Transum Maths Software

Maths Games

There are 366 different Starters of The Day, many to choose from. You will find in the left column below some starters on the topic of Maths Games. In the right column below are links to related online activities, videos and teacher resources.

A lesson starter does not have to be on the same topic as the main part of the lesson or the topic of the previous lesson. It is often very useful to revise or explore other concepts by using a starter based on a totally different area of Mathematics.

Main Page

Maths Games Starters:

A Very Strange Game: Four different actions depending on the number which appears.

Calc-A-Hundred: A game for two players requiring a calculator and thinking skills.

Calculator Nim: A game in which players take turns to add a single-digit number to what is already in the calculator. The winner is the player who makes the display show 30.

Kim's Game 1: This is the Maths version of the traditional memory game. Memorise 10 mathematical facts then recall them as they disappear from view.

Kim's Game 2: This is the Maths version of the traditional memory game. Memorise 10 mathematical facts then recall them as they disappear from view.

Kim's Game 3: This is the Maths version of the traditional memory game. Memorise 10 mathematical facts then recall them as they disappear from view.

Simple Nim: The classic game of Nim played with a group of pens and pencils. The game can be extended to the multi-pile version.

 

Small images of these Starters ::  Index of Starters


Maths Games Advanced Starters:

Best Dice: Which of the unusual dice would you choose to give you the best chance of winning the prize?

Index of Advanced Starters


Suggested

Manifest

Manifest

An exciting and thought-provoking number placing game for two players or one player versus the computer.

The short web address is:

Transum.org/go/?to=manifest

 

Exam-Style Questions:

There are almost a thousand exam-style questions unique to the Transum website.

Feedback:

Comment recorded on the 9 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Liz, Kuwait:

"I would like to thank you for the excellent resources which I used every day. My students would often turn up early to tackle the starter of the day as there were stamps for the first 5 finishers. We also had a lot of fun with the fun maths. All in all your resources provoked discussion and the students had a lot of fun."

Comment recorded on the 2 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Angela Lowry, :

"I think these are great! So useful and handy, the children love them.
Could we have some on angles too please?"

Comment recorded on the 2 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs Wilshaw, Dunsten Collage,Essex:

"This website was brilliant. My class and I really enjoy doing the activites."

Comment recorded on the i asp?ID_Top 'Starter of the Day' page by Ros, Belize:

"A really awesome website! Teachers and students are learning in such a fun way! Keep it up..."

Comment recorded on the 10 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Carol, Sheffield PArk Academy:

"3 NQTs in the department, I'm new subject leader in this new academy - Starters R Great!! Lovely resource for stimulating learning and getting eveyone off to a good start. Thank you!!"

Comment recorded on the 1 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Phil Anthony, Head of Maths, Stourport High School:

"What a brilliant website. We have just started to use the 'starter-of-the-day' in our yr9 lessons to try them out before we change from a high school to a secondary school in September. This is one of the best resources on-line we have found. The kids and staff love it. Well done an thank you very much for making my maths lessons more interesting and fun."

Comment recorded on the 14 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Trish Bailey, Kingstone School:

"This is a great memory aid which could be used for formulae or key facts etc - in any subject area. The PICTURE is such an aid to remembering where each number or group of numbers is - my pupils love it!
Thanks"

Comment recorded on the s /Coordinate 'Starter of the Day' page by Greg, Wales:

"Excellent resource, I use it all of the time! The only problem is that there is too much good stuff here!!"

Comment recorded on the 18 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs. Peacock, Downe House School and Kennet School:

"My year 8's absolutely loved the "Separated Twins" starter. I set it as an optional piece of work for my year 11's over a weekend and one girl came up with 3 independant solutions."

Comment recorded on the 3 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Fiona Bray, Cams Hill School:

"This is an excellent website. We all often use the starters as the pupils come in the door and get settled as we take the register."

Comment recorded on the 12 July 'Starter of the Day' page by Miss J Key, Farlingaye High School, Suffolk:

"Thanks very much for this one. We developed it into a whole lesson and I borrowed some hats from the drama department to add to the fun!"

Comment recorded on the 10 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Mike Sendrove, Salt Grammar School, UK.:

"A really useful set of resources - thanks. Is the collection available on CD? Are solutions available?"

