Finding engaging and educational activities for your middle school math class can sometimes feel like a challenge, but incorporating classroom math games for 6th grade is a perfect way to bring math concepts to life. Board games are not only a fun way to learn but also an excellent tool for reinforcing critical math skills like fractions, decimals, and prime numbers. In this blog post, I’ll highlight 14 board games that work well in the classroom, and give your 6th graders a chance to practice math problems while having fun.
Looking for ideas on how to play math games in your classroom? Check out this blog post.
1. Prime Climb
If you’re looking for a fun math game that builds on prime numbers and multiplication, Prime Climb is a great option. This game helps students practice whole numbers, multiplication, and division while developing strategic thinking. Players move around the game board by multiplying and dividing numbers. It’s perfect for small groups or as part of your math centers. It’s one of the best classroom math games for 6th grade, as it’s both educational and engaging.
2. Identify the Quadrant in a Coordinate Plane
This interactive game focuses on identifying quadrants and plotting ordered pairs on the coordinate plane. It’s a great tool for practicing negative numbers and number sense in a hands-on way. Students solve math problems by determining which quadrant a point belongs to, making it ideal for reinforcing coordinate plane concepts. It’s a fantastic addition to your 6th grade math games collection.
3. Proof!
Proof! is a fast-paced mental math game where students race to prove different equations using a set of numbers. It helps build fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and even exponents. Students will love the challenge of finding the correct answer quickly. It’s a great game for reinforcing math facts and critical thinking in a fun way. You can find this game on Amazon here.
4. Surface Area of Nets Activity
This game dives deep into geometry, helping students understand the surface area of nets for 3D shapes. As students work through the nets of cubes, prisms, and other 3D figures, they practice calculating surface area and develop strategic thinking. It’s perfect for small groups or math centers and gives your students a fun game to play while learning about geometry.
5. Fraction Action (digital)
For a game that focuses on adding fractions, subtracting fractions, and decomposing fractions, NCTM’s Fraction Action Game is a great choice. Students work through a series of math problems and try to be the first student to reach the target. It’s a fun game for building confidence in understanding fractions and unit rates. Use this game during your math centers or as part of a math activity in your classroom.
6. Ratios in Tables and Graphing Ratios
Teaching ratios? This math game helps students master equivalent ratios tables and graphing ratios in a hands-on, engaging way. It’s excellent for practicing ratio relationships, working through tables, and graphing points. Your students will gain a stronger understanding of ratios while competing to complete the correct graph. Use this during a unit on ratios and rates as part of your classroom math games for 6th grade.
7. Mathological Liar
This is a great way to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students solve a set of math questions and then try to figure out which ones are incorrect. The first person to spot the lie wins! It’s a perfect game to add some variety to your 6th grade math games lineup. Your students will love the detective-style approach while honing in on their math skills.
8. Finding Percentages Game
Finding percentages is often tricky for sixth graders, but this fun math game makes it more accessible. Students work through a variety of real-world scenarios to find percentages and build their understanding of proportional relationships. This game is excellent for practicing percentage calculations and improving students’ confidence in tackling these types of math problems. You can incorporate this into your math centers for a great review.
9. 24 Game
For a fun way to practice multiplication, addition, and subtraction, the 24 Game is a classroom favorite. It’s a multiplication game where students work to make a target number using a set of numbers and different operations. This game encourages strategic thinking and helps develop number sense. This is another fantastic option for your classroom math games for 6th grade.
10. Equivalent Expressions
This game is perfect for practicing algebraic expressions and reinforcing the idea of equivalent expressions. Students work through expressions to determine whether they are equivalent, a critical skill in algebra. It’s a great addition to your classroom math games for 6th grade because it challenges students to think critically and use strategic thinking as they solve each expression.
11. Ratio Stadium (digital)
Ratio Stadium is a fun game for practicing equivalent ratios tables and comparing unit rates. This engaging game is perfect for your 6th-grade curriculum, especially when you’re teaching ratios and proportions. Students race to match different ratios and reach the correct answer in a set amount of time. It’s ideal for small groups or math stations.
12. Mean, Median, and Range Game
Understanding measures of center is essential for 6th-grade math, and this game helps students practice finding the mean, median, and range. It’s a fun way to review these concepts while students solve problems to figure out each measure. Whether you’re prepping for a test or reviewing in a station, this game will bring math fun into your lessons.
13. Integer War
This game is a spin on the classic deck of cards war game, but instead, students battle using negative numbers and whole numbers. It’s an easy way to reinforce integer operations while keeping students entertained. This is a great choice for introducing negative numbers in your math lessons or test prep. It’s simple, but students find it so much fun!
14. Unit Rate Game (FREE!)
This math game is ideal for working on unit rates in word problems. Students work through scenarios involving rates and ratios, building their understanding of how to calculate a unit rate. It’s an interactive way to make this math concept come alive, and students will love competing to solve the problems correctly. It’s an excellent resource for small groups or math centers.
Incorporating fun math games into your math lessons is an excellent way to keep students engaged while reinforcing essential skills. These board games provide a mix of fun and challenge, allowing students to work through math concepts in an enjoyable setting. Whether you’re working on number lines, place value, or one-step equations, these games will make your math class a blast! Don’t forget to try them out in small groups or during your math centers.
Using classroom math games for 6th grade is an effective and fun way to bring excitement to your lessons while giving students the math practice they need.
Make your year easy-breezy-lemon-squeezy by grabbing all of my 6th grade math games in one money-saving bundle!
Board Games Included in the Bundle:
Expressions and Equations
- Algebraic Expressions and Written Descriptions
- Evaluate Expressions
- Order of Operations
- Write Equivalent Expressions
- Are These Expressions Equivalent?
- Write Expressions When Solving Word Problems
- Write Inequalities
- Represent Inequalities on a Number Line
- What Value Will Make the Equation True?
- Writing and Solving Equations (x+p=q and px=q)
- Independent and Dependent Variables
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
- Writing Ratios
- Equivalent Ratios
- Ratios in Tables and Graphs
- Unit Rates
- Ratios with Tape Diagrams and Double Number Lines
- Percentages
- Converting Within Measurement Systems
Statistics and Probability
- Statistical Questions
- Mean, Median, and Range
- Box Plots
- Dot Plots
- Histograms
- Real World Data Sets
The Number System
- Divide Fractions
- Divide Whole Numbers
- Add and Subtract Decimals
- Multiply Decimals
- Divide Decimals
- Greatest Common Factor
- Least Common Multiple
- Use the Distributive Property to Express the Sum of Two Numbers
- Positive and Negative Numbers
- Integers and Opposites on a Number Line
- Identify the Quadrant Where the Ordered Pair is Located in the Coordinate Plane
- Plot Pairs of Integers on a Coordinate Plane
- Graph Rational Numbers on a Number Line
- Compare Integers
- Understand Absolute Value
- Compare Rational Numbers in a Real World Context
- Solve Problems on a Coordinate Plane
Geometry
- Area of Quadrilaterals
- Area of Triangles
- Area of Polygons
- Volume with Fractional Lengths
- Volume Word Problems with Fractional Lengths
- Polygons in the Coordinate Plane
- Nets of 3D Figures
- Nets and Surface Area
Want to save this post and come back to it later? Pin this image to your favorite Pinterest board and come back to it when you’re ready!
classroom math games 6th grade
Leave a Reply