11.

Make a Toy Shop

This is an amazing way of introducing how to handle money

numbers from a younger age.

Teacher can set up a toy shop scenario in a classroom where there

will be toys of different price tags.

A kid can take the role of shop keeper where others can come to
shop to buy toys with ‘money’.

This will help them to learn how to count the money and buy stuff
and the shop keeper can learn how to give balances. Kids can take a
turn in such different scenarios.

12. Odd or Even

This is a simple but interesting activity for kids who are already
familiar with numbers.

The activity can be done in groups or single. You can write out
numbers from 1 to 100 in oval shape cardboards and place it on the
desk in a different order.

The teacher can then call out odd or even and the kid from one
group has to step forward and select an odd or even number
depending on the call.

A variation to the activity is like a teacher can randomly choose

cardboard and kid have to tell whether it is odd or even.
13. Go Fish maths

This is an amazing activity which kids would love for sure. The
activity needs cut out fish shapes from colored cards, a metal
paperclip near the fish’s mouth and a magnetic fishing rod (tie a
magnet to a string). Write out numbers 1 to 10 or your preferred
sequence on different fish cutouts.

You may even have an undersea landscape picture on the surface

where the fishes are placed. The kids can then start fishing the
numbers one by one. The game can have many variations.

The teacher can call out for a particular number which they should
fish. Or they can just fish the numbers and arrange it in ascending
or descending order. Or decide a number, say 3 and kids have to
add 3 to the fish number and call out a result and so on.

14. Number Dots

This is an interesting activity for kids that work with dotted numbers.
The activity needs parchment paper, sharpie marker and do-a-dots
markers.

Firstly, tape the parchment paper on the wall and write numbers on
it that are decorated with dots.

The activity for kids is to use the marker to connect those dots and
draw the number. This not only helps them to memorize different
numbers but holding the marker against the wall also strengthens
their little muscles.

15. Musical Maths

It is no surprise that music can do wonders to heal any wound and

better any situation. Have you thought about including music as
part of learning maths?

Teachers and parents can frame simple songs including the

numbers in descending or ascending order or simple addition or
multiplication or equations.

Compose a rhythmic tune to it and let kids sing it loudly. Kids are
actually learning the basics of mathematics even without the feeling
that they are learning.

Brain gets trained easily with this information while they can have
fun.

Moreover, this aerobic activity boosts oxygenation in the

bloodstream and enhances mental alertness.

If you are too bad at framing songs, just go online and you can
easily find out a handful of ‘math songs’ for kids.

16. Leaf Math Games

This is an interesting activity that can be tried out in your campus

garden. Kids can be given sufficient time to collect fallen leaves
from the ground and let them number it from 1 to 5 depending on
their sizes.
Teachers can introduce the concept of addition and subtraction with
these leaves of different sizes.

For example, to teach 1+2=3, place the leaf with number 1 and
number 2 in one side and number 3 on the other side.

Kids can easily understand how the value of a single bigger leaf in
the second side is more when you put two leaves of a smaller value
in the first side. Similarly, you can try out concepts of subtraction
and multiplication, as well.

17. Smack The Number

This is another interesting activity to help kids to identify the

numbers easily. All that you need for this simple activity is a dice,
sticky notes, and a fly swatter.

The activity can be done in groups to make it total fun. First, you
have to write different numbers on sticky notes and place it on the
surface.

Then put the dice on the surface and kids have to instantly identify
the number on the dice and swat the matching number on sticky
notes.

For kids who are learning addition and subtraction, try varieties of
this activity. Put the dice twice and then say addition or subtraction
and kids have to find the result from sticky notes. (Example: 6, 4,
addition=10, subtraction=2)
18. Math Bingo
You might be familiar with the alphabet bingo which is the favorite
of many kids but this math bingo can be a lot more fun and
interesting.

In this activity, each kid can be given a bingo card that is marked
with numbers on columns. Parents or teachers can be the caller or
assign a kid who can take the role.

For small kids, just call out numbers and they can mark it on the
cards. For higher classes, you can call out equations and kids have
to mark the answer in the bingo card. (Example: 8+2=10).

19. Nature Shapes Outdoor

This is a cool activity for kids that can be tried out in your school
garden or the park near home. This activity lets kids explore nature
while identifying and forming different shapes.

It can be a timed activity, say 30 minutes or 1 hour and see how

many shapes the kids can identify in nature in minimal time.