Comment recorded on the 21 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Trainor And His P7 Class(All Girls), Mercy Primary School, Belfast:

"My Primary 7 class in Mercy Primary school, Belfast, look forward to your mental maths starters every morning. The variety of material is interesting and exciting and always engages the teacher and pupils. Keep them coming please."

Comment recorded on the 23 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Judy, Chatsmore CHS:

"This triangle starter is excellent. I have used it with all of my ks3 and ks4 classes and they are all totally focused when counting the triangles."

Comment recorded on the 19 October 'Starter of the Day' page by E Pollard, Huddersfield:

"I used this with my bottom set in year 9. To engage them I used their name and favorite football team (or pop group) instead of the school name. For homework, I asked each student to find a definition for the key words they had been given (once they had fun trying to guess the answer) and they presented their findings to the rest of the class the following day. They felt really special because the key words came from their own personal information."

Comment recorded on the 24 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Ruth Seward, Hagley Park Sports College:

"Find the starters wonderful; students enjoy them and often want to use the idea generated by the starter in other parts of the lesson. Keep up the good work"

Comment recorded on the 3 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs Johnstone, 7Je:

"I think this is a brilliant website as all the students enjoy doing the puzzles and it is a brilliant way to start a lesson."

Comment recorded on the 9 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Jones, Wales:

"I think that having a starter of the day helps improve maths in general. My pupils say they love them!!!"

Comment recorded on the 16 March 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs A Milton, Ysgol Ardudwy:

"I have used your starters for 3 years now and would not have a lesson without one! Fantastic way to engage the pupils at the start of a lesson."

Comment recorded on the 17 November 'Starter of the Day' page by Amy Thay, Coventry:

"Thank you so much for your wonderful site. I have so much material to use in class and inspire me to try something a little different more often. I am going to show my maths department your website and encourage them to use it too. How lovely that you have compiled such a great resource to help teachers and pupils.
Thanks again"

Comment recorded on the 25 June 'Starter of the Day' page by Inger.kisby@herts and essex.herts.sch.uk, :

"We all love your starters. It is so good to have such a collection. We use them for all age groups and abilities. Have particularly enjoyed KIM's game, as we have not used that for Mathematics before. Keep up the good work and thank you very much
Best wishes from Inger Kisby"

Comment recorded on the 5 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Stoner, St George's College of Technology:

"This resource has made a great deal of difference to the standard of starters for all of our lessons. Thank you for being so creative and imaginative."

Comment recorded on the 1 August 'Starter of the Day' page by Peter Wright, St Joseph's College:

"Love using the Starter of the Day activities to get the students into Maths mode at the beginning of a lesson. Lots of interesting discussions and questions have arisen out of the activities.
Thanks for such a great resource!"

Comment recorded on the 26 March 'Starter of the Day' page by Julie Reakes, The English College, Dubai:

"It's great to have a starter that's timed and focuses the attention of everyone fully. I told them in advance I would do 10 then record their percentages."

Comment recorded on the 1 February 'Starter of the Day' page by M Chant, Chase Lane School Harwich:

"My year five children look forward to their daily challenge and enjoy the problems as much as I do. A great resource - thanks a million."

Comment recorded on the 28 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Malcolm P, Dorset:

"A set of real life savers!!
Keep it up and thank you!"

Comment recorded on the 14 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Inger Kisby, Herts and Essex High School:

"Just a quick note to say that we use a lot of your starters. It is lovely to have so many different ideas to start a lesson with. Thank you very much and keep up the good work."

Comment recorded on the s /Indice 'Starter of the Day' page by Busolla, Australia:

"Thank you very much for providing these resources for free for teachers and students. It has been engaging for the students - all trying to reach their highest level and competing with their peers while also learning. Thank you very much!"

Comment recorded on the 19 November 'Starter of the Day' page by Lesley Sewell, Ysgol Aberconwy, Wales:

"A Maths colleague introduced me to your web site and I love to use it. The questions are so varied I can use them with all of my classes, I even let year 13 have a go at some of them. I like being able to access Starters for the whole month so I can use favourites with classes I see at different times of the week. Thanks."

Comment recorded on the 17 June 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Hall, Light Hall School, Solihull:

"Dear Transum,

I love you website I use it every maths lesson I have with every year group! I don't know were I would turn to with out you!"

Comment recorded on the 1 February 'Starter of the Day' page by Terry Shaw, Beaulieu Convent School:

"Really good site. Lots of good ideas for starters. Use it most of the time in KS3."

