This is a collection of lesson plans for grades K-12 math teachers who are looking for fun, engaging classroom games that also reinforce skills, build number sense, strengthen logical and strategic reasoning, introduce students to key math concepts, and improve the social climate of a classroom.
These lessons were written by students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), as part of their coursework for 11.124, Introduction to Teaching and Learning Science and Math.
Contact Info:
Wendy Huang, MIT Teacher Ed Program Manager
wh1@mit.edu
Fall 2007:
| Game Name |
Grade Level |
Game Type |
Math Content |
Description |
| Math Rummy |
4+ | Develop skills; Devise strategies |
Number and Operations |
In “Math Rummy”, a fast-paced and fun game for ages 9 and up, players compete to build hands of playing cards combined with the basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) to reach a target number. |
| Towers of Hanoi |
8 | Understand concepts; Use mathematical notation | Algebra | Uses the Towers of Hanoi puzzle to find and generalize recursive and explicit patterns. |
| Coordinate Geometry Battleship |
7-9 | Develop skills; Devise strategies | Geometry and Measurement |
A twist on the traditional Battleship game - students practice finding the distance, midpoint, and slope between two points on a coordinate plane. |
| Get 40 |
6+ | Devise strategies; Develop skills; Understand concepts |
Probability, Number and Operations |
A die is rolled four times and students place each digit in a 2x2 grid, representing two 2-digit numbers. Students can then add or subtract with the goal of getting as close to 40 as possible. Students analyze the game to find a winning strategy that considers probability and basic number theory. |
| SET | 7+ | Devise strategies; Understand concepts |
Algebra and Probability |
SET is a commercial card game where students compete to find "sets" by recognizing patterns that follow the rules of creating sets. Students then use the cards to create magic squares and explore probability concepts. |
| Treats in a Basket |
6-8 | Devise strategies; Understand concepts |
Probability |
Students develop intuitive understandings about the probability of landing on particular board spaces when a die is rolled. They analyze the probability of multiple rolls by making outcome tables, trees, etc. |
| Equations | 6-10 | Use mathematical notation; Develop skills; Devise strategies | Number and Operations |
Equations is a commercial game where students use dice numbers and operations to create equations that hit a target. |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Math Rummy Game.pdf | 54.66 KB |
| Towers of Hanoi Game.pdf | 235.44 KB |
| Coordinate Geometry Battleship.pdf | 34.26 KB |
| Get 40 Game.pdf | 172.47 KB |
| SET Game.pdf | 138.68 KB |
| Treats Game.pdf | 170.63 KB |
| Equations Game.pdf | 119.64 KB |