Middle School Math Games to Use in Your Classroom
If you are looking to add some fun math review to your middle school classroom, math games are the perfect fit. These versatile activities can be used in small math groups, math centers, math workshop, as review math games, or as a teacher vs. class game. Since I have spent so much time creating games over the course of my career in 5th-8th grade math, it can be hard to keep them straight. This post breaks down all of my math games and they grade level they work best.
5th grade math games
After having taught 6th-8th grade for much of my teaching career, I started teaching a 5th grade level course part way into my teaching experience. My favorite games for this level are my Connect Four games for 5th grade. The bundle includes 14 different games. Each game includes 6 game boards and 16 problem cards. Students complete problems and try to become the first player to connect four spaces in a row! All games include a digital Google slides option. You can also try out this free Volume of Rectangular Prisms Connect Four Game, which is included in the 5th grade bundle.
6th GRADE MATH GAMES
MATH BOARDS GAMES (6TH GRADE)
I have spent SO much of my career teaching 6th grade math and creating games for this level. Math board games, like the Decimal Dash pictured above, have always been a student favorite. In these games, students answer math problems as they try to be the first player around the game board. Each game has an element of luck involved, like the “Test Your Luck” spaces, so that the same students don’t always win. All of these include a digital Google slides option as well. Here are all of my 6th grade math board games:
1. Fractions and Decimals Board Game Bundle - This bundle includes 9 different math games focused on different operations with fractions or decimals. For example, the Decimal Dash game pictured above focuses solely on multiplying with decimals.
2. Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities Board Game Bundle - This bundle of 6 math board games is made up of games entirely focused on algebra. Topics like solving equations, solving inequalities, and simplifying expressions are all included.
3. Area and Volume Board Game Bundle - This set of two math games helps students practice finding the area of different shapes (Area Invasion) and the volume of different 3-dimensional figures (Volume Victory).
4. Probability and Statistics Board Game Bundle - As the name implies, these two games focus on statistics concepts, including mean, median, mode, and range (Mean, Median, and Mode Mania). It also includes Probability Panic, which helps students with various probability concepts for lower middle school grades.
5. 6th Grade Math Review Frenzy - This single math game is a review of all 6th grade math concepts. It includes 34 playing cards (questions) and a unique game board design. This is a great one to have on hand for the end of the year or test review.
MATH CONNECT FOUR GAMES (6TH GRADE)
Math Connect Four games are a hit for all of the middle school grades I have taught. This bundle of 15 Connect Four games for 6th grade covers a wide range of math concepts for this level. Everything from operations with decimals and fractions, area and volume, algebra, simplifying fractions, probability, statistics, and more! All include a digital Google slides version and you can try out this free Multiplying Decimals Connect Four Game to get an idea of how they work! Over 60,000 teachers have downloaded this freebie to try out with their students!
7TH GRADE MATH GAMES
MATH BOARD GAMES (7TH GRADE)
1. Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities Board Game Bundle - This bundle (also listed under 6th grade) has concepts and games that are a great fit for 7th grade math. A few of the games also include some negative numbers, which can be a good fit for certain 7th grade classrooms.
2. Negative Fractions and Decimals Board Game Bundle - This bundle of 6 games for upper middle school math focuses on operations with fractions and decimals… but includes negative numbers! It is similar to the concepts in the 6th grade Fractions and Decimals Bundle, but differs in that it includes these negative numbers.
3. 7th Grade Math Review Frenzy - This single math game is a review of all 7th grade math concepts. It has 34 different problems that students solve as they try to be the first to make it to the finish!
MATH CONNECT FOUR GAMES (7TH GRADE)
The bundle of Connect Four games for 7th grade includes 8 different topics/games. Each game includes a digital Google slides version and printable option. Similar to my other grade level Connect Four games, each of the games is made up of 6 unique game boards and 16 problem cards. Student try to become the first player to connect four consecutive spaces on their board! These also work great as a teacher vs. class game. Try out this 7th Grade Probability Connect Four game with your students.
8TH GRADE MATH GAMES
MATH BOARD GAMES (8TH GRADE)
1. Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities Board Game Bundle - This bundle of 6 games (also listed under 6th and 7th grade) includes a little bit of everything for all middle school grades. For 8th grade it is great, because it has a few review games for solving more basic equations, but also gets into some more 8th grade level algebra concepts.
2. Negative Fractions and Decimals Board Game Bundle - This bundle (also listed under 7th grade) is a great review of operations with negative fractions and decimals. It includes 6 different games to help focus on these topics.
3. 8th Grade Math Review Frenzy - This single math game is a review of all 8th grade math concepts. It has 34 different problems and a fun game board that students compete on. Students love this one as a fun way to review!
MATH CONNECT FOUR GAMES (8TH GRADE)
I wouldn’t want to leave 8th grade out of the connect four fun! The 8th Grade Connect Four Game Bundle consists of 10 different games, designed specifically for 8th grade math. As with all of my games, they all include a printable and digital option.
USING MATH WORKSHOP IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Math games work perfectly with a math workshop structure in the classroom. Math centers, or math stations, encourage student interaction and provide a great opportunity to incorporate math games into the daily routine. If you are interested in learning more about how to structure math workshop, you may be interested in my Making Math Workshop Work online course. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out at middleschoolmathman@gmail.com.
