A group counting game, a magic deck of number cards, and some magic beans that seem to count themselves. These math games require two, three, or more players, so look for opportunities to share these games with friends, classmates, or teammates.
Math magicians should be confident in the directions before asking someone to participate in some of these kids’ games. In most cases, your quick answer and amazing math ability will wow your audience. If you are double-checking the instructions, they won’t be surprised when you give your answer.
Counting Activities for Kids
These two counting games for kids require no math skills. One game requires players to break into pairs while the other game is great for four to 12 players. The first game has a secret in order to win it. The second game requires luck and a sense of humor.
Break children into pairs with the goal of being the person who says “20.” Players take turns saying either one or two numbers, going in order from one to twenty. Will children figure the secret of being the person to say “17” forcing the other player to say either “18” or “18, 19” – allowing the first player to win.
For the second game, challenge a group to count to 10 – the trick is that the individuals randomly call out a number (they can’t go around in a circle or down a line). If two people speak at the same time, then the group must start over at “1.” This is harder than it sounds.
Mystery Math Game
Have your friend shuffle a stack of cards numbered one to 10 and then add up the cards your friend sets down on a table in an instant. Don’t tell your friend the secret to this math trick and he’ll think you’re a math whiz.
Start with five pieces of paper or five index cards. On the first piece, write “1” on the front and “2” on the back. On the next piece of paper, write “3” on the front and “4” on the back. On another sheet, write “5” and “6”, “7” and “8”, and “9” and “10.”
Give the papers or cards to a friend and ask him to mix up the cards. Tell him to spread out the cards with either side turned face up. In an instant, you can tell your friend the sum of the numbers showing. The trick is that all of the even numbers equal 30. (2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 30)
For each odd number showing, subtract “1” from “30” because each odd number is one less than the even number on the reverse side of the card. If one odd number is showing, subtract one for a sum of 29; if four odd numbers are showing then the total is 26.
Magic Beans Math
For this bit of number magic, you’ll need three players. One person, the math magician, will direct Players One and Two to pass dried beans,toothpicks, pennies, candies, etc. back and forth and then announce the number of toothpicks held by Player Two. The math magician stands with her back to the two players. Direct the two players to avoid counting or saying numbers aloud.
- Player One selects any number of toothpicks between 10 and 20. Player Two counts Player One’s toothpicks and then takes twice that number from the box.
- The math magician tells Player One to give any number of toothpicks, between one and 10 to Player Two. (Remember the number that you tell him.)
- Player Two counts the number of toothpicks Player One has left. Player Two gives twice that number of toothpicks to Player One.
- The math magician announces the number of toothpicks Player Two is holding. The number is three times the number of items you told Player One to give to Player Two during step 2.
These quick kids’ games will have kids having fun with numbers. For more math and number games, check out fun math games and more math magic. Have kids try to figure out the tricks behind these math games and challenge them to think up their own cool math games to share with others.
Join the Conversation