Most twelve-year olds are in the sixth or seventh grade. Sixth and seventh grade math includes learning multiplication, geometry, fractions and decimals. To make learning math more fun, and help the students apply what they are learning, many math games can be played in the classroom. Games can be played with as few as two children or an entire class of students.
Dot Joining Game
The dot joining game will help students understand spatial relationships and patterns. To play the game, have the students start with three to five dots placed anywhere on a page or provide them with a print out paper with the dots already on it. This game is played with two players. The first player draws a straight line or a curved line connecting one dot to another, and then he places a new dot on the line. Then, the second player does the same thing. The lines cannot cross any other line and there cannot be more than three lines coming from a dot. The last player to make a line wins. Once finished, the children can cut out the shape they made, count the number of lines, and compare their work with other pairs of children in the class.
Card Game
The card game can be played using a traditional deck of cards where the face cards are given numerical values. This game is also played between two students. The students will take turns turning over two cards. They then have five seconds to either multiply, divide, add or subtract the card values to come up with a correct answer. The students will then put the problems they got right into one pile and the wrong cards into another pile. The student with the most about of cards in the "right" pile wins.
Math Bingo
Math bingo can be played with an entire class of students. Have the students create their own bingo cards with numbers ranging from 0 to 144 and a free space in the middle. Provide the students with enough bingo chips to fill their card. You can then yell out math problems such as 7 x 6, and whoever has 42 on their board can mark it. The first student with a full board or a full line across wins.
Geometry Simon Says
Geometry Simon Says can also be played with an entire classroom. To play the game, first develop a set of gestures for each of the geometry terms. For example, the term "line" will be represented by horizontally stretched out arms. For "obtuse angle," the students should create an obtuse angle with his or her arms. The teacher will be the "Simon" and shout out one term at a time by saying "Simon says make a..." Then, the students will make the gesture that goes with the term. Each student will then have to sit down if they get the gesture wrong or if they do the gesture without the teacher saying "Simon says." The last student standing wins.
Tags: played with, students will, also played, class students, entire class, entire class students