It’s actually hard for me to type this title after years and years and years of math drills that made my elementary-school head want to explode.
Can learning math facts be fun? Is it possible that learning these facts can actually be ‘super-fun’?
That may still be debatable.
But what these five ways do is mix up the ole flashing of the flashcards and trick out the rote learning of these guys. Learning math facts is actually kinda fun.
Scratch that. It’s fun. Pretty darn fun.
Instead we use some movement, some flashlights, and some technology to up the fun factor.
And honestly? That may have been enough to move from totally awful to kinda fun for this gal way back when.
Here’s the skinny. . .
5 Super-Fun Ways to Learn Math Facts:
Like I said, super-fun is up for discussion but there is certainly some fun to be had with these math fact practices.
Let’s try it.
1. Play with dice. Really. Toss the flash cards and practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing using the numbers you roll on dice.
2. Flashlight math. Use the flashcards and flip two cards at a time. Kids shine a flashlight on the one they know and answer that one. Simple. Don’t have a flashlight? Make a math wand. Bumblebee wand, perhaps? Use a stick or a light saber. Anything that works for your kid.
3. Use electronics. We love My Math Flash Cards App on the iPad and Math Practice Flashcards on my android phone. There are a gazillion flash card apps out there. I’m sure any would do the trick, and if you have five minutes and your kid says, ‘Can I play a game on your phoooooone?’ Say ‘Why yes you may! I’m so very glad you asked. . . ‘
4. Write the answer. Or paint the answer. Water on cement or chalk on sidewalk or window crayon on window. One person flashes the cards and the other guy writes.
5. Math bingo. Again, toss the flashers and play Math Bingo as a way to learn and practice these numbers.
Five of many more cool ways, my friends, but this is just a start.
Okay a few more:
- Answer races: Stand on one side of the room and make kids run to the other side of the room to write the answer on a long piece of roll paper on the floor or taped to the wall.
- Go crazy. You flip the card and say it in one voice and the child says the answer in the same kind of voice (whisper, grumble, shout, squeaky, princess, etc.).
- Skype or Facetime with family members and have them flash the cards and the kids say the answers.
- Check out the Multiplication Post where we shared all of the things Maddy was doing.
- Play Strike it Out to practice those facts and critical thinking.
- Try Magic Triangles to really get the fun flowing.
- Get nuts and try any one of these 3 hands-on math games.
As in anything you do with kids, keep it light, keep the pressure off, and make it fun. As soon as your child starts reaching a frustration level, stop.
Need the cards? Desperate for some mini’s?
Here they are:
Consider starting with one fact family or number set at a time. And print the cards on brightly colored card stock so they last longer and look nicer.
Most of all? Have a super-fun time.
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Want a little more math fun?
Check out:
- 26 puzzle
- sums in a row
- fractions with food
- LEGO baseball
- math and writing
- driveway shuffleboard math
- street sign math
- mind-blowing math tricks
- 3 hands-on totally cool math games
Or follow our rockin math pinterest board:
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Something I like to play is War. Almost every child knows how to play. Instead of flipping one card for numerical value, flip two. Multiply the two numbers. Otherwise it works just like War
LOVE it, Betsy! Thanks for sharing! will def try this!
You can use the flash cards and play war. They have to solve the problem and they have to compare the answers to find out who keeps both cards. The when they get the same answer. They say, “WAR” and place three flash cards face down and one up and solve for the winner to all of those cards. play to see who has all or the most cards in their hand.
Joyce–LOVE, love, love, love this idea! Huge and happy thanks! Will definitely add it to my game-playing plan!
Love these ideas! I taught my older two addition (and some subtraction) playing blackjack (or 21). They had to be able to add the cards in their hand and then find the difference from 21 to figure out whether they wanted another card or not. I just told my 14 year old the other day about this and he laughed –he had had no idea we were doing school. He thought he was getting some awesome one on one game time with mom!
The flash cards are great! Thanks so much!
Have you ever considered doing division mini flash cards?
Yes! They’re in the works!
regular flashcard games never really worked for us, but we love our bingo!