards to the floor and challenge kids to see who can correctly make their way from start to finish the fastest. They can call out the answers or write them down, but they have to get it right before they move on. Kids can race side by side or work independently to beat their own best time.

Learn more: There’s Just One Mommy

19.

Beach balls are so much fun in the classroom. Scribble numbers all over one with a Sharpie, then toss it to a student. Wherever their thumbs land, they add (or subtract or multiply) those two numbers together before tossing the ball to the next student.

Learn more: Saddle Up for Second Grade/Beach Ball Math

20. Do a number dance

Kids who love “Dance Dance Revolution” will get into this one. Make a number mat for each student like the ones shown. Flash an equation with an answer between 10 and 99 on the screen. Kids figure out the answer and jump to put their left foot on the correct tens place, right foot on the ones. They’ll be dancing and spinning as they learn!

Learn more: Number Loving

21. Groove with angles

Teach kids about transversals and the angles they create with some fun dance moves! Get the details for “Dance Dance Transversal” at the link below.

Learn more: Communicating Mathematically

22.

We’re not sure why, but kids simply love stacking cups. Label yours with math problems and answers, then have kids build pyramids and towers galore!

Learn more: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

23. Measure the height of a tree (no ladder needed)

Kids will be amazed to learn they can measure the tallest tree while keeping their feet on the ground. The link below walks you through the steps with a free printable.

Learn more: From ABCs to ACTs

24. Count and learn on a nature walk

Take an outdoor stroll and practice basic math along the way. This works indoors too—walk the school hallways (quietly) and count doors, windows, posters, and more.

Learn more: Creative Family Fun/Math Walk

25. Hunt for shapes in the world around you

Looking for super-simple and fun active math games? Give students a sheet with shapes to find as you walk around the school or playground. Each time they find the shape, have them trace it on their worksheet and then make a mark to keep track of how many times they’ve seen it.

Learn more: Hands-On Teaching Ideas

26. Steal the balls with addition robbery

Kids compete to see whose basket of balls will add up to the highest amount. The trick? They don’t know at the beginning which balls are worth the most. Learn how to play at the link below.

Learn more: That After School Life

27. Puddle-jump from number to number

Lay out a series of construction paper puddles labeled with numbers. You can call out numbers and have kids jump to the correct one, or have them jump from one to the next in order forward or backward, or even try some skip counting.

Learn more: NurtureStore

28. Paint and hide number rocks

Painted rocks are always a big hit! Have your class help you make these, then hide them around the playground and send kids off to find and answer equations.

Learn more: The OT Toolbox

29. Skip-count along a hopscotch board

A hopscotch board can be used for a lot of fun and active math games. Try it for skip counting: Kids hop along counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, or whatever you’re currently working on. Learn more at the link below.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama/Skip-Counting Hopscotch

30. Aim and throw to practice math skills

Pick up a set of Sticky Darts and draw two dartboards side by side. You can label the rings with any numbers you like. Kids throw the darts and then add, subtract, multiply, or divide the numbers—your choice!

Learn more: Inspiration Labs

31. Design an outdoor board game

Draw a winding path and fill the spaces with math equations. Kids roll the dice and move from space to space (have them jump, skip, or twirl to mix things up). If they get the answer right, they move to the new space. If not, their turn is over. Customizable math games like this can be used at any level.

Learn more: Look! We’re Learning!

32. Turn UNO into an active math game

Grab your UNO deck and get ready to move! Assign each color a movement (hop, touch toes, etc.). As kids draw the cards, everyone completes the movement the correct number of times. Skip and Reverse work as usual, but anyone who gets Draw Two has to draw two more cards and complete the actions on their own while others cheer them on. See more at the link below.

Learn more: Still Playing School

33. Bowl them over while learning math facts

Active math games using recycled materials are economical and good for the environment. Set up empty plastic bottles labeled 1 through 10, then roll the ball to see how many you can knock down. Add up the numbers of the knocked-over bottles to get your score.

