mathematics problem solving activities

Problem Solving Activities: 7 Strategies

• Critical Thinking

Problem solving can be a daunting aspect of effective mathematics teaching, but it does not have to be! In this post, I share seven strategic ways to integrate problem solving into your everyday math program.

In the middle of our problem solving lesson, my district math coordinator stopped by for a surprise walkthrough. 

I was so excited!

We were in the middle of what I thought was the most brilliant math lesson– teaching my students how to solve problem solving tasks using specific problem solving strategies. 

It was a proud moment for me!

Each week, I presented a new problem solving strategy and the students completed problems that emphasized the strategy. 

Genius right? 

After observing my class, my district coordinator pulled me aside to chat. I was excited to talk to her about my brilliant plan, but she told me I should provide the tasks and let my students come up with ways to solve the problems. Then, as students shared their work, I could revoice the student’s strategies and give them an official name. 

What a crushing blow! Just when I thought I did something special, I find out I did it all wrong. 

I took some time to consider her advice. Once I acknowledged she was right, I was able to make BIG changes to the way I taught problem solving in the classroom. 

When I Finally Saw the Light

To give my students an opportunity to engage in more authentic problem solving which would lead them to use a larger variety of problem solving strategies, I decided to vary the activities and the way I approached problem solving with my students. 

Problem Solving Activities

Here are seven ways to strategically reinforce problem solving skills in your classroom. 

Seasonal Problem Solving

Many teachers use word problems as problem solving tasks. Instead, try engaging your students with non-routine tasks that look like word problems but require more than the use of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to complete. Seasonal problem solving tasks and daily challenges are a perfect way to celebrate the season and have a little fun too!

Cooperative Problem Solving Tasks

Go cooperative! If you’ve got a few extra minutes, have students work on problem solving tasks in small groups. After working through the task, students create a poster to help explain their solution process and then post their poster around the classroom. Students then complete a gallery walk of the posters in the classroom and provide feedback via sticky notes or during a math talk session.

Notice and Wonder

Before beginning a problem solving task, such as a seasonal problem solving task, conduct a Notice and Wonder session. To do this, ask students what they notice about the problem. Then, ask them what they wonder about the problem. This will give students an opportunity to highlight the unique characteristics and conditions of the problem as they try to make sense of it. 

Want a better experience? Remove the stimulus, or question, and allow students to wonder about the problem. Try it! You’ll gain some great insight into how your students think about a problem.

Math Starters

Start your math block with a math starter, critical thinking activities designed to get your students thinking about math and provide opportunities to “sneak” in grade-level content and skills in a fun and engaging way. These tasks are quick, designed to take no more than five minutes, and provide a great way to turn-on your students’ brains. Read more about math starters here ! 

Create your own puzzle box! The puzzle box is a set of puzzles and math challenges I use as fast finisher tasks for my students when they finish an assignment or need an extra challenge. The box can be a file box, file crate, or even a wall chart. It includes a variety of activities so all students can find a challenge that suits their interests and ability level.

Calculators

Use calculators! For some reason, this tool is not one many students get to use frequently; however, it’s important students have a chance to practice using it in the classroom. After all, almost everyone has access to a calculator on their cell phones. There are also some standardized tests that allow students to use them, so it’s important for us to practice using calculators in the classroom. Plus, calculators can be fun learning tools all by themselves!

Three-Act Math Tasks

Use a three-act math task to engage students with a content-focused, real-world problem! These math tasks were created with math modeling in mind– students are presented with a scenario and then given clues and hints to help them solve the problem. There are several sites where you can find these awesome math tasks, including Dan Meyer’s Three-Act Math Tasks and Graham Fletcher’s 3-Acts Lessons . 

Getting the Most from Each of the Problem Solving Activities

When students participate in problem solving activities, it is important to ask guiding, not leading, questions. This provides students with the support necessary to move forward in their thinking and it provides teachers with a more in-depth understanding of student thinking. Selecting an initial question and then analyzing a student’s response tells teachers where to go next. 

Ready to jump in? Grab a free set of problem solving challenges like the ones pictured using the form below. 

Which of the problem solving activities will you try first? Respond in the comments below.

Shametria Routt Banks

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2 Responses

This is a very cool site. I hope it takes off and is well received by teachers. I work in mathematical problem solving and help prepare pre-service teachers in mathematics.

Thank you, Scott! Best wishes to you and your pre-service teachers this year!

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22 Fun Math Activities for Your Classroom

Written by Marcus Guido

Did you know? 🤔

Research showed that Prodigy Math helped drive a significant, positive shift in students' opinion towards math in just a few months.