They can also be allowed to form different shapes using natural

elements, say leaves, sticks or stones but all within the time limit.

20. Abacus

There is no special introduction for Abacus as it is an amazing tool

that lets kids do a lot of activities to learn the foundation of maths
1. Math games
Math games are a tried-and-true method for bringing excitement
and competition to your classroom. Whether online or in person,
math games can engage your students and align to your lesson plan.

Popular math games include:

 Card games like War, where two students use multiplication,
subtraction or even exponent rules to build cards with a higher
value than their opponent’s.
 Math stations filled with number blocks and other manipulatives
during play-based learning activities for younger students.
 Math board games that help students learn basic math facts,
while also building socio-emotional skills like turn-taking and
collaboration. Try filling a tic-tac-toe board with math facts, or
hosting a math bingo game for the whole class!

2. Visual aids and picture books

If you’ve got a classroom full of visual learners, then charts, picture
books and other visual aids can help them make sense of new
concepts and provide reference points as they work.

Printables, anchor charts and diagrams are readily available on sites

like Teachers Pay Teachers to make classroom set up easy and
stress-free. You can even have students make their own visual aids to
help them remember key terms and concepts!

Picture books are also a great way to engage students that prefer
seeing and reading to math work. Some of our favorites are:

 G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David M.

Schwartz — Best for students in 4th to 8th grade, this math book
explores interesting math concepts for every letter of the alphabet.
 Bean Thirteen by Matt McElligot — Ralph and Flora are trying to
get rid of the unlucky thirteenth bean, but it keeps coming back!
This story is a goofy exploration of remainders and division.
 Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base — Search for different plants and
animals in the forest where Uno lives. Students have to complete
skills, puzzles and multiplication questions to finish the adventure.

Whether it’s reading or drawing, there’s something to help every

student learn new math skills!

3. Using modern technology

When it comes to teaching math, modern technology can broaden

perspectives and give students new ways to engage with the world
around them.

Math is Fun offers students games and math puzzles that balance fun
with skills-building challenges.

Tablets and smartphones give students new ways to engage with

math on their own terms. We put together a list of the 13 best math
apps for kids, but our favourites include:

 Prodigy Math Game, an adaptive math adventure game.

 Dragon Box, a colorful math app that turns concepts like algebra
and multiplication into a fun game.
 Khan Academy, a non-profit organization that creates video lessons
for a variety of different topics and levels.

4. Take a hands-on approach

Every teacher knows worksheets aren’t always the most engaging.

A hands-on approach in the math classroom means finding real-life

examples of formulas and concepts, or including student interests
in relevant work problems.

Try a beach ball toss with equations written on each section or bake
with your students to learn about fractions! Math puzzles like KenKen,
Magic Squares and tangram puzzles can also help kinesthetic learners
practice their skills.

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives also put traditional math

tools online for greater accessibility. Ideal for one-to-one device use or
station rotations, it offers manipulation tasks for every grade level.

5. Encourage communication with students and

parents
Understanding students and connecting with parents are both equally
important, for different reasons. Parent teacher conferences and
quick notes home are ways for you to share positive notes and get
valuable insights into how students feel about math.

Math journaling is a great way to have students reflect on what

they’re struggling with, what they enjoy doing and where they think
they need more practice. You might read things that confirm your
insights, or find something new!

6. Focus on your students

It’s easy to focus on just getting through your curriculum for the year
— after all, isn’t that what students need to learn the most?

But a shift to student-centered learning techniques can help you

support the needs of every student in your classroom. Student-
centered learning involves kids in decisions about their studies, helps
them build a growth mindset and encourages them to make
connections between concepts.

Some common student-centered techniques include:

 Interdisciplinary learning that mixes math with other subjects

 Service learning projects to combine academic goals with
community service
 Personalized learning through regular formative
assessments and pre-teaching
 Student-led conferences that involve students in feedback and
decision-making about their learning

7. Stick to fixed routines

Building a fixed math class routine can help students feel settled
and confident when math class starts, especially if they struggle
with math anxiety.

Outline expectations and what students need to show up to class

with, whether that’s a sharp pencil and paper, or just a sharp mind.