Learn more: Learn With Play at Home

34. Compete to win at putt-putt math

Pick up a few dollar-store supplies and make your own putt-putt course. This can be a simple game where kids simply shoot for the highest (or lowest) number. But you can also drive up the complexity by putting equations on the cups that kids have to solve first to determine which is the best cup to aim for.

Learn more: My Catch a Star Classroom!

35. Give a classic game a math twist

Create active math games that give new life to existing resources. For example, add numbers to Twister! For more advanced players, instead of saying “Right hand 5,” try saying “Right hand 14 – 9” to make them think.

Learn more: Math Geek Mama/Twister Math

If you like these active math games and are looking for more ways to move in the classroom, try these 21 Kinesthetic Reading Activities for your most active learners.

Plus, sign up for our free newsletters to get all the best teaching tips and ideas!

25+ Free Math Games for Kids • Kids Activities Blog

We have a collection of fun activities and interactive math games for children of all ages to give your child practice on important number skills in a playful way. If your kids HATE math, you are not alone. Here are some math games for kids to help them learn to love math one problem at a time.

Fun Kids Math Games

One of the easiest ways to reinforce a new skill is to practice it hands-on in a fun way. No matter the grade level – 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade or beyond…these cool math games are a fun way to practice what you learn.

That is where this fantastic list of fun math games comes in. There is something for everyone!

1. Fun Math Games Using Uno Flip Deck of Cards (Kindergarten & 1st grade)

Why use math worksheets when you can use game cards to review math skills! Check out how this mom plays and learns using the classic game, Uno. This Uno Flip game recommended for ages 5 and up creates simple math problems your child will need to solve! You could easily do this for addiction, subtraction, multiplication, or even division. via Childhood 101

2. Skip Counting Worksheets (1st grade, 2nd grade & 3rd grade)

Skip counting is one of the pre-requisites for a solid foundation in math skills that kids usually start learning around the age of 6 years old. Help your kids understand patterns in numbers with these skip counting worksheets and one of the best math games that you can create on the driveway or front porch with chalk…oh, and getting the correct answer is easy and fun!

3. Fraction Games (Intro: grade 1 & grade 2; 3rd grade and 4th grade)

Do your kids LOVE games, but hate fractions? Ours do! Practice and review fractions with the game Connect 4. This is one of my favorite fraction games because it is simple, but help familiarizes children with fractions, which generally are kind of difficult to learn. Kids are introduced to fractions in grade 1 and 2 and by grade 3 and 4 they are diving deep into learning fractions. via No Time for Flash Cards

4.

Have a Math white board – I love this idea for a class opening activity! Kids race to see how many ways they can combine numbers to make the answer. It is great for multiple levels of learning and is a simple, but fun, math games for kids that don’t require worksheets. This game works really well for older students with more advanced math concepts like grades 3-grade 7, but it could be modified to be used with younger students as young as preschool. via Fun Games 4 Learning

5. Video: Math Maze Game (1st grade)

Mazes are a great way to keep your child independently focused on math. Not only does it double as a STEM activity, but this Maze activity can also teach your child about size, geometry and speed.

6. Money Math Worksheets (Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade)

Money math – so easy to create a math money review lesson. All you need is a random handful of coins, a slip of paper with a total your kids need to reach and a jar of change. Then use these money math worksheets to help keep up with all the coins and their worth! Kids learning to count money and add their worth are perfect for this simple worksheet game.

7. Lego Math (Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade)

This Lego math is awesome! You can use Legos and toys to help explain the concepts of place value. Each row on the Lego math mat is a different place value whether it is ones, tens, or more via The Science Kiddo proving math skills is play! In fact, the concepts of place value can be comprehended by even younger kids like preschoolers when introduced through play.

Online Math For Kids (All Grades)

Screen time isn’t always a bad thing. Your kids can learn while they play, on the iPad or android device with some of these Math Apps for Kids. There are so many different math apps for all ages!

Fun Math Games For Kids With Just A Pencil and Paper

These fun paper and pencil math games go WAY beyond math worksheets. Here are some free printable math games kids will love playing:

8. Expanded Form Dice Game (4th Grade)

You will need some scissors, glue and a pencil to play this expanded form dice game.

