Looking for more fun ways to incorporate a little extra math facts practice into your day? This super fun, no prep math game is a huge hit in my classroom. I've seen the idea floating around instagram and pinterest a few times, and decided to try it out. My crews always love a little competition, and actually, practicing their math facts too, so this game became an instant winner. They seriously love it.
You start out by drawing a donut (hence the name - "Donut You Know". We use whiteboards, but any surface can be used.
Then you write your numbers around the donut (be intentional with the numbers depending on the skill you are practicing). *These numbers can stay the same for all the rounds you play.*
Then ... with dramatic flair ... announce the donut hole number and skill ... and watch the students go crazy as they try to solve all the facts first. *No calculator allowed - mental math only.
We don't use a time limit - the first person, or pair, or group to solve all facts correctly wins. When a group has finished, they yell, "check" and all groups pause - markers in the air. I run over, do a quick check, and if all are correct, the game is done and we start again with a new number. If they have an incorrect fact I hand the board back to them and say, "game on" - meaning they need to find their error and correct it and all other groups can go back to work, too. It literally takes one minute to complete a round.
To play a second round, just erase the numbers around the donut and in the donut hole - leaving the numbers on the donut. Just change the skill and number in the middle of the donut hole and students solve all the facts again.
This game can be used to practice all kinds of math skills:
- adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing
- whole numbers and decimals
- adding or subtracting fractions
- doubling and halving
- tripling and thirding
- multiplying by powers of 10
- mental math strategies
- number talk strategies
Check out these other fun ways to help your students master those tricky math facts:
