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).