How to Teach Elementary Math with 'Buzz' Games
Playing games to teach elementary multiplication will keep kids engaged and learned. "Buzz" and its variations can be played with an entire class, small groups or at home with parents. The game provide fun practice in learning multiples and math multiplication facts. The first two math games are for children 6 and up. The second two are for kids ages 9 and up.
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Instructions
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Play "Tens Buzz." For this elementary math game, have each student take turns counting in sequence out loud. Each player will say one number. Every time a multiple of 10 occurs, the student will say "buzz" instead of the number. If someone makes a mistake after a practice round, he is out.
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Play "Fives and Tens Buzz." Once the kids get the hang of the game by playing with tens, make it more challenging. Use multiples of five and ten as "buzz" numbers. Like in Tens Buzz, if someone makes a mistake after a practice round, he is out.
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Play "Magic Number Facts Buzz." Choose a magic number for this variation. As an example, let's say you choose five as your magic number. Take turns counting in sequence out loud. Each player will say one number, until you get to a multiple of the magic number. When you get to the place where five would be, everyone playing says in unison, "Five times one equals five!" When you get to the place where ten would be, everyone says together, "five times two equals ten!" Keep counting in this pattern until the fives facts up to five times 12 have been practiced. Try this with different magic numbers to play a multiplication fact game. If someone makes a mistake after a practice round, she is out.
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Play "Sevens and Fives Fizz-Buzz." Children ages 9 and older are most likely ready for this challenging variation, in which you use multiples of 5 as the "fizz" numbers. Multiples of 7 will be substituted by saying, "buzz." Now the count will sound like this: one, two, three, four, "fizz", six, "buzz", eight, nine, "fizz", eleven, twelve, thirteen, "buzz" ... and so on. If someone makes a mistake after a practice round, she is out.
Scroll down for tips and warnings about these games for teaching elementary math.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep the pace of counting slow and steady, so kids can think clearly. Count with the children in the beginning to set the pace of counting.
When playing this game for teaching elementary math, it works well to have all the kids stand up. When someone makes a mistake, they sit down right where they are. That way, it's easy to see who's still in the game.
Parents can play this game with their kids in the car.
Keep it fun. If children are getting stressed or making lots of mistakes while playing these games for teaching elementary math, make it a little easier, or stop playing.
References
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