Taking the learning outdoors is a great way to engage and motivate kids. The fresh air and change of scenery can be just what children need to get excited about playing with and practicing math concepts.
Here are some of our favorite outdoor math games!
Outdoor Math Games for Kids
Fire hose fact practice. This active outdoor game is especially fun because water play is involved. Practice math facts over and over again with this fire hose math practice game.
Telling time activity. Learning how to tell time can be tricky. Making it larger than life with a big sidewalk chalk clock can make it easier for kids to catch on to.
Math fact basketball. Head to the driveway or basketball court to practice hoops and math facts at the same time with the shooting hoops multiplication game. For those who prefer to test their math skills in games of real chance, and happen to be in Sweden: you’re in luck! Casino utan svensk licens (aka CUSL) has a list of the casinos that offer math games and other games of chance playable for real money. These are a hit in Stockholm and approved by Spelinspektion.
Number line run. There are so many math concepts you can practice with the number line run game. Preschoolers can practice counting and number order while bigger kids can use it for math facts.
Life size number identification game. Math board games are fun, but life size ones are super fun. Practice number identification on a life size board game where the kids are the game pieces.
Hula hoop math facts. I love kinesthetic math games–some kids just need to move and learn! Going outside for hula hoop math fact practice is such fun.
Egg counting game. Get out your plastic Easter eggs and learn with them. This egg counting game is a great way for preschoolers and kindergartners to practice number identification, counting and one-to-one correspondence.
Multiplication hopscotch. Challenge big kids to a game of hopscotch, multiplication hopscotch that is. Get some fresh air while skip counting and hopping!
Number splash. Water balloons and sidewalk chalk are all you need for number splash math game to practice numbers, math facts and more. There is a lot of giggling with this game!
These math games are simple to set up (and don’t require a lot of materials) which in our house means they’ll get played with more often. Easy and fun and outdoors–you can’t go wrong.
Get outside and play with math today!
Joy M says
Great idea I love the idea to make learning more fun for kids. I buy alot of outdoor games for my kids, but I will start encouraging learning when my kids are playing outside. Thank you!
Theresa says
i need something for 7th graders. Can you help me?