Free Math Games to Help Homeschoolers Teach About Addition and Subtraction
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Our hands-on math games combine manipulatives, addition, subtraction and fun. Some of our games, such as The Mermaids' Treasure Hunt, are self-checking and are great for Montessori style learners or those who enjoy independent learning. Other games, like the Handy Carpenter, can allow up to 10 players per game. We really try to design games for our kids that are engaging and fun to play over and over again. Repetitive play helps to solidify new math concepts for learners without them even realizing they are learning . . . and that's just the way we like it in our house.
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The Busy Baker Practice finding sums to simple fact family problems by placing bread loaves in to the appropriate ovens (sum) to bake. Good for 1 or 2 players, competitive and co-operative versions of play included.
Age: Wee+ Focus: Simple addition, addition fact families from 4 to 12
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The Handy Carpenter Using numbered popsicle sticks instead of playing cards, practice finding the highest number, highest sums and highest products in this "war" type game. Pull one, two or three sticks at a time for added excitement. Good for 1-10 players.
Age: Elem+ Focus: Finding the highest number, Addition practice, multiplication drill
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The Mermaids' Treasure Hunt No.3 The Mermaids' Treasure Hunt No.4 The Mermaids' Treasure Tally Sheet Help the mermaids collect ocean treasures when you correctly practice adding simple sums based on specific numbers. Cut out pieces, glue them together, attach a paperclip and fish with a pole and magnet. Talk about learning fun!! Any treasure you catch and can correctly answer is kept. Play part two of the game by keeping track of the treasures collected by graphing them with tally marks in a very simple pictograph style - one tally represents one treasure. 1-4 players, co-operative or competitive play versions.
Age: Wee-Elem Focus: Simple addition, addition fact families
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Recycle Reduction
Begin teaching about being eco-friendly and being "green" with this simple game that teaches essential subtraction facts. Simply print out the numbered recycling bins and have children "recycle" game piece items into the appropriate box by the differences they figure out. Good for 1-4 players, competitive and co-operative versions of play included. This is a fairly large file - 19 pages.
Age: Elem+ Focus: Simple subtraction, subtraction fact families from 2-20 - does not include fact sentences ending in zero.
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Mary Garden Math Game
Are you planting a Mary Garden this year? If so, you might choose to put some roses for Our Lady in it. You may even need to buy a flat of twelve seedlings or baby rose plants to put in your garden. Voila - the premise of our math game! Help young learners practice addition facts to twelve with this very simple game based around the theme of creating a Mary Garden in your own backyard. Two to four players is ideal although any number could play. Simply print out the file - one game board and set of playing pieces per player is required. Cut apart pieces and gather two dice. Roll the dice, add the two numbers to find the sum and put a flower onto your flat to represent the sum. If the number is already filled in from a previous turn, the turn is skipped. The first to fill their flat with flowers to plant in their Mary Garden is the winner.
Age: Wee+ Focus: Simple addition to 12 |
