Math Games

Here are 2 games I created and used this year that my 1st graders enjoyed.  Both were adapted from other games.  Both could be adapted for other grade levels as well!  When introducing new games, I post and explain the rules.  Then we have a fishbowl game where some of us play and everyone else stands right behind the players and watches.  At this level I am reiterating rules, especially places that may be tricky.  Then when we play, I may sit with one group that might need more support and just monitor the rest of the groups.  After students really understand the game, it could be used as a center or workstation activity.

Sequence:

When we were working on putting numbers in order, I was looking for a new way to have some fun practice.  It dawned on me that my family enjoyed a card game called Chronology that involves building a time line of historical events.  I used the same basic format without the history to play the game in class. All you need are some number cards in a cup or container to draw from and a card or something posted with the sentence stems that students need to say.  I used a 100 chart cut up into individual pieces.  You could take the difficulty level up or down by using different numbers.  The game works best for around 4 players.
1.  Each player draws a number card on their first turn and says the number they drew.
2.  When every player has the first card of their number line, the next player draws a card, names the number and shows where it goes in their number line.  At this point it will either be before or after their first card.  The player then says, "47 is greater than 32." (or whatever their numbers are...)  If this is done correctly, then that player has earned that card and it is now part of the number line.  If any part is incorrect (reading the number, pointing to where it goes, comparing it to the neighboring numbers) then the number is passed to the next player.  That player now has a chance to add it to their number line.  They would still have to correctly state, "This number is 47.  47 is less than 62."  If the number goes in between two numbers as the number lines get longer, players must compare it correctly to the numbers on both sides.  If the second player also makes a mistake, the number is passed on and the next player gets to try to earn it.  Because no players have the same numbers in their number lines, each player who tries the card still has to do their own thinking for where that number goes in their sequence.  In the unlikely event that no one says the information for that number correctly, it would go back in the cup.  
3.  The next player to draw picks a number from the cup and play continues.  Very important:  After a player draws a number, they need to put the cup in front of the next player to draw a number.  The number card may be passed on if players make a mistake, but the next person to draw is the next person in the circle.  
4.  Play continues until a player has 10 cards in their number line.  (You can adjust this to make the game shorter or play for a certain amount of time and the player with the most cards in that time wins...)  Interestingly, my struggling students said the game was harder at first when they only had one or two numbers on their number line.  It got easier for them as their number lines got longer.  So one adaptation might be to let students start by drawing 3 numbers and putting them in order to make a starting number line...  (It may be that it got easier because they had done several examples already, of course...)

Post the sentence stems onscreen or on a board or put a card at the table for the group to use...  The sentence stems I provided for my students were:  

I picked the number ___ .
___ is greater than ___ .
___ is less than ___ .

5.  Bonus:  When we finished each student took a photo with their iPad and posted their number line to their blog with a couple of examples that told how they knew where to put the numbers.  Here are a couple of examples:  (chroo = true,by the way...)

Draw

This game was for practicing adding and writing the number sentences.  You need a deck of playing cards with the face cards removed and some counters for scorekeeping.  Students need something to write on (iPads, slates, paper...)  This also works best for around 4 players.

1.  The dealer deals 2 cards to each player.

2.  Players can then decide to keep both cards or to trade in one card for a new one.

3.  They then write the addition equation.

4.  When everyone is ready, they show their equations to the group.  The player with the largest correct sum takes a counter.  Players will need to check that the person with the largest total actually has the correct answer.

5.  Then the next person deals a new hand.  Play continues until a player has 5 counters and wins.  This makes for several shorter games and more chances for multiple winners.

Since there is an element of probability in deciding whether to keep your low card or try to get a higher one, we had a short conversation about that before playing:  If your lower card is a 3, how many numbers are higher than that and how many are lower?  Are you likely to get a higher number?  What if your lower number is a 7?  Are you more likely to get something higher or lower than 7 if you get a new card?

This game can be made more challenging by using 3 addends or easier by using only some of the cards.  (aces through 6, for example)  You could also play it with other operations.