Comment recorded on the 8 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Smith, West Sussex, UK:

"I am an NQT and have only just discovered this website. I nearly wet my pants with joy.
To the creator of this website and all of those teachers who have contributed to it, I would like to say a big THANK YOU!!! :)."

Comment recorded on the 11 January 'Starter of the Day' page by S Johnson, The King John School:

"We recently had an afternoon on accelerated learning.This linked really well and prompted a discussion about learning styles and short term memory."

Comment recorded on the 28 May 'Starter of the Day' page by L Smith, Colwyn Bay:

"An absolutely brilliant resource. Only recently been discovered but is used daily with all my classes. It is particularly useful when things can be saved for further use. Thank you!"

Comment recorded on the 9 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Jan, South Canterbury:

"Thank you for sharing such a great resource. I was about to try and get together a bank of starters but time is always required elsewhere, so thank you."

Comment recorded on the 6 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Natalie, London:

"I am thankful for providing such wonderful starters. They are of immence help and the students enjoy them very much. These starters have saved my time and have made my lessons enjoyable."

Comment recorded on the 19 June 'Starter of the Day' page by Nikki Jordan, Braunton School, Devon:

"Excellent. Thank you very much for a fabulous set of starters. I use the 'weekenders' if the daily ones are not quite what I want. Brilliant and much appreciated."

Comment recorded on the 7 December 'Starter of the Day' page by Cathryn Aldridge, Pells Primary:

"I use Starter of the Day as a registration and warm-up activity for my Year 6 class. The range of questioning provided is excellent as are some of the images.
I rate this site as a 5!"

Comment recorded on the 3 October 'Starter of the Day' page by S Mirza, Park High School, Colne:

"Very good starters, help pupils settle very well in maths classroom."

Notes:

Make drill and practice fun by turning it into a game! Playing against a friend adds an extra incentive to do well. The memory game (Kim's game) can be used for general revision as it involves a number of different mathematical topics.
See also Fun Maths and the main Games page.

We also have a number of Strategy Games which, while not being explicitly mathematical, involve similar thought processes to solving mathematical problems. They are ideal for two people sharing one computer.

Maths Games Teacher Resources:

Fractions Kim's Game: A memory game to be projected to help the whole class recognise basic fractions.

Skunk: A game for the whole Maths class to play involving chance and choice.

Maths Bingo: This application will pick the bingo numbers for you and present each of the numbers as a mathematical expression.

Circle Parts Kim's Game: A memory game to be projected to help the whole class revise the names for the parts of a circle.

Rounding Snap: If the last card put down equals the previous card to the nearest whole number then all players race to shout SNAP!

Angle Theorem Kim's Game: A memory game to be projected to help the whole class revise the circle angle theorems.

Playing Card Maths: Imagine you are on a desert island with nothing but a pack of playing cards. Do you have to stop learning mathematics?

Uniqueness Game: A whole class game. Find examples for each of the categories that no other person has found.

Plane Bearings: A visual aid designed to help pupils estimate three figure bearings.

Pesto: Students classify numbers randomly appearing on the screen by holding up cards

Dice Bingo: Choose your own numbers for your bingo card. The caller uses two dice and adds the numbers together.

Maths Games Activities:

Manifest: An exciting and thought-provoking number placing game for two players or one player versus the computer.

Mathematician Pairs: The traditional pairs or Pelmanism game requiring the ability to recognise some of the great mathematicians.

Prime Pips in Pots: This is a version of Wari, one of the oldest known games to still be widely played today. It involves small prime numbers.

The Rowcol Game: A strategy game based on claiming tokens in specific rows and columns.

Fifteen: A strategy game. Play against the computer to select three numbers that add up to 15.

The Subtraction Game: This basic version of Nim is a mathematical game of strategy in which players take turns removing sticks from a pile.

BIDMAS Game: An online interactive game celebrating the order of mathematical operations.

Number Crunch Saga: A lively numeracy game requiring you to align three numbers to create the given target sum or product.

23 or Bust: A game involving mental arithmetic and strategy for two players or one player against the computer.

Pairs Twenty One: Find the pairs of numbers that add up to 21 in this collection of matching games.

Pairs Eleven: Find pairs of playing cards of the same suit which add up to eleven.

