Math Activities

Using Dice:

Roll a pair of dice and add the 2 numbers. The roller must say the problem out loud. For example: 3 + 4=7. Only the sum, 7, is written on a piece of paper. The next roller follows the same procedures. The participants do this for 1 minute. At the end of the minute, they add all the sums.

Roll a pair of dice. Add and then subtract the 2 numbers. For example: 3 + 4=7, 7

3=4. The roller must say the entire problem out loud and only write the answer of 4 down on paper. The next roller follows the same procedures. The participants do this for 1 minute. At the end of the minute, they add all the answers. (Hint: to get a higher total, you will want the larger differences when subtracting. 7 3=4 instead of 7 4=3.)

Roll a pair of dice and multiply the 2 numbers. Write the product (answer) on a sheet of paper. Do this for 1 minute and then add all the products.

Using a deck of playing cards:

It may be less confusing if all face cards are removed from the deck before playing the following activities.

Evenly divide a deck of cards between 2 players. Each player flips over 2 cards and adds the 2 numbers. The player with the highest sum wins all the flipped over cards. If the sums are equal, the players flip over 2 more cards and add those numbers. The highest sum wins all the flipped over cards. When all the cards have been flipped over, the player with the most cards wins the game. (The procedures are similar to card game "War").

Use the same procedures as Card Activity #1 except multiply the 2 cards. The player with the highest product wins the cards.

To practice add, subtraction, multiplication or division with a deck of playing cards:

Flip over as many cards as needed to make the problem.

Example: to make a 2-digit number + a 2-digit number, flip over 2 cards on the top row and 2 cards on the bottom row. Add the cards.

If practicing subtraction, after flipping over the cards, make sure the larger 2-digit number is on the top row or make the top row a larger digit number. Example: a 3-digit number on the top row and a 2-digit number on the bottom row.

Multiplication works the same as addition. If the child is uncomfortable with the larger number in the bottom row, they may switch the numbers.

If practicing division, flip over as many cards as needed for the problem. For example, to divide a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number, flip over 3 cards. The fist card is the divisor and the next 2 cards are the dividend (number that is to be divided).