• Game-Based Learning
• Teaching Tools
• 1. Prodigy Math

2. Read a Math Book

3. create mnemonic devices, 4. deliver a daily starter, 5. visit the national library of virtual manipulatives, 6. run a round of initials, 7. play math baseball, 8. start a game of around the block, 9. play math tic-tac-toe, 10. modify a classic card game, 11. share teachertube videos, 12. co-ordinate live video, 13. research the leaning tower, 14. party on pi day, 15. hold a scavenger hunt, 16. play one-metre dash, 17. put a twist on gym class, 18. run think-pair-share exercises.

• 19. Hold a Game of Jeopardy

20. Take on a Challenge from Get The Math

When students think “fun,” memories of math class likely won’t be the first to pop into their heads. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

There are approaches and exercises, with and without computers, that can  enliven your math lessons .

You’ll likely find that the reward justifies the work of preparing and introducing them. After all, according many studies from  as early as the 1960s , engaged students pay more attention and perform higher than disengaged ones.W

But while making math fun for students is definitely effective, it's not always easy for busy educators to plan, prepare and deliver them on the spot.

That's why we've put together a list of 22 fun math activities for students.  Use these fun activity ideas to engage your students and help them build a lifelong love for learning math.

1. Play Prodigy Math

Grade levels: 1st-8th

Best for: Reinforcing lesson content, differentiating instruction and engaging students through game-based learning.

Use Prodigy — the standards-aligned math platform used by millions of students and teachers worldwide — to  engage your class while  reinforcing lesson content  and teaching essential skills.

Prodigy uses elements from students’ favorite video games as they compete in math duels against in-game characters. To win, they must answer sets of questions. You can customize these questions to supplement class material,  deliver assessments ,  prepare for tests  and more.

And the best bit? Educators and schools get full access to teaching tools at zero cost!

Here's a sneak peak of Prodigy in action! 👇

Grade levels: K-6th

Best for: Introducing new concepts, reinforcing learned skills, and encouraging independent learning.

Show your students that  reading engaging stories isn’t exclusive to language arts class.

There are many age-appropriate  math books  that effectively explain skills and techniques while providing exercises to help students understand content.

For example, the  Life of Fred  series introduces and teaches essential math skills aligned with most elementary school curricula.

The four books, each containing 19 lessons, present content through stories about cats, ice cream and other child-friendly subjects. With full answer keys, the series lends itself to practicing, reviewing or learning entire skills.

You can find age- and topic-specific math books through a few Amazon searches or a brief bookstore visit.

Grade levels: 3rd-8th

Best for: Helping learners remember math facts, equations and sequences.

Dedicate time for students to create mnemonic devices — cues such as rhymes and acronyms — to  help  recall math facts .

A popular example is “I need to be 16 years-old to drive a 4×4 pickup truck.” Such cues should be rhymes or quick stories that distill larger chunks of information, always using tangible objects or scenarios to make them memorable.

Although you can think of mnemonic devices yourself and share them with students, it’s beneficial to run an activity that gets them to make their own. They’ll likely find it easier to remember ones they create.

Grade levels: PreK-8th

Best for: Kicking off the day, focusing students' attention and warming up brains for math learning.

Drop by Scholastic’s  Daily Starters page  each morning to  find entry tickets suited to solo and group work. This includes skills and topics like mental math, place value and number sense.

Content levels range from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade, including problems from subjects other than math. Many teachers either print the questions or project them onto a whiteboard.

Aside from entry tickets, there are different ways to use Daily Starters — such as including them in learning stations or wrapping up a lesson with them.

Grade levels: K-12

Best for: Interactive learning and engagement, especially for visual learners.

Have students visit the online  National Library of Virtual Manipulatives  to  access activities that involve digital objects such as coins and blocks.

Created by Utah State University, the online library aims to engage students. To do so, there are manipulation tasks for students at every grade level.

For example, a 6th grade geometry activity involves using geo-boards to illustrate area, perimeter and rational number concepts. Ideal for classes with one-to-one device use, the website can also act as a learning station.

Grade levels : 4th-8th

Best for: Content reviews and encouraging students to work in teams.

Add a  game-like spin to content reviews  by playing Initials.

Hand a unique sheet to each student that has problems aligned with a common skill or topic. Instead of focusing on their own sheets, students walk around the room to solve questions on their classmates’.

Here’s the catch: A student can only complete one question per sheet, signing his or her initials beside the answer. The exercise continues until all questions on each sheet have answers,  encouraging students to build trust and teamwork .

Grade levels: 2nd-6th

Best for: Creating a competitive environment and reinforcing a variety of math concepts.

Divide your class into two teams to play math baseball —  an activity that gives you full control of the questions students answer.