Equivalent Fraction Pairs: The traditional pairs or Pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of equivalent fractions.

Algebra Pairs: The classic Pelmanism or pairs game requiring you to match equivalent expressions.

Tables Grab: A one or two player game. The objective is to grab all the multiples of the chosen times table faster than the other player.

Tables Dash: Revise multiplication facts by racing across the screen to match the times tables question with the correct answer without getting hit by lightning.

Flabbergasted Game: This game for one or two players is an exciting challenge to demonstrate an understanding of factors and multiples.

Square Pairs Game: A game for two players who take turns to select two numbers that add up to a square number.

Tables Conga: Use the arrow keys to collect all the multiples in order while avoiding the Conga Virus!

Discombobulated: A fun game requiring you to find numbers which add up to the target number as quickly as possible.

Path Puzzle: A great puzzle requiring you to use all of the cards to create a continuous red line from start to finish.

Fizz Buzzer: The digital version of the popular fizz buzz game. Press the buzzers if they are factors of the counter.

Equatero: Find the expression from a series of guesses and clues.

Inertia Racetrack: A racing game for two players in which they use vectors to control the movement of their cars.

Connect 4 Factors: This a game for one or two players. The winner is the first to line up four numbers with a common factor.

Boxed In Fractions: The classic dots and boxes two-player game with the addition of some fractions which determine your score.

Nevertheless: Players decide where to place the cards to make an equation with the largest possible solution.

Clock Times Pairs: The traditional pairs or Pelmanism game adapted to test the ability to compare analogue and digital times.

Fraction Decimal Pairs: The traditional pairs or Pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of simple fractions and their equivalent decimals.

Fraction Percentage Pairs: The traditional pairs or Pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of simple fractions and their equivalent percentages.

Pick The Primes: Pick the prime fruit from the tree as quickly as possible. Practise to improve your personal best time.

Hi-Low Predictions: A version of the Play Your Cards Right TV show. Calculate the probabilities of cards being higher or lower.

Indices Pairs: The traditional pairs or pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of indices.

Pairs 240: Find the pairs of numbers that multiply together to give a product of 240 in this collection of matching games.

Don't Shoot The Square: You will need to be quick on the draw to shoot all of the numbers except the square numbers.

Alpha Twist: Develop your skills and understanding of rotation in this fast-paced challenge.

Transformation Tetris: Develop your skills translating and rotating shapes in this fast paced classic game.

DiceGebra: An online board game for two players evaluating algebraic equations and inequalities.

Dump-A-Dice Race: An online board game for two players involving prime and square numbers and making choices.

Circle Pairs: Find the matching pairs of circle diagrams and circle properties in this interactive online game.

Rounding Snap: If the last card put down equals the previous card to the nearest whole number then all players race to shout SNAP!

Watsadoo: Rotate the cogs to catch the flying numbers in the correct sections.

Numerate: Earn points by creating equations on the grid in this game of equations.

Choose Your Average: This is a game for two players. You should know how to find the mean, median and range of a set of numbers.

Rotational Symmetry Pairs: The traditional pairs or pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of rotational symmetry.

Mine Find: Find where the mines are hidden without stepping on one.

Boxed In Numbers: The classic dots and boxes game with the addition of some positive and negative numbers which determine your score.

Prime Pairs Game: A game for two players who take turns to select two numbers that add up to a prime number.

Hexblock Hunter: The mathematical version of TV's Blockbusters game show. Find the mathematical words from the clues.

Pi-Mon: Memorise the digits of pi with help from some musical notes.

Where's Wallaby?: Find the hidden wallaby using the clues revealed at the chosen coordinates.

Remainder Race: A game involving chance and choice requiring an ability to calculate the remainder when a two digit number is divided by a single digit number.

Superior: A game for two players who compete to make the largest possible number from randomly selected cards.

Snail Race: A race between 12 snails. Which snail is most likely to win? This is the students' version of the race simulation.

Great Expectation: An interactive online activity requiring logical thinking and a certain amount of luck to place the digits on the correct side of the inequality sign.

Vocabero: Find the mathematical word from a series of guesses and clues.

Polybragging: The Transum version of the Top Trumps game played online with the properties of polygons.

Shark's Dinner: The mathematical version of the classic hangman game. Guess the letters that are contained in the words.

