Maths
can sometimes be a real marmite subject. Some people just get it, and others
have to work a little harder. Getting a good handle on it from a young age is
really important, but motivation can be tricky. This very short list includes a
couple of games that can be played to keep maths interesting.
Competitions
This
one has to be handled right - as it has to reward the able, and inspire those
behind them. Keeping it less focused on public performance can help, so be
careful not to put the children on the spot too much. Something simple as a
quick fire multiplication test (on paper) can be really effective. Put down
numbers one to twenty, and then the teacher reels off various sums for the
students to work out quickly. It encourages quick arithmetic, and for the
students to memorise their times tables. Or a more panel/team based quiz can
help to add some fun and an element of competition, whilst not singling the
children out.
Bingo
A
well-known concept, Bingo, except with the added twist that instead of just
saying out the numbers - equations are given instead Make a bingo card for each
pupil that includes a series of numbers that differs slightly from player to
player. Then come up with a series of equations where ‘x’ corresponds to each
of these numbers. Put the equations into a hat and start drawing equations one
by one. The winner is the pupil fastest enough to work out their equations and
have score a ‘full house’ on their bingo card.
Shop
Role playing
More
suitable for the Primary school pupils, but role playing a transaction at
a shop not only helps to encourage work with decimals, but also adds a
real-world application to the maths lesson. This is an idea that can go as far
as having the students interact with a desk between them and fake money, or
give them a budgeting scenario to figure out. For example, get them to
plan a budget for throwing a party and mark them on how well they choose to
spend that money.
Co-ordinate
pictures
Often
a pre-Christmas fall back, making pictures using co-ordinates can be a great
way to practise the use of grids. This is also a skill that will be required
for other subjects such as the sciences, so it is important that they have it
well honed. Allowing them to colour the pictures in afterwards is also to be
advised, mainly because it is fun.
This
is just a sample of the way that maths can be applied to slightly more active
participation than simply going through exercises. Being able to play in class
is a great way of rewarding pupils for good work, and being able to participate
in games will mean they gain their own reward by seeing how they are doing
well.
Can
you think of any fun maths games, or played any good ones at school? Share in
comments below
