It’s no secret that I love playing math games in my classroom. Any time I can make something a game, there is instant buy-in from my students. Even my most challenging classes like to play a whole group math game and usually, those are some of my best classroom management days. Who knew that playing games would actually make my class easier to manage?!
Usually, I use math games as a math station rotation where students play math games for 2 players. If you want to learn more about how to start math stations in your upper elementary classroom, be sure to check out my 5 Part Video Series where I teach all the nitty gritty details of starting math station rotations. In under a week, you can have your own math groups up and running!
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Learn with Math Games
Can you really learn with math games? Yes, you totally can!
I’ve never met a student that didn’t like games. I have met a bunch of students who (sadly) don’t like math. But the real magic is when you combine the two.
Math games are engaging for students to play while also working on key math skills. By using engagement and competition, students can learn with math games.
Now, not all games are created equal. Some whole group math game ideas are focused on just 1 or 2 students doing math at a time. Other math games focus on multiple students doing math at the same time. There is a time and place for both types of whole group math games. I’m sharing both types below so keep scrolling.
If you are looking for more math games for 2 players, I have a blog post linked here where I share all about how to make math games that are fun. These games are great for math stations or having all students pair up and play a game all at the same time.
Whole Group Math Game Ideas
When looking for whole group math game ideas, I try to keep in mind things that are engaging, competitive, and can be used with lots of different math topics. I also try to find games that have students up and moving. And of course, I’m all about low prep for me so these games have to be able to be played easily and without a lot of prep work. Now that I’ve set the group work, let’s get to the whole group math game ideas!
Around the World
An oldie but goodie whole group math game that my students love. I have used this game with math facts but also task cards for more challenging math topics. Have students stand in a circle with 1 student behind another. Then show a flashcard. Students solve and the first person correct wins the round. They then move on to the next student in the circle and stand behind them. This continues until a student makes it all the way around the circle.
Math Games 3rd Graders: Skip Count
I like to play this game with any grade that knows about skip counting. Sit in a circle and have students take turns skip counting by whatever number you decide. I have made this into a time competition over a few weeks to see if we can beat our time. Another way to play would be passing a ball across the circle and trying to keep the skip counting going. A fun, low-prep math games 3rd graders love!
Jeopardy
This one is slightly more work but so much fun! I use free sets of task cards to create my jeopardy board. Simply tape the cards to the whiteboard in a grid and give each column a topic title. Split the class into a few groups and play jeopardy. This whole group math game is a great way to review before a unit test or even state testing in the spring.
Whole Group Math Game: Back to Back
This game is similar to those around the world but instead, students are facing off on the whiteboard. Students stand back to back. I project a math problem on the screen and then students solve the problem. The first person to solve it correctly wins the round. The team with the most points by the end of class time wins.
This game is another easy way to use task cards. Looking for other ways how to use task cards? This blog post has even more ideas for upper elementary or middle school students.
Ghosts in the Graveyard
This game is a blast and can be used with any worksheet. I usually use a study guide for this whole group math game. Split the room into 2 teams and give each team a color. Students then pair up with a student on their team. They work to solve a problem and then I come around and check it. If it’s correct, I give students a ghost for their team’s color. Students then tape their ghosts on a headstone. The process repeats until I say stop (usually about 15 minutes). I then tally up the points: each headrest is worth a different point value that I know about but the students don’t know. I use 3 headstones, 1 worth 100 points, 1 worth 50, and 1 worth 0 🙂 Because students don’t know the point values of the headstones, it offers a bit of a challenge on where to put their ghosts.
Don’t want to use ghosts? Post-it notes work just fine!
Math Games for Large Groups
When should you play math games for large groups? I love to use these game ideas for just about anything! Reviewing before a unit test is always a given strategy and is way more fun than a simple study guide.
Another idea is to use a whole group math game to review before a holiday break. Especially when the week is cut short and you know students will be absent, a math game is a perfect idea. Since so many of these whole group math game ideas are low prep, they also make great plans for a snowy day.
One other way to use math games is to review before state testing. I know that preparing for standardized tests can be boring but a whole group math game could be just the thing to up the engagement. If you are looking for what test-taking strategies elementary students need, be sure to check out this blog post. I round up a bunch of different strategies to help set students up for success!
More whole group math game ideas
Looking for more whole group math game ideas? These blog posts have so many ideas that are great for any age!
- 16 Classroom Math Games for Learning and Fun
- 3 Math Games You Can Use in Class Today
- 20 Marvelous Math Games for 5th Graders
- 10 Fun 5th Grade math Games to Help You Learn
- Classroom Math Games for Memorable Fun
I’d love to know your favorite whole group math game! Drop your game ideas in the comments below!
[…] I’ve played a whole-group math game with multiplication facts to help with repetition too. I share more about the games I play in this blog post if you want to check it out. […]