Mickleton Primary and Nursery School
Mental Maths Evening for Parents
Monday 20th January 2014
Compiled by Mr Webb and Mrs Gridley
(Numeracy co-ordinator)
Why Play Games?
The aim of mental maths should be for children wherever possible to do
the calculation in their head. To do these children need to be given help
‘making pictures’ in their minds. Mental maths is not just about numbers
but also about seeing shapes and being able to hold on to these and
manipulate them in your head.
We know that the practice that children need varies considerably from child
to child, but by playing and replaying well chosen games, the continuous
practice that is needed by children can be achieved in a pleasurable way.
This will enhance their attitude and motivation towards mathematics.
Playing games is fun and collaborative, it will enable you as parents to
understand more about your child’s mathematical learning and give the
child practice in a relaxed, meaningful way.
Boxes
This game is a version of the strategy game which has been played for
countless years. It can be played in its different forms according to the
children’s development.
Equipment
For all three versions a 5 x 5 dotted grid.
Game 1. Child and adult, playing in pairs, take turns to join two dots.
You are trying to prevent your partner from gaining more
Squares than you do. At some point you have to give away a
Square, the person winning the square puts an initial in it, but
must draw another line. The winner is the person with the
most squares at the end.
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Game 2. The game is set up with simple numbers in it but played the
same way. This time the winner will be the person with the
highest total in the squares.
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Game 3. The same grid but each set of four numbers must total 15.
The first numbers can be called out by children but then the
total must be found, this will involve negative numbers. The
scoring is the same as game 2,but the secret now is to
avoid negative numbers to get a better score.
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BOXES GRIDS
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Tables in a Row
Equipment:
1-6 dice
Counters (or use noughts and crosses)
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36
Take in turns to roll the die.
The first player may cover a number in the times table of the number on
the die with a counter. For example if you roll a 5, you can cover any
multiple of 5.
The second player rolls the die and covers a number in the times table that
s/he has.
The winner is the first person to cover four in a row, column or diagonal. Or
go for a full house! Can you change the rules and invent a different game.
Tables in a Row Grid
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36
BINGO!
Equipment:
5X5 grid
3 dice
Counters(or use noughts and crosses)
Enter the numbers 1-25 in the grid randomly.
Take it in turns to roll the 3 dice and then make up a calculation using all three
numbers and +,-, X or ÷.
For example if you roll 2, 3 and 5 then you could make 2+3+5=10 or 2x5+3=13
or…….
You can only use the numbers once, but you can use the operations more than once.
Cover the number on your grid which is the answer to your calculations.
You must explain to your partner how you got the answer.
The first person to get four answers in a row, column or diagonal is the winner.
Extra Challenge - go for a full house and see who has the most answers!
BINGO GRIDS
A Nasty Game!
Names
Score
………………………..
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Equipment:
Score sheet
Dice
How to Play
The score sheet is passed in turn for each player to record the digit obtained from
their throw of the die.
Players do not have to place their digit in one of their own boxes, but can place it in
any one of the available boxes.
Once written a digit cannot be changed.
Scoring – when all the boxes have been filled
-the player with the largest number scores 5 points
-the player with the next largest number scores 4 points
-the player with the largest number scores 3 points
-the player with the smallest number scores 2 points.
Keep a running score after each game.
How could you change the rules? Only even numbers score?
Nasty Game Grids
NAME
SCORE
………………………..
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NAME
SCORE
………………………..
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Big Deal!
A game for 2 to 5 players.
Equipment:
A pack of player cards with the pictures removed.
How to play:
Deal out 4 cards to each player.
The dealer turns face up one more card so that all of our players
can see it.
Each player must try to make the number on the card using those
dealt. Any operations (+,-,x and ÷) can be used.
The first player to make the number (or closest to it, if it cannot be
made) gains a point.
How can you change the game?
Example: 8+2+4-5=9
Suduko for Kids!
http://www.sudokuforkids.com/Free_Sudoku.html
Every row, column and mini-grid must contain the numbers1 through 4. Don’t guess use logic!
3
4
1
2
4
1
4
3
Four in a Row
Rules
1. In the strip at the bottom of each the page subtract any of the three
numbers to the left of the dark line from any of the numbers on the
right of the dark line.
2. Say the calculation aloud including the answer, for example ‘16
Subtract 5 is 11’ and place a coloured counter on that number in the
answer grid.
3. Take alternate turns. The winner is the first person who gets four of
their counters in a row either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
You can play this game with any of the four operations + - ×÷
Four in a Row Subtraction Grid
10
9
9
8
13
9
9
12
8
11
10
12
13
8
10
12
12
10
11
12
13
9
10
13
8
13
11
8
9
8
16
17
18
5
6
7
15
Four in a Row Multilication Grid
10
20
25
4
50
6
8
4
12
10
8
12
30
6
50
15
30
20
15
25
20
6
4
15
10
8
40
25
40
30
3
4
5
2
5
10
2
Four in a Row Grid
Please can you take a few minutes to give us some valuable feedback
on this mental maths workshop.
I enjoyed this particular aspect of this evening…
I would change……
I fell more able to support my child with mental maths at home by playing games with
them.
yes/no (please circle)
Any other comments;
My child is in year 3 / 4 (please circle)