Independent and Dependent Variables Math Game – Equations with Variables

You found the perfect 6th grade math game for dependent and independent variables in math! Your 6th grade students will LOVE practicing identifying variables in equations with this hands-on and engaging math board game. Use this as a math center, practice after a whole group lesson, small group math center, or a teacher table game! You can also use this math game as a spiral review throughout the year.  A fun test prep activity, too!

Your students will love completing these math board games while mastering the content standards along the way. This download has directions, a board game, 20 questions, a student recording sheet to hold them accountable, and a teacher answer key.  View the preview above to see a detailed look at everything in this download.

Click here to see this resource in action!

The following items are included in this Dependent and Independent Variables Game:

• Directions Page for Students
• Teacher Tips for how to use
• Writing and Solving Equations Board Game
• Recording Sheet for Student Accountability
• Answer Key

What’s the best way to use this board game? 

• Math Centers or Stations
• Whole Group Practice
• Morning Work
• Early Finisher Activities
• Substitutes
• Send home to engage students’ families

Tips for Playing this Math Game: 

• Read the directions to the students and model how to play.
• Be prepared with dice/spinner and game pieces for each player (paperclips, pencil top erasers, pieces from another game, etc.)
• Every student should solve every problem – not just the person who rolls.
• Create groups of 2-4 students. The lower number of students means the more focused students are while playing.
• Remind students that the focus is not playing the game but that’s just an added bonus! The focus should be on practicing math skills.
• Show students how to compare and discuss answers. Did you both get the same answer? If students get different answers, ask them to solve the problem using a different strategy or help coach each other through the problem.

Do your students need math practice? Students will be playing a game and will often forget that they are even practicing math skills! Research shows that challenge-based gamification in the classroom leads to an increase of 34.755% in student performance (ScienceDirect, 2020).

The best part? Your students will quickly learn the instructions to play the board game and will get right to work on playing (and practicing) their math skills. This resource is easy to use and requires very little prep. It’s also printer friendly so you’ll only use black ink!

Standard Covered:

6.EE.C.9 Use variables to represent two quantities in a real-world problem that change in relationship to one another; write an equation to express one quantity, thought of as the dependent variable, in terms of the other quantity, thought of as the independent variable. Analyze the relationship between the dependent and independent variables using graphs and tables, and relate these to the equation. For example, in a problem involving motion at constant speed, list and graph ordered pairs of distances and times, and write the equation = 65 to represent the relationship between distance and time.

★ Printer Friendly Resource! All pages are in black ink ONLY. If you are looking to add color, feel free to print on colorful cardstock.

Teachers Like You Say This: 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Very easy to use and I truly believe students learn best through game play.” -Tony

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My students love playing games and a simple, easy prep game like this is a great addition to math centers, early finisher activities, and review days.” -Nicole