Nametag Math
If your child is having trouble with a few
multiplication combinations try this activity:
Create a nametag for each family member, and
write a troublesome multiplication combination
along with the answer (e.g. 7 x 8=56) on the
nametag, rather than his or her name. Each
family member wears a nametag for the day.
When someone wants to speak to someone, they
must call him or her by the factors and product
on their nametag.
e.g. “7x8=56, have you finished your
homework?“ Will hopefully have a response of
“Why yes I have, 6x9=54 and I even double
checked it!”
This could also be adapted for addition,
subtraction, and division problems.
License Plate Math
Turn car rides into a time for math games with these
license plate activities:
1. Add up the digits in the license plate for any car
ahead of you or any car that passes you.
2. Try making the largest number and/or the smallest
number from a license plate by rearranging the order
of the numbers.
3. Have children tell you which numbers in the license
plate are odd and even or which ones are prime.
4. Multiply the first two numbers in the license plate
or the last two numbers. Or see what the largest
and/or smallest number you can make is by
multiplying two of the numbers.
5. Skip count with the first number (or last). For
instance, if the first number in a license plate is 4, see
how far you can count by 4's - 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 etc.
Buzz Instructions
This is a fun game that helps build multiplication
skills. Choose a number between 2 and 9. Players
will take turns counting by ones but will skip the
number chosen and any multiples of that number.
The first player says 1, the next player says 2, and so
on. Instead of saying a multiple of the selected
number or any number that contains the selected
number as one of its digits, the player says "buzz.” If a
player forgets to say buzz or says it at the wrong time,
he or she is out. Play continues until the group
reaches the last multiple of the number times 12. For
example, if “2” is chosen. The first students says “1,”
the next student says “buzz,” the next students says
“3,” the next student says “buzz,” and so on until 24 (2
x 12) is reached. You also could choose an alternate
number to end the game if you wanted the game to
continue longer.
This game could also be adapted by leaving out the
multiple component and having players only “buzz” on
the selected number or a number containing the number
chosen to be skipped.