Graph Equation Pairs: Match the equation with its graph. Includes quadratics, cubics, reciprocals, exponential and the sine function.

Tantrum: A game, a puzzle and a challenge involving counters being placed at the corners of a square on a grid.

Sum Game: A game against the clock to find the numbers which add up to the target number.

Hard Times: The hardest multiplication facts (according to Transum research) are presented in the form of pairs games.

Digital Darts: An online darts game for one or two players requiring skill, strategy and mental arithmetic.

Circle Theorem Pairs: A pairs game based around ten theorems about the angles made with chords, radii and tangents of circles.

Tug of War: A game for two players or teams testing their speedy reactions to mental arithmetic questions.

Formulae Pairs: Find the matching pairs of diagrams and formulae for basic geometrical shapes.

Snooker Angles: An online game for one or two players requiring an ability to estimate angles as bearings.

Mathopoly: A game of buying and selling property with maths questions thrown in for good measure.

Tran Towers: An adventure game requiring students to solve puzzles as they move through the old mansion.

Threes and Fives: A game for two players who take turns to add a domino to the line in order to score threes and fives.

Congruent Pairs: Match the congruent shapes, those with the same shape and size.

Venn Diagram Pairs: The traditional pairs or pelmanism game adapted to test knowledge of Venn diagrams.

Nim: Nim is a mathematical game of strategy in which two players take turns removing objects from groups of objects.

Loci Construction Pairs: Match the description of the loci to the diagram of the construction.

Tran Tunnels: A mini adventure game containing maths puzzles and problems. Find your way through the maze of tunnels to find Goldberg's magic harpsicord.

Math vs Maths Pairs: Match the British and American words for mathematical concepts.

Yes No Questions: A game to determine the mathematical item by asking questions that can only be answered yes or no.

Maths Games Investigations:

Trilett: A strategy game requiring you to select three words with a common letter before the computer does.

Tantrum: A game, a puzzle and a challenge involving counters being placed at the corners of a square on a grid.

Songkran Game: Where should you stand in the circle to win the Songkran game?

Maths Games Videos:

How to Play War Cards: This video shows how to play War cards tweaked just a little to turn it into a maths game.

Mathino Card Game: Introducing Mathino. A number facts card game.

Maths Kim's Game: Kim's Game requires you to remember a number of items and in this version the items are all mathematical. Improve your recall skills by playing along with this three-part memory challenge.

Maths Games Worksheets/Printables:

Fifteen Game Printable Cards: A pdf file of the cards used in the Fifteen game.

Game Boards: Printable game boards for Manifest, Scallywags, Nevertheless, Tantrum and Great Expectation.

Tran Towers Resources: A resource for the teacher containing a map of Tran Towers and instructions for figuring out the puzzles.

Trilett Printable Cards: A pdf file of the cards used in the Trilett game.

Game Board for 23 or Bust: A printable game board for 23 or Bust. Choose your own object to serve as the lifesaver such as a pencil sharpener, a rubber or a coin.

Strategy for 23 or Bust: A printable worksheet containing a table to be filled in with the best moves for the game 23 or Bust.

Rounding Snap Cards: Printable cards for the Rounding Snap game.

Snail Race Board: If pupils are unable to play the Snail Race online this printable board can be used with counters and dice.

Polybragging Cards: Printable cards for the Polybragging game. Use the properties of polygons to win.

Maths Games External Links:

Links to other websites containing resources for Maths Games are provided for those logged into 'Transum Mathematics'. Subscribing also opens up the opportunity for you to add your own links to this panel. You can sign up using one of the buttons below:

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Suggested

Yes No Questions

Yes No Questions

A game to determine the mathematical item by asking questions that can only be answered yes or no.

The short web address is:

Transum.org/go/?to=yesno

 

Teaching Notes:

Many Transum activities have notes for teachers suggesting teaching methods and highlighting common misconceptions. There are also solutions to puzzles, exercises and activities available on the web pages when you are signed in to your Transum subscription account. If you do not yet have an account and you are a teacher, tutor or parent you can apply for one by completing the form on the Sign Up page.

A Transum subscription also gives you access to the 'Class Admin' student management system, downloadable worksheets, many more teaching resources and opens up ad-free access to the Transum website for you and your pupils.

Comments

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Miss Danielle Parker, Daisy Academy

Thursday, March 12, 2015

"My class and I use this to start our lessons everyday."

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