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

Fall 2007:

Game Name
 Grade Level
Game Type
Math Content
Description

Math Rummy

by Jake and Tamer

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

by Evita and Minerva 

8 Understand concepts; Use mathematical notation Algebra Uses the Towers of Hanoi puzzle to find and generalize recursive and explicit patterns.

Coordinate Geometry Battleship

by Keron and Rosemarie

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

by Eric and George 

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

by Catherine  and Katie

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

by Amelia and Mariela

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

by James Zorich

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.
Fall 2008:
       

Muggins Mania

by Emily and Tiffany

 

 3+ Develop skills; Devise strategies Number and Operations This is a spin on the traditional game of using numbers and operations to form an expression equal to a certain number. The game uses dominoes and multiple target numbers.

Make the Goal

by Mark and Anisha

 7-9 Understand concepts; Devise strategies
 Number and Operations
 Use pipe cleaners to model vectors and add them together to reach a target in this hands-on game.

Get Lucky and Algebra Jeopardy (ppt)

by Joe and Ruben

 6-9 Learn the language of Mathematics; Know facts; Understand concepts; Devise strategies; Develop skills
Number and Operations; Algebra Using cards to represent numbers, mentally combine with basic operators to create expressions that get close to a certain target number. Algebra Jeopardy is played using a projected PowerPoint file.

Plus or Minus

2-3
 Develop skills; devise strategies
 Number and Operations
 A card game similar to "Crazy Eights" and "Uno" to work on mental addition and subtraction skills.

Kindergarten Cooties & Jealous Gentlemen

by Liz and Dian

9-12
 Devise strategies Discrete Mathematics
Several puzzle games in which students take turns placing characters in positions within a set of constraints, while trying to prevent the opposing player from being able to place the next character.

Mad Math

by Briana and Anthony

3-9 Develop skills; Devise strategies
 Number and Operations
 Students work in teams to create an expression using numbers and operations. The numbers and operations are shuffled and exchanged with another team. Both teams compete to see who can reconstruct the expression given the equivalent value.

Beano

by Leif and David

9
 Devise strategies; Understand concepts
 Data Analysis and Probability Students play a game in which they place beans on numbers that represent the sum of two dice. Each time a number comes up in a dice roll, a corresponding bean may be removed. The first person who removes all his beans wins the game. Students mathematically analyze the game to develop strategies.

 

These lesson plans are available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. This means that you are free to share and remix the works but you should attribute the work to this webpage.  For full text, click on the link above.

AttachmentSize
Math Rummy Game.pdf54.66 KB
Towers of Hanoi Game.pdf235.44 KB
Coordinate Geometry Battleship.pdf34.26 KB
Get 40 Game.pdf172.47 KB
SET Game.pdf138.68 KB
Treats Game.pdf170.63 KB
Equations Game.pdf119.64 KB
Muggins_Mania edited.pdf1007.13 KB
11.124_Plus_or_Minus.doc49.5 KB
Beano.pdf32.25 KB
Get Lucky and Jeopardy.doc188 KB
Jeopardy.ppt300.5 KB
Kindgergarten_Jealous.doc305 KB
Mad Math.pdf275.71 KB
Make_the_Goal_final_edited.doc3.53 MB