Math Lesson Plans: Practicing Math Facts with Online Games

Sheppard Software has free online math computer activities for students to practice their basic math facts in all four basic operations. They have nine games to choose from; and in each game, students can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In many of the games, students are able to focus on certain fact families, and they are able to choose between easy or hard levels. Here are a few examples of the games that you can use with your students to provide math fact practice:

• Pop-up Math: A math problem is given such as 8 + 2; penguins pop out of ice holes; the student has to click on the penguin with the correct answer as quickly as he can. Correct answers are rewarded with another problem; incorrect answers are marked with an X, and the student gets another chance.
• Math Man: Math man is very similar to Pac Man, the old arcade game. This is one of the most fun and challenging math computer activities on this site. Students have to eat a question mark with their "math man." Then an equation is revealed. They can only eat the ghost that has the correct answer to continue playing. If they eat the wrong answer, they lose a man and have to start over.

A+ Math is another website with free math computer activities for students to practice their math skills. On this site, students can play four different games and practice different basic operations within each game:

• MATHO--This math game is Bingo and practicing math facts combined. Students are given a MATHO board and a problem. The timer starts, and students have to find the correct answer to the problem on the board. They click on the correct answer, and another problem is given until they get a MATHO (five in a row). They can submit their score and compare their times with other students their age when they finish each game.
• HIDDEN PICTURE--This one of the math computer activities gives students problems, and they click on the answers on the board. Each answer reveals a piece of the hidden picture. Students can try to guess the picture before they reveal the entire photo.
• CONCENTRATION-Students can practice addition and multiplication facts playing the old-fashioned game of Concentration. Students see two boards--one has cards with problems, and one has answers. Students have to try to match problems with correct answers and remember where each are located.
• PLANET BLASTER BASICS-Students defend their planet while they practice solving math problems. They use the cursor keys to move a spaceship underneath the planet with the correct answer, and then they fire with the space bar at the planet.

Here are a few more websites your students can use for math computer activities:

• Softschools Free Math Games and Online Practice
• Cool Math 4 Kids--Math games, math puzzles, math lessons--designed for kids and fun!
• Arcademic Skill Builders: Online Educational Games