Math games are a fabulous way to encourage kids to learn and use math. Kids are motivated by games and usually try harder. But math games cost money and take up space so where do you begin? Here is a list of our ten favorite math games to help you start building your collection. (You can also read my post about how we store our math manipulatives and games.)

10 Favorite Math Games

1. Muggins Math Games

Muggins Math games are made of high quality double-sided wooden boards and use dice and marbles for game pieces. The games range from beginning number concepts through fractions and pre-algebra. Here’s just one example of a Muggins Math Game.

2. Coin Change-Up

Coin Change-Up is a multi-level game that can grow with your student as he matures in mathematical proficiency. It provides practice in:

• learning about a base 10 number system
• learning about the US monetary system
• addition facts
• visually seeing the borrowing process for subtraction
• odd and even
• visually seeing multiplication as proportions
• multiplication facts
• visually seeing division as dividing a number into equal groups

3. 6-Tens Cards

6-Tens is a fun card game that helps students learn basic math skills, practice addition and multiplication facts, and see numbers as patterns. It utilizes a special deck of playing cards with pictures of pennies and empty circles to help students visualize the number and how many more are needed to equal ten. It provides practice in:

• learning about a base 10 number system
• addition facts
• multiplication facts
• learning to partition the number ten

4. Rush Hour

Think Fun’s games Rush Hour and Rush Hour, Jr. provide practice with spatial skills and critical thinking. It is fun for all ages. If you already have Rush Hour, consider the two-player Rush Hour Shift. This is next on our wish list.

5. Kinetic Sand Geometric Molds

We love kinetic sand and the geometric molds allow kids to interact with geometry while playing.

• Set of 14 transparent geometric solids
• Set of 4 transparent geometric solids (these are larger)

6. Play Money

Money is an excellent teaching tool and manipulative for math. We use and recommend real coins and play bills. On any given day you may find the play money spread out on the floor as the girls play Coin Change-Up or store.

7. Dice

Dice have so many uses. We use them when playing Coin Change-Up, working problems on the number balance, or practicing 5-minute math drills. We use six, ten, and thirty-sided dice.

8. Number Balance

The number balance can be used to demonstrate equality, practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and simple algebra problems. It is enjoyed by students of all ages, including adults.

Here are some of the skills that can be taught and practiced on the number balance. You can read more about it in the post about using the number balance. I wrote a book all about games to play on the number balance so you can practice these skills at home.

9. Q-bitz

Q-bitz is a fun game to build spatial skills and pattern awareness. It can be played individually or as a race. There is also a more advanced version, Q-bitz Extreme.

10. Linking Cubes

Linking cubes have many uses including measuring, practicing patterns, building towers that spin, and telling stories. We often pull the linking cubes out to demonstrate and work through a math concept. See 10 ways we use linking cubes for math learning.

Find more math manipulative and game suggestions in the math manipulative post series.

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