Middle school teachers know that the best math practices are engaging and fun for students. They are also rigorous and provide an opportunity for students to show their understanding. How do you get all of this in a quick review? Math games!
My 6th-grade math students love our review days. Some of them enjoy the competition. While others like that they can get away from worksheets or laptops. Middle School Math review games keep students engaged and practicing the whole time.
My students benefit from these low-stakes activities during test review and state test preparation. They are a chance for students to show their understanding without feeling pressure. It especially helps students that get a little anxious before big assessments.
Types of Math Review Games
Math games can be super easy and quick, using what you already have. You do not need to go out and buy a specialty game set. And you shouldn’t spend your evening printing, cutting, and laminating special cards. (Unless you want to.)
There are digital and printable games that need a little prep. But some games just require a piece of paper and a pencil. Here are 5 of my favorite middle school math review games.
1. Math Lotto
This is a super easy game that you can use with any math worksheet or textbook page. My students love it because they can earn prizes. I love this game because it gives me quick individual check-ins.
What you need to play:
- A set of math problems.
- Answer sheet.
- 100 number grid displayed for the class.
- Random number generator.
- Prizes (pencils, stickers, homework passes, etc.)
How to play:
- Have students complete assigned problems.
- After completing the problems, they can meet with you (students can come to you, or you can move around the room) to check the problems.
- Once students get a section of questions correct, they can write their name or initials in a square on the number grid.
- A few minutes before the end of class, you pull random numbers and give prizes to the winner.
2. Mystery Photo
Students love this digital review activity. It is a self-checking activity. So, students know if they’re answering correctly or not. You can purchase the complete bundle of the mystery photo activities in my Flip 4 Math store.
3. The Dice Game
When students hear that we’re going to play the dice game, they get so excited! This game is fun, especially for students that enjoy healthy competition. Pairs work collaboratively to complete math problems while engaging in a game of chance.
It helps to pair students who are at similar levels of understanding.
What you need to play:
- A set of math problems on a worksheet or from a textbook.
- Dice so that each pair gets one die.
- One pencil for each pair.
How to play:
- Students pair up with the same set of problems from a worksheet or textbook.
- When the teacher says go, the first student starts to roll the die.
- While one student rolls the die, the other student, with the pencil, begins to complete the math problems.
- When the student rolling the die rolls a number 6, they get the pencil, and the roles switch.
- The game continues until the teacher calls time or the first pair completes all the problems.
4. Scavenger Hunts
In this self-checking, self-paced activity, students get out of their seats. They use math vocabulary and practice specific math skills.
Use scavenger hunts to review all types of math concepts. Students can work on multiplying fractions or solving one-step equations. All while moving from station to station.
This growing bundle will have over ten scavenger hunts students can use to review.
5. Mazes
Students love completing mazes. They enjoy the added challenge of finding their way through the maze as they answer math questions.
Mazes can be an easy printable activity that students can self-assess. Or they can be completed digitally. Also, this type of game can be done individually or in teams. There is something for everyone in these maze sets.
There are so many math concepts that you can review with mazes. I bet you can come up with some of your own mazes to use with your students.
