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 children's mental math skills.. Share which games your children enjoyed the most.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Email Cindy McVay at Issaquah_WA@iKumon.com to schedule your free placement test. Research Kumon on their website and on Facebook or call Cindy McVay, M.Ed. in Issaquah at 425-369-1072. Placement testing is always free.
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Issaquah Highlands
1036 NE Park Drive, Issaquah, WA 98029
425-369-1072
Class Hours:
Tue: 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Wed: 3:30pm - 7:00pm
Thu: 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Sat: 9:00am - 12:30pm
