Getting middle school students invested in math can be a challenging task. This great math idea was submitted to us by Maribeth, a 4th and 5th Grade Teacher, in Baltimore, MD. “To drill my students on multiplication facts, we play Toss it Tuesday!” she explained. While it can be easily adapted for elementary grades, it could be used with your younger enrichment students, as well. Thankfully, it doesn’t require a lot of set-up or expensive supplies so it can be played just about anywhere. Think of it as one of those math games you can pull out of your sleeve at a moment’s notice!
Toss it Tuesday Math Game
Supplies Needed:
- 2-3 die
- Plastic hoops (you could also use large baskets or bins)
How to Play:
Maribeth explained how she plays the game with her students: “To play this game, I divide students into two teams and have them line up facing each other with two plastic hoops placed on the floor between them. A student from each team tosses a die into the hoop in front of him or her. I ask the students to multiply the numbers on the die. The first student to say the correct answer gets to play again.
To Make it More Challenging:
The game can be made more challenging by using three students or three die.
To Simplify the Game:
The game can be simplified by asking students to add the numbers on two die, or to subtract the lowest number from the highest.
Alternatives:
When played sans hoops, this game works as a tabletop game. You might also consider using it as a center or math station work box!
Not only is Toss it Tuesday a great way to build math fact skills, it’s also the perfect tool for engaging your reluctant math students.
Sarah C says
I have just completed my student teaching and am currently looking for a job. I went to the Dollar Tree one day and saw a pair of large dice and knew I had to have them. I didn’t know what purpose they would lead in a classroom, but figured that I just couldn’t turn away a good deal like that! This is an awesome idea for my dice! Thank you for posting this!
Heidi Clauss says
I like this idea. I have the large dice, but not the hoops. I think I will draw circles on the white top outside my room. This will give us the chance to move around a bit. My classroom is really crowded. It will also let more students participate. Thank you for sharing.