How Can You Learn Maths while Having Fun?
By Yann, published on 24/05/2018 We Love Prof - AU > Academia > Maths > The Best Maths Games“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” —Wayne Gretzky
Even someone who’s terrible at maths will know that percentage isn’t great!
What’s stopping you from achieving your goals?
Sometimes it’s little things like a fear of not understanding or failing. In any case, you should never lose hope, especially when it comes to learning maths. You can learn mathematics outside of school, too.
If it’s been years since you learnt your times tables in the classroom, you find word problems challenging, or you desperately need to study for your next exam or quiz, maths games will come in really handy.
Is It Easy to Teach Yourself Mathematics?
Unlike some other subjects, maths isn’t always easy. You can’t just learn the multiplication tables to become an expert on the subject nor can you just do a few maths exercises or printable worksheets and have the answer to everything. It requires a number of different math skills and activities:
- Recognising and identifying problems
- Memorising the applicable theories and formulae
- Putting all this into practice in order to solve the problem
Maths can be quite puzzling. (Source: Pexels)
This is true for all branches of maths:
- Mental arithmetic (addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, the order of operations, etc.)
- Trigonometry (Pythagoras’ theory, triangles, etc.)
- Calculus (differential equations, series, vectors, etc.)
- Geometry (shapes, puzzles, jigsaws, etc.)
It’s not always easy to find the balance between your strengths and your weaknesses or the methods you should be using to learn maths. Generally, you can attend group classes taught by a maths teacher or private maths tutorials to deal with certain problems.
There are lessons for all ages and levels:
- Beginners or those who need to learn to draw a graph, or study digit and place value and probability, etc.
- Intermediate lessons for those needing to cover just a specific skill like solving a certain equation or preparing for an exam.
- Advanced lessons for those preparing for maths, physics, or chemistry exams, for example.
Whatever you’re trying to learn, there are simple methods for learning maths either with a teacher or without one. This could be really useful for someone who’s struggling to learn algebra.
Working with a maths tutor who suggests interesting activities of an appropriate difficulty can be much better than burying your head in a bunch of maths books over the summer.
How to Teach Yourself Maths
Learning maths is more than just memorising multiplication tables, you have to improve your memory and reasoning skills for maths so that you can apply them to solving maths problems. There are three main ways to do this:
- Ask for help from a qualified maths tutor or teacher
- Work by doing revision sheets and by reciting your mental arithmetic aloud
- Find maths exercises that will help you improve
People didn’t always have the benefit of using technology. (Source: Skitterphoto)
Creativity is key! In fact, it’s been proven that creative activities can help you develop your reasoning skills, especially if these are done before you start nursery.
If you don’t have any board games, you can always get counters to represent pawns and make your own chess board.
Each student is different. While some prefer more traditional study techniques, others will make huge strides with more enjoyable learning activities.
This preference depends on your confidence or learning styles. Whatever your preference, maths is always better if you have fun while learning it!
Board games are also a great way to relax.
Do you fondly remember counting your money to buy a hotel on Mayfair as a child?
This is why there are so many free maths games and activities online that are popular with both children and adults alike. From decimal numbers to relative numbers, you’ll soon be an expert of all types of numbers.
Still looking for a fun math game?
I have to admit that I was a bit dubious about the benefits of maths games but once you start learning, you’ll be hooked! Whether during your break or on your way to work or school, you’ll soon become a maths champion!
Maths Games: A Fun Way to Learn
Maths games are perfect for learning. They’re fun, practical, available wherever and whenever you need them. You no longer have any excuse for not doing maths!
Chess is a great way to improve your reasoning while having fun. (Source: JESHOOTScom)
This is great for students in primary school who are learning to read numbers or correctly tell the time as well as those learning how to subtract, add, multiply, or divide. After all, the more fun and engaging an activity is, the more quickly kids learn.
There are several different types of maths games:
- Symmetry
- Logic
- Geometry
- Problem Solving
- Maths riddles
There are plenty of resources, too:
- There are maths websites for learning about numbers with construction games or getting used to prime numbers, for example.
- There are also specialised websites with interactive activities where you can play against other players.
The most common types include:
- Logic games
- Reading games
- Thinking games
- Calculus games
- Online board games
- Memory games
- Card games
- Free online games covering a range of subjects
Of course, you have to play by the rules if you want to learn. You also have to choose the right games according to what you’re learning and how often you study.
“My students in primary school struggled in their maths classes. I suggested an educational colouring and puzzle games. It worked wonders” Anne-Laure, teacher.
Our Favourite Maths Games
You can play digital maths games on your computer, tablet, or smartphone and there are plenty of websites, apps, and other tools to choose from. Here’s a short list of games that are great for learning maths!
You’ll soon be a maths master! (Source: edfungus)
The Classics
Games like chess, sudoku, and mental arithmetic games are really useful for developing maths skills. These games are easy to get your hands on and don’t have many complicated rules to learn. You just need to find some free time during your day to do a bit of training. A jigsaw can also be useful for developing spatial awareness skills.
- The advantages: common games most people will be familiar with
- The disadvantages: useful for general skills but not specific ones
Adding and Subtracting for Kids with Montessori
There are fun games for younger children. There are questions about aliens and things to click on in a colourful environment. There are addition games and subtraction games for kids which are bound to get them familiar with fundamental mathematical concepts.
- The advantages: this game is available on multiple devices
- The disadvantages: a resource that is only for little kids
Get Ready for Secondary School with iTooch
With exercises to improve your reasoning and discover some of the math skills you’ll need at secondary school, this maths game is great for primary school kids. Each exercise can help you work on a certain aspect of maths: literal arithmetic, shapes, and colours.
- The advantages: you can move onto new levels as you complete the previous ones. It even has a calculator built into the app.
- The disadvantages: not very adaptive, based on the American education system
BBC Bitesize
The BBC’s website for schools has plenty of different subjects including maths. Whether you’re learning maths in primary school or studying for your GCSEs in secondary school, it’s a website you should check out!
Younger children can learn basic skills like telling time, recognising coins and handling money, and understanding a sequence.
- The advantages: a range of subjects, activities, and levels
- The disadvantages: only focuses on the British curriculum
AB Math Lite, Become a Mental Arithmetic Expert
You can either play on your own or with others. Test your speed and reactions thanks to this mental arithmetic app which mixes all types of operations from the simplest sums to the most complex mathematical operations.
According to the app itself, “The bubble game also strengthens sequential abilities, mental manipulation, attention and fine motor skills.”
- The advantages: a bright colourful app with plenty of “free math games” (there’s a version you can pay for, too) that most people will enjoy
- The disadvantages: while great for arithmetic, it doesn’t cover other aspects of maths.
Doing maths has never been easier than it is today, thanks to all the educational games that exist.
Since there are so many educational resources, you need to find the ones that work for you and your learning goals. Once you’ve found the right ones, you’ll be able to learn new maths skills in a fraction of the time!
There are plenty of websites with an arcade of maths games for kids where you can shoot and blast balls while working out different sums and maths problems. There are multiplication games for those learning their times tables as well as plenty of resources that will help them do their homework.
That said, there’s nothing stopping adults from flexing their mental muscles and playing these games, either. If it helps you improve, it’s a worthwhile resource.
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