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PDFTry these math puzzles with your kids! They are fun and give your kids an opportunity to practice their basic math skills.
1. I Can Guess Your Age
This puzzle is best done with a pair of friends. Take turns and each friend do it once to get the math practice.
1. Child 1 tells Child 2 to write their age on a piece of paper, and tell Child 2 that they can’t show it to anyone.
2. Child 1 tells Child 2 to do the following:
a. multiply your age by 3.
b. add 12.
c. divide by 3.
d. add 93.
3. Have Child 2 say their answer out loud. Child 1 drops the first digit of the answer and adds 3 to the remaining number. The result is the age of child 2. It really works! This is also fun to do with grandparents – you can guess how old they are.
2. It Can’t be 7
This puzzle has the students adding, subtracting, and dividing. Don’t tell the child what his answer should be. This works better if 2 or more children are doing it at the same time.
1. Write a number.
2. Add 9
3. Double the new number.
4. Subtract 4.
5. Divide the new number by 2.
6. Subtract the number you originally chose.
With no errors, the answer should be 7.
3. I know your Secret Number
1. Choose a secret number between 1 and 99 and write it on you paper.
2. Multiply the number by 2.
3. Add 35.
4. Multiply your new number by 5.
5. Subtract 155
6. Multiply by 10
7. Subtract 200.
8. Cross off the last 2 numbers (tens and ones) The remaining number should be the secret number you started with.
Challenge: Would this trick work if your secret number was larger than 99?
Hope you enjoy some of these ideas! You can continue to email me with questions at teacherlady1967.com.
Nana is a retired school teacher with 35 years of classroom experience. She holds BA and MEd degrees from Tufts University, and a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant certificate from William Paterson University. Her experience includes teaching 2nd through 8th grade in public and private schools. She currently tutors children with varying degrees of need, ranging from children on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities to children needing specific subject help. She also works with children on their study skills, academic organizational skills and test- taking skills.
Have a question? Ask Nana! She can be reached at teacherlady1967@yahoo.com.
Photo credits consolblog
About Author
Nana is a retired school teacher with 35 years of classroom experience. She holds BA and MEd degrees from Tufts University, and a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant certificate from William Paterson University. Her experience includes teaching 2nd through 8th grade in public and private schools. She currently tutors children with varying degrees of need, ranging from children on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities to children needing specific subject help. She also works with children on their study skills, academic organizational skills and test- taking skills. Have a question? Send Nana an email!
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