Fun Ways to Learn Your Math facts

Learning math facts can be a real struggle for some kids. It can seem boring and many kids take a bit longer to become fluent with their math facts.

Thankfully, there are lots of fun ways to practice math facts !

In this article we show you easy mental math ideas, simple pen and paper practice, games and gadgets to help learn facts in a fun way. We also explore lots of great story books that teach facts without kids even realizing it.

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Mental Math – Simple Math Facts Practice Ideas

No special supplies are needed for some quick mental math fact practice! These ideas are perfect for when you’ve got 5 minutes or if you are killing time in the car or waiting in line. Plus, mental math engages kids’ brains in a whole different way than pen and paper do – so it’s a great way compliment to more traditional math facts practice.

Plus, your busy body kids can do this standing up, hopping or even dancing around the room. They can whisper, they can shout – make it FUN!!

1. Skip Counting

This can be done anywhere and only takes a minute! Simply have kids practice skip counting by 2’s, 3’s, etc. They can do this out loud in the car, waiting in line, where ever! Skip counting is great addition practice and also great for solidifying multiplication facts.

Start by counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s and move on to the other numbers. Once kids have mastered starting from zero (0, 2, 4, 6,…) you can give specific parameters, like, “Count by 2’s from 20 to 40”. Kids will start to recognize patterns as they get better at this – and math is really all about patterns!

If it helps kids, they can also write down the numbers as they say them — or just write them!

2. Skip counting Backwards

A variation of skip counting is to have your kids count backwards! Start with easier numbers, like 2’s, 5’s and 10’s and have them go backwards from a number. For example, “Count by 2’s backwards from 24 to 6.” or ” Count backwards by 10’s from 150 to 50.”

This is a great builder of focus and concentration!

3. “3 Ways to Get”

This is a great way to practice any operation – and even all operations at once!! Children will have to think of various ways to “get” a certain number, using whatever operation they want. Throw out a number and your kiddo will have to tall you 3 problems to “get” that number.

For instance, you could ask,” Tell me 3 ways to get 24.” There are infinite possibilities, but this meets your child exactly where they are. They might say, “23 plus 1, 20 plus 4, and 25 minus 1″. Kids who are working on their multiplication facts might say, ” 3 times 8, 4 times 6 and 2 times 12.”

You can be more specific in your request, as well. “Give me 3 ways to get 12 using only subtraction.”

Pen and Paper Practice (Free Printables!!)

Sometimes, all it takes is a piece of paper and a pencil to get in some good math facts practice. These are super easy and can be done over and over again. Alternate them so kids don’t get bored and add colored pencils or markers for extra fun!!

4. Addition/Multiplication Finger Chart

Print off our free addition chart and multiplication chart and see what kids can fill in. Give them a time limit for some extra challenge.

Once they see the patterns, they may just fill in the chart from memory….mix it up by outlining 10 to 15 squares they have to fill in.

5. Skip-Counting Pyramids

Skip-Counting Pyramids are a fun way to practice multiplication….Kids can cut out the pyramids from this free download . Place a number, 2 thru 10 at the very top. Skip count, adding one more number to the sequence, as you work your way down the pyramid.

Make this into a craft by cutting and pasting completed pyramids onto a piece of paper and add their own Egyptian scene!

6. Fact Flowers

Fact Flowers are fun to draw and can be colored in, too. We’ve got a free printable right here for you. Fill in the center of the flower with one factor or addend, then fill the next level of petals with numbers 2 thru 9 and have your kids write the answer in the second layer of petals.

Make it fun, using colored pencils! You can extend this activity in a craft by cutting out the flowers and glueing them on bright colored paper. Craft stems and leaves to make this into a piece of art.

Simply draw a center with the factor, then one row of petals with another factor. The answer goes in a second row of petals.

Fact Flowers can be done with addition or multiplication.

Games to Help Kids Learn Math Facts

I know there are lots of apps and online games for learning facts, but why have another reason to have a computer in your kids’ hands?

These screen free ideas are awesome and come with no side effects or sneaking on Youtube.

7. Shut the box

Shut the Box (pictured above) is a fun game to learn simple facts. One to four players roll the dice and “shut” or flip over the sum showed on the dice. or any combination of numbers to equal the roll of the dice. For instance, if the roll equals 10, a player can flip over the 10 or any other combination of numbers that equal 10( 2 and 8, 6 and 4, …)

The player continues rolling and flipping numbers until no more numbers can be flipped. Their score is the sum of any tabs NOT flipped over. Play a few rounds and winner is the player with the lowest score.

A more difficult variation can be played, where players can use any operation for their roll – great for multiplication and division facts.

My students even play Shut the Box during indoor recess!

8. Cribbage

Cribbage , another great game for learning facts, can take a while to learn, but boy, there is a ton of mental math involved in this simple game invented by a wealthy English Poet. Played with a simple wooden scoring board and a deck of ordinary cards, this is a great one to practice facts, starting around age 10.

9. The 24 Game

The 24 Game is geared towards 3rd grade and up and is a great to practice mulitple step problems and all the operations. 4 numbers are given and the object is to make an equation that equals 24.

For example, if the card had a 4, 1, 2 and 3 you could say: 2 times 3 equals six, times 4, times 1 equals 24. Often cards have multiple solutions. This is an amazing game for mental math and you can take it anywhere!

I also love that this game promotes multiple points of view as there can be many correct answers for each card. 24 has so many factors, kids are practicing so many facts during the course of the game.

Gadgets to learn Math Facts

To spice things up a bit, it’s fun to find a few gadgets that help with math facts. These can be used on the go and are a easy win with kids. My class LOVES these!!

10. Wrap-Ups

These have been around for a long time – and for good reason! Engaging the hands helps solidify information in the brain – and wrapping string can give kids a break from traditional paper/pencil activities.

Wrap-Ups come in all four operations, so there is one that meets your kid’s needs.

11. Facts Fidget Spinners

A fidget spinner that gives kids a fun way to learn their math facts – a winner! These are so visually appealing and such a fun way to practice the facts of all the operations.

Simply spin the outer ring so your fact matches up with the arrow and flip to the opposite side to see the answer.

These are available in all the operations. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.

12. Hand 2 Mind Addition and Subtraction Boards

Hand 2 Mind’s practice boards offer and easy, very tactile way to practice facts. Kids simply roll the facts back to reveal the answer. Perfect for car rides and doctor’s office waiting rooms, these are quiet and screen free!

Have your kids say the fact and the answer to engage more than one sense, helping the facts stick to memory and improve their fact fluency quickly.

Hand 2 Mind has both a subtractiion and an addition board.

13. The System for kids who struggle with facts

If you have a kid who struggles to learn their multiplication facts, this is the book for you.

Times Tales (Book and DVD/Audio recording) uses fun stories and unique visuals to teach the most difficult multiplication facts. This is one of the easiest ways for kids to learn their facts – each number is given a character and the facts involve easy to remember stories.

I purchased this when my son was in third grade and it helped him learn his multiplication facts quickly. It’s super for visual kids (We just had the workbook) and it’s totally corny, but that’s the reason for it’s success.

There is a deluxe program now, but really the workbook is so helpful!!

14. Picture Books to Learn Math Facts

For the younger set(3/4th grade and under), there are some great picture books that help kids with their facts.

Far too many to list, look here for more picture books to help with math, check out my Pinterest Board.