Understanding simple math facts can offer students a tremendous
advantage in school. Conducting basic addition and subtraction problems
mentally, Children’s math fluency increases with the improvement of
mental math skills, which allows them to advance more easily to higher
level mathematics, as well as through the Kumon Math program.
More than anything, learning some basic, but useful mental math
strategies, can work to greatly improve your children’s self-confidence.
We have compiled a list of five fun activities to help strengthen
chidlren’s mental math skills.. Share which games your children enjoyed
the most.
1. Mental Mystery
Have your children count out five small objects such as pennies,
marbles, or candy (10 – 20 objects for older children) and close their
eyes. Then hide some of the five objects, while leaving the rest
uncovered. Ask your children to calculate how many objects they see and
how many objects are covered. Practice this activity until your
children can quickly solve these simple equations. Add one additional
object once your children have mastered that level to increase
difficulty.
2. What’s My Number?
First write the numbers 1 to 20 on a number line on a piece of paper.
Think of a number that your children will have to guess and ask them
to guess what your number is by adding two numbers together or taking
two numbers away using the number line.
3. The Number is Right
On a piece of paper, write a number between 1 – 100 and have your
children take turns guessing the number written. After each incorrect
guess, you must tell the players if the number guessed is higher or
lower than the number written down. The game continues until someone
correctly guesses the number.
4. Math Jeopardy
Give your children a piece of paper and then say a number. Give them
one minute to find as many ways to make the number using addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division.
5. Pig
Using a standard die, each player will roll the die as many times as
they like and keep a running total of the numbers rolled. If the player
rolls number 1, the player loses his or her current total and another
player takes turns rolling the die. Players can hold their current score
by passing on the die to their opponents. The game can continue until
each player has had five turns or reach a total sum of 25.
