There’s nothing worse than managing behavior when kids have nothing better to do than wait around for whatever is next on the schedule! That’s why math games for kids that take only a few minutes and require little or no supplies are perfect! Stock your on-the-go toolbox with these 9 easy math games for kids that will keep kids entertained and out of mischief while they’re standing in line or have a few minutes to spare.
I Have, You Need
This part-part-whole math game for kids can be played with no prep and adapted to fit a wide range of ability levels. One person starts the game by starting with this sentence form. “Make {a number}. I have {a number}, you need ______.” The other player fills in the needed number. Here are a few examples to get you started.
- Make 10. I have 6, you need ____. (answer: 4)
- Make 120. I have 25, you need ____. (answer: 95)
- Make 30. I have 45, you need ____. (answer: -15)
Multiplication Battle
This classic math game for kids is an easy way to reinforce multiplication facts. Pair up your children and remove all of the face cards from a deck of playing cards. Then, flip over two cards and have students multiply the numbers together. The player with the highest product wins the hand. If there’s a tie, then it’s a “battle” and each player lays down three cards face down and one card face up. The player with the highest product of the battle cards wins the hand.
What will the Clock Say?
This math game for kids is perfect for waiting rooms and transition times. Pull out your phone and open the clock app or find an analog clock on the wall. Show students the clock and ask them what time it is. Then ask elapsed time questions like, “What will the clock say in 20 minutes?” or “What did the clock say 5 hours ago?”
Fraction War
Just like Multiplication Battle, but this is a math game for kids reinforces fraction comparisons. Pair up with your child and remove all the face cards from a deck of playing cards. Shuffle and place the deck between two players. Each player draws two cards and makes a fraction out of them. Whoever has the greater fraction takes both cards.
Guess the number
The first player thinks of a number between 1-100 ( or whatever range you choose) and keeps it a secret by writing it down or typing it into a notes app. The other player asks yes or no questions until they figure out the number. Here are a few examples of questions:
- Is it even?
- Is it divisible by 5?
- Is the digit in the tens place odd?
Fraction Fill-In
Give each player a sheet of paper with fraction equations that are missing one number. Ex. 1/3 + _ = 2/3. Players fill in the blank to make the equation true.
Table Race
This game is all about testing multiplication skills. All you need is a pencil and paper. On the paper, draw a grid with 12 squares across and 12 squares down. The first person to fill in all the squares with the correct multiplication answers wins. You can work on different times tables such as 10s and 100s for different levels of skill.
Exactly 100
For this math game for kids with some time on their hands, grab a deck of playing cards. Shuffle the deck and deal out two cards and have the players add, subtract, multiply, or divide the two cards. Then turn over one card at a time and have player add, subtract, multiply or divide the value of each new card with the running total of the cards that came before it. The first person to get to 100 exactly wins. This game allows kids to practice using mixed operations and having fun at the same time.
Finger Facts
This is my favorite no-supplies-needed math game for kids. Two players face each other with hands behind their backs. On the count of three, each player brings their hands around to the front and shows a number on their fingers. Players use the numbers from both players to find a sum (for addition practice) or product (for multiplication practice). The first person to say the correct answer wins a point.
For even more math games for kids check out my youtube channel of math games for kids or one of these math games bundles for 3rd grade or 4th grade.
Learning doesn’t have to stop when you’re on the go. These easy math games for kids on the go are the perfect way to keep kids’ minds active, no matter how much or little time you have. So next time you have a few spare minutes try out one of these games with your kids! And if you’re kids need a little reminder about how to behave during games, I’ve got you covered with this free set of math game expectations posters!