9. Math Crossword Puzzles (Kindergarten, 1st Grade)

Download, print & play these math crossword puzzles for addition and subtraction practice fun.

10. Abominable Snowball Math Equation Game (Grades K-3)

Abominable Snowball Math Equation Game uses printable worksheets and sparkly snow playdough to play!

Fun Math Games For Kids

You should not only know what you are doing. You should also know why and how.

-Harry Wong

13.

You can literally see in 3D how multiplication and powers work and grow rapidly with 3D graphing. This is another fun Lego math activity, but this one will require quite a few more small Legos. via Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

14. Marshmallow Shapes (Intro: Pre-K, preschool, Kindergarten; Geometry learning for older students)

Who says you can’t play with your food? These marshmallow shapes are perfect for kiddos who struggle with corners versus verticals. They will understand quickly the importance of corners when they are made of marshmallows! Edible geometry! via Playdough to Plato

15. Fun Math Games For Kids (5th grade)

Play a math game with your whole body – great interaction for antsy kiddos while also learning about place values. There are a couple different fun math games for kids to choose from, but both will have your children entertained. via Two Sisters to Teach

16.

Is skip counting “just a concept” to your kids? Help them see how multiplication works by skip counting with manipulatives. Don’t worry, these math games aren’t difficult, most of them involve sorting! via One Day at a Time

17. Times Table Tricks (2nd grade, 3rd grade & 4th grade)

Did you know there are times table tricks to improve the swiftness of math skills? Here is a trick to multiply the nines. Find the answer by folding down different fingers. This would have made multiplication so much easier when I was in school! via Come Together Kids

18. Hundreds Chart Puzzle (Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade)

Skip Counting puzzles are a great way to learn about the hundreds chart and number families/patterns. All you need are these free math worksheets, cardstock, and plastic baggies to create this hundreds chart puzzle. via Playdough to Plato

19. Types Of Graphs For Kids (5th grade, 6th grade)

This one will take a little effort to make, but your child can make a math journal more interactive by adding Pop-up bar graphs. Kids remember things they create and this is a great way to teach types of graphs for kids. via Runde’s Room

20. Number Flashcards (5th grade, 6th grade)

These number flashcards are perfect to teach any kid to count! Not only do they have the number written in numeral form, but also word form, and has different geometric shapes depicting the quantity! Perfect for reinforcing each number. via All Kids Network (Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten)

21. Math Puzzles For Middle School Kids (Grades 3-7)

This Craft Stick Math Station idea is awesome! It’s math puzzles for middle school kids. Each stick matches another. Make a chain from the problems. You could easily do the same for kids in elementary school or even use it to teach algebra and geometry to high school kids.

22. Paper Fortune Teller Math Game (1st Grade, 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade)

Review math facts with this paper fortune teller math game. Great game for learning multiplication facts or even matching fractions and checking your work.

Math Games for Kids Who Get Frustrated with Math

23. Food Fractions (Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade & 3rd grade)

Food fractions is a great way to learn math! I am definitely more motivated when food is involved! Cut up your lunch and learn about fractions and amounts at the same time! Older kids will catch on to this immediately and younger kids will play along while they learn.

24. Tenzi (Grades 2-5)

Tenzi the Math Dice Game is dice game that is addictive! You can adapt it for a wide range of kids learning levels. Best part is, it is simple to play and is great for multiple players 7 years and up! via What Do We Do All Day

25.

Go big! Create a dice from a large cube box. Dice can be used in so many learning activities like quickly counting sums or subtracting! You could easily use these large dice for bigger kids learning multiplication as well. via Parents

26. Jenga Games For The Classroom (All Grades)

Looking for Jenga games for the classroom? Then this block game is perfect because it is super adaptable. Use it for Speed Math Review. Don’t worry, you don’t have to write on the blocks, instead use stickers so you can swap them out when needed. via The First Grade Parade

27. Math Using Hands (Pre-K, Preschool & Kindergarten)

Make hands for counting! That sounds super odd, but bare with me. You can learn math using hands. If you have a kiddo who needs just a little extra help understanding the concept of twenty or numbers after ten? Try this! It is an extra pair of hands to count on! via J Daniel 4s Mom

28.

