I like the classroom to be a fun and engaging place for students. Students love games that help them learn. They help motivate and encourage them in their learning. I knew I wanted math facts games in my classroom to help students commit these facts to memory without only doing timed math facts tests all the time. However, making games take time as a teacher. And buying them takes money. I want to share 3 easy to make math facts games that students love!

Math Facts Games

Math Facts Game 1: Fiddle Sticks

For this first game, all you need is a plastic cup and popsicle sticks. I call it “Fiddle Sticks.” Write the math facts you want students to work on at the bottom of the sticks. Color one stick bottom black. That is the fiddle stick. A small group of students pass the cup around, pull out a stick, and say the answer to the math fact. They keep the stick and pass the cup to the next player. If a student gets the “fiddle stick” they have to put all their sticks back in the cup!

I use label circles to write the math facts on because I can change the facts to the students’ needs and save money on popsicle sticks. This math facts game keeps students engaged and is cheap to make!

Math Facts Game 2: Janga

Over the summer, I love to go to garage sales to see what I can find for my classroom. I always look for games that could be great for students. I have found Janga games that I make easily into math facts games. I just put a piece of masking tape on each piece and write a fact on each one. I use masking tape so I can change the math facts throughout the school year. Students play janga the regular way, but as they take the piece, they must say the answer to the math fact before the next player can go.

Math Facts Game 3: War Card Game

I created a version of this game, but it can be used with playing cards. Students pass out the cards to players until the cards are all gone. Students put their cards face down in a stack. On the count of three, students flip their top card over. The player with the largest sum, or largest difference get to take all the cards and put them on the bottom of their stack of cards. In my version, I have an addition and subtraction cards. Students love them both! I have multiple versions printed on colored cardstock to match the version so students know where to return cards.

I store all my math facts games in a bin so that students know where they always are. I use these as a fast finisher activity after whole group math instruction. I also use them as fast finishing activities if students finish my math review center early. These activities would also be great if you have a math facts center in your centers time in the day.

I hope you have found some fun ideas for easy to make math fact games. I know your students will love them as much as mine do!

Do your students need more help with math facts? Read more about math fact strategies here.

Looking for other ways to get your students practice with addition and subtraction math facts? Check out this free workbook: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency. Download it here.