Pick something to start your lesson with, whether it’s introducing a

new concept or reviewing an old one:
 Give students a discussion question and ask how they solved it
 Put some vocab words on the board and ask students to define
them
 Challenge older students to analyze a piece of mathematical writing
from another scholar

Spend the middle of your lesson teaching or giving your class hands-
on experience with new concepts:

 Set up station rotation activities and small group instruction

 Use blended learning techniques to promote hands-on activities
and group work
 Give a mini-lesson and then hands-on practice with worksheets or
other activities

End class on a high note with quick activities that reinforce learning:

 Ask students to summarize what they learned, in writing or out loud

 Have students work individually or in pairs to answer a quick wrap-
up question
 Set up an exit ticket activity so students can show you what they
learned, either by submitting a piece of paper or answering a
question before they leave

8. Use real objects

There are plenty of math tools that can help students picture
abstract math concepts in the real world, including:
 Play money
 Abacus for counting and number sense
 Spheres, prisms and other shapes for geometry
 Manipulatives like base ten blocks, number lines and clocks
 Small objects like gummy bears, buttons or rocks for pattern
making
 Flashcards for subtraction, addition, multiplication and division
facts, or other math vocabulary terms

Incorporate these items into problem-solving activities for more ways

to learn.

9. Physical involvement
Techniques that get students moving, out of their seats or just
engaging in hands-on learning activities can help a variety of different
learners. In your classroom, try:

 Writing and acting out skits about math concepts

 A scavenger hunt for geometric shapes or patterns
 Brain breaks to help students stay focused during long stretches of
class
 Interactive games like flash cards, dice, manipulatives or “Around
the World” with relevant math problems

Think-pair-share activities and flipped classrooms can also help

students get hands-on experience and talk through new ideas with
peers in real time.

10. Use interesting and engaging questions

If you have two morph marbles, use one in a Prodigy math battle, and
then earn two more, how many morph marbles do you have?

Word problems are a great way to connect student interests with

your lesson plans. If you’re not sure what students like, send out a
quick survey or ask them about their favorite books, TV shows or
video games.

They’ll be delighted when they find their favorite Prodigy character or

TV show on your next handout, and you’ll have a class full of students
actually excited about doing their homework.

11. Address learning issues promptly

If you notice students falling behind (or racing ahead), address it early
to avoid any long-term engagement problems.

One-on-one instruction or small groups can help you pay attention

to individual learning needs. A mixture of group and individual
work can help all learners absorb information in the way they learn
best, too.

Use response to intervention (RTI) methods to address small and

large learning issues promptly. RTI focuses on early and continuous
identification, assessment and assistance of students who have
learning and behavioural needs.

If the learning needs are serious, talk to parents and administration

about setting up an IEP or 504 plan to make sure students can access
support that helps them succeed and stay engaged.
12. Integrate math into other subjects
Whether it’s statistics in social studies or angles in art, there are

endless ways to connect topics and inspire students to learn more.

Incorporate math talk into other subjects as part of interdisciplinary

teaching activities to help students stay engaged — especially if
the second subject is something they’re more interested in.

13. Keep lessons fun and interactive

Fun math activities can help you keep students engaged and learning,
whether it’s short and silly brain breaks between worksheets or
station rotations with a mix of small group and individual work.

Be sure to offer lots of opportunities for students to get

involved answering questions or helping with hands-on
demonstrations. For more interactive lessons, try modern teaching
methods like inquiry-based learning that let students follow their own
interests and passions!

14. Incorporate technology for personalized

learning
One of the best ways to ensure students are excited about learning is
to offer personalized learning opportunities and differentiated
content. But in a big and busy classroom, that can be time-consuming
and tricky!
Prodigy’s free teacher account comes with tools that help you gather
insights while students play. Instead of spending hours grading
assignments and developing differentiated math practice, Prodigy
helps you tailor content for the learning needs of your students.

Sign up for my free teacher account today

15. Apply lessons to life

“Are we really ever going to use this in real life?” is a common phrase
heard in many math classrooms.

To help students understand the benefits and wonder of math, relate

what they’re learning to the real world! Have students research
different career paths that use the concepts they’re learning, or invite
members of the community to speak about how they use math in
their jobs.

Who knows where in life it could lead your students?

Turning the math classroom

into a healthy environment
No matter what students are learning, a fun and positive environment
is a foundation for academic and personal success.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up and try several different techniques to

make math fun in your classroom! See which ones students respond
to best, then use them to keep your students loving math class.

Prodigy Math Game makes math class an epic adventure with

quests, rewards and new worlds to explore. As students play and
answer math questions, you can differentiate and collect insights with
free and effective teacher tools. Try it today!