How do you teach math facts in a fun way?

As teachers, we know how important it is for students to know their math facts fluently. Without this skill, it is difficult for them to learn higher level math concepts.

The best way for student to learn these facts is to practice, practice, and practice. Unfortunately, students don’t always want to do what is best for them.

The best way that I have found to get kids to practice their math facts is by making it fun! Here are five ways to make math fact fluency fun:

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog. All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.

5 Super-Fun Ways to Learn Math Facts

1. Fly Swatter/Flashlight Tag

These games are relatively the same, but depend on your noise level tolerance. On those crazier days, I will often use the flashlight tag version because it is played with the lights off and silent, but still fun.

To play either game, list several numbers on the board. Divide the class into two teams (my students love playing boys vs. girls, but I have also done the right and left side of the room).

One player from each team comes close to the board. Ask a math fact question. The first person to tag the correct answer (either with their flashlight or fly swatter) earns a point for their team.

You can see a version of this game played on a table with a small group in the video below:

2. Quiz, Quiz, Trade

This game is a common Kagan style game that can be played with any set of flash cards. You could even create your own cards using index cards.

Each player gets one flash card and then walks around the room quizzing their classmates. If the players both answer correctly, they swap cards and repeat the process. If either player gets the answer wrong, have the student holding that flashcard give the correct answer before trading.

You can find the cards my students are using for the game here.

3. Kaboom Type Games

I have made several of these types of games for my students including the water balloon version in the picture above, but you can make them very simply using index cards or popsicle sticks.

Write math facts on the cards or sticks (without the answers). In addition, write KABOOM on two of the cards or sticks.

Players choose a card or stick and if they can answer it correctly, they get to keep it. If they get it incorrect, they put the card back in and it becomes the next player’s turn. However, if they draw the KABOOM card, they have to put ALL of their cards back in.

The winner is the player with the most cards.

4. Take Away Game

This game can be made with a paint stir stick. Simply use a sharpie to section off parts, and number each one. The picture above shows an addition version.

I have my students use red/yellow disks, but you could use any manipulative that you have two different colors of. Each student chooses a color and then lines up their pieces around the paint stick as seen in the picture.

Students then take turns rolling the dice. They find the sum (if they are using the addition version) or product (with the multiplication version) and then take their opponent’s piece away from that number. The object of the game is to take as many of the other player’s pieces as you can. If they roll a number that has already been removed, they simply lose that turn and it is the next player’s turn.

5. Computer Games

If your students are anything like mine, they love getting a chance to be on the computer. Use that to your advantage by having them play computer game that involve practicing their math facts. Some of my favorite sites are:

Baseball Math ( FunBrain.com)

xtramath.com

multiplication.com