Have a number of the day – this is great for homeschooling families with multiple age groups and also for classroom bell openers. via Well Nurtured Plants and Pillars

29. Math Sight Word Play (Kindergarten, 1st grade & 2nd grade)

Did you know there are math sight words? Make word problems easier for your kids to solve with word cards for them to memorize the common words.

30. More Lego Math (Pre-K, Kindergarten)

Pre-math skills – Symmetry. It is a great way to develop spatial awareness. You make one half and your child makes the other half. Plus, it is another fun Lego math project, learning math concepts with toys makes it much more fun I think. via Fun at Home with Kids

31. Coordinate Math (Grades 2-6)

Play the game Gridlock to help your kids learn graphing principles. They will literally be able to see the graphs and the lines. This is one of my favorite math activities for kids. via Mathwire

32. Number Line (Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten)

Number lines are a great way for kids to see the order that numbers occur. You can make your own number line. Remove clothespins and ask your kids what the missing number is. via Fantastic Fun and Learning

33. Multiplication Songs (Pre-K through Grade 3)

Skip counting songs! It is our kids favorite way to learn their times tables. Here are the BEST math songs, including fun multiplication songs. These are the cutest! via Imagination Soup

How Can I Learn Kids Math Games?

If you do one of these activities every afternoon with your child, they will not only catch up to their peers and become more confident learners, they just might also discover a love of logic!

Using games to improve basic math skills is a great learning strategy for kids. Many math concepts require memorization, math drills and repeated practice to master. Kids can lose interest in the process and their ability to grasp later math concepts that build on this important foundation can cause serious scholastic issues.

Nearly any math activity can be turned into a game when you look at it and see how you can include a little friendly competition! Whether it is turning a worksheet into something kids can play with hands-on, creating a guessing game instead of a drill, having kids compete against each other or adding a timer so kids can compete against themselves.

Free Math Games for kids

Not everyone learns the same and unfortunately math is one of those things you either really get it or don’t. And if you’re one of the ones who don’t catch on to math skills right away, it can be frustrating.

More Fun Math Games & Printable Worksheets From Kids Activities Blog

• Check out these 10 Fun Math Games for Kids! I am your kids will love them.
• Looking for some Super Fun Math Games? We got you covered.
• Make math delicious with this Fraction Game: Cookie Math! Cookies make everything better.
• Need some math worksheets? Then check out these FREE Printable Math Activities.
• We have over 100 fun math games and activities to choose from.

math for kids faq

How do 10 year olds make math fun?

Anything that makes math a game can help overcome the monotony of practicing math facts and doing math figures. Math games turn learning and practicing math concepts into great fun! Don’t be stuck thinking that math needs to be just worksheets and textbooks when it comes to kids.

What math should a 5 year old be doing?

5 year olds should be learning to master counting to 100, be able to count a group of objects up to 20, know all the shapes and solve simple addition and subtraction questions up to the number 10.

What are the 4 basic math skills?

The 4 basic math skills (also known as components of math or mathematical operations) are add, subtract, multiply and divide.

more fun!

• Science for Kids
• Fun Fact of the Day
• Learning activities for 3 year olds

Which of the math games and interactive activities was your kids favorite? Did we miss any of your favorite ways to teach math basic skills and mental arithmetic to kids in a playful way?

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

6-7 years

1-2 class

3-5 class

6-9 grade

Why do children and parents choose LogicLike?

ALL LOGIC IN GAME FORM!

• Flexible mind and confidence When children decide tasks and puzzles on LogicLike, they develop ingenuity and Confidence in your strength. nine0028
• Foundation for IT We teach how to work with information competently, develop logical and mathematical intelligence, memory and thinking.
• Sip "fresh air" You can spend 20-30 minutes on yourself while the child develops. By the way, doing LogicLike is also interesting for adults. nine0028

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