Children learn and absorb lessons in a variety of different ways. One way to help reinforce the lessons that kids are currently learning is by using fun games. Games offer a unique learning opportunity for students as they present a non-traditional method to learning from the standard visual and audio formats. Games present students with opportunities to adapt what they have already learned and apply it in a new and exciting way.
Educational games offer more learning opportunities than the subject of the game itself. As children are enhancing their math or language skills they also are developing crucial problem solving and communication skills.
Here are some of our favourite games that enhance classroom learning.
Math Squared
Math Squared is a simple game to play that helps children learn their addition and multiplication facts. Players roll the dice and then find where the two numbers meet on the board. The player then places their pawn on the number and then places their pawn. Once a player has 3 pawns on adjoining squares, THEY WIN!
Playing on the addition side will help teach addition facts up to 18 (9+9). Playing on the multiplication side teaches the times table up to 12. Beginners play with the basic instructions while more advanced players can choose to use any of the different game variations.
Shut the Box
During the game, each player plays in turn. A player begins his or her turn by throwing or rolling the die or dice into the box. If 7, 8 or 9 is still open, the player must roll both dice. Otherwise, the player may choose to roll one die or both dice.
The player continues throwing the dice and shutting numbers until reaching a point at which, given the results produced by the dice, the player cannot shut any more numbers. After every player has taken a turn, the player with the lowest score wins.
If a player succeeds in closing all of the numbers, he or she is said to have "Shut the Box" – the player wins immediately, and the game is over.
POP for Sight Words
POP for Sight Words helps to improve fluency as children pick word cards from the popcorn box and keep all the words they can read correctly. POP for Sight Words engages children with colorful popcorn graphics and a competitive game play environment. This exciting game Includes 100 die-cut popcorn cards, 92 sight words and 8 POP cards that put all your word cards back into the carton.
POP for Sight words comes in multiple difficulty levels and supports a variety of early literacy activities.
Bananagrams
Bananagrams is a pocket-sized anagram game that you can take anywhere! With Bananagrams, players practice their language and spelling skills as they scramble to simultaneously produce their own crosswords.
This fun educational game features multiple versions that provide new and unique ways to play. My First Bananagrams is ideal for young children, Party Edition Banagrams brings brain busting fun to social gatherings, and Double Bananagrams is perfect for the classroom with a larger bunch of tiles for up to 16 players.