One team will start “at bat,” scoring runs by choosing questions worth one, two or three bases. You’ll “pitch” the questions, which range in difficulty depending on how many bases they’re worth. If the at-bat team answers incorrectly, the defending team can correctly respond to earn an out. After three outs, switch sides.

Play until one team hits 10 runs, or five for a shorter entry or exit ticket.

Grade levels: 2nd-5th

Best for: Practicing any math skill in a fun, dynamic way.

Play Around the Block as a minds-on activity, using only a ball to  practice almost any math skill.

First, compile questions related to a distinct skill. Second, have students stand in a circle. Finally, give one student the ball and read aloud a question from your list.

Students must pass the ball clockwise around the circle, and the one who started with it must answer the question before receiving again.

If the student incorrectly answers, pass the ball to a classmate for the next question. If the student correctly answers, he or she chooses the next contestant.

Grade levels: 3rd-6th

Best for: Practicing a range of abilities and offering a familiar but math-focused game.

Pair students to  compete against one another while building different math skills  in this take on tic-tac-toe.

To prepare, divide a sheet into squares — three vertical by three horizontal. Fill these squares with questions that collectively test a range of abilities. The first student to link three Xs or Os — by correctly answering questions — wins.

This game can be a  learning station , refreshing prerequisite skills in preparation for new content.

Best for: Reinforcing basic math operations in a competitive and enjoyable manner.

Put a mathematical twist on a traditional card game  by having students play this version of  War .

Students should pair together, with each pair grabbing two decks of cards. Cards have the following values:

• Two to 10 — Face value

The rules of the game will depend on the grade you teach and the skills you’re building. Each student will always play two cards at a time, but younger kids must subtract the lower number from the higher.

Older students can multiply the numbers, designating a certain suit as having negative integers. Whoever has the highest hand wins all four cards.

Best for: Visual learners and supplementing lessons with video content.

Cover core skills by visiting  TeacherTube  — an education-only version of YouTube.

By searching for a specific topic or browsing by category, you can quickly find videos to supplement a lesson or act as a learning station.

For example, searching for “middle school algebra” will load a results page containing study guides, specific lessons and exam reviews.

Students and parents can also visit TeacherTube on their own time, as some videos explicitly apply to them.

Grade levels: 6th-12th

Best for: Enhancing class content with expert insights and diversifying teaching approaches.

Don’t limit yourself to pre-recorded videos — straightforward conferencing technology can allow  subject matter experts to deliver live lessons to your class.

Whether it’s a contact from another school or a seasoned lecturer you reach out to, bringing an expert into your classroom will expose your students to new ideas and can lighten your workload.

Add the person on Skype or Google Hangouts, delivering the lesson through the program. Skype even has a list of guest speakers who will voluntarily speak about their topics of expertise.

Grade levels: 4th-8th

Best for: Interdisciplinary learning, integrating math with real-world structures and events.

Delve into the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of Italy’s famous landmarks, by running this  popular  interdisciplinary activity .

Although the exercise traditionally spans across subjects through guided research, you can focus on math by requiring students to:

• Develop an itinerary, complete with a budget, for a trip to Pisa
• Calculate measurements such as the tower’s area and volume
• Investigate the tower’s structure, determining if or when it’ll fall

For younger students, you can divide the activity into distinct exercises and allow them to work in groups. Older students should tackle it as an in-class or take-home project.

You can easily adjust the skill complexity to your students' needs, starting off with key math skills like subtraction, addition, multiplication, division and advancing into more complex areas like percentages, fractions and averages. Students at higher grades can even explore graphing and data analysis.

Best for: Making math fun, celebrating a mathematical constant and promoting math-themed camaraderie.

Celebrate Pi Day on March 14 each year by  dedicating an entire period, or more, to the mathematical constant.

Although specific activities depend on your students, you can start the lesson by giving a historical and conceptual overview of pi — from Archimedes to how modern mathematicians use it. After, delve into exercises.

For younger students, get construction paper and choose a colour to represent each digit. Red can be one, blue is two, green can represent three and so on. Their task is to arrange and order the paper to represent as much of pi’s value as possible.

For older students, run learning stations that allow them to complete questions, process content and play  math games  related to pi. For a fun finish, serve students pizza or another kind of pie.

Best for: Integrating technology, promoting research skills, and teaching new math concepts in a fun way.

Send your students on an Internet scavenger hunt, a potential addition to Pi Day fun, allowing them to  build research skills while processing new math concepts.

The exercise starts by providing a sheet of terms to define or questions to solve, which students can complete by using Google or a list of recommended websites. Regardless, the terms and questions should all fall under an overarching topic.

For example, “Find the definition of a negative integer” and “If you multiply a positive integer with a negative integer, will the product be positive or negative? What about multiplying two negative integers together?”

More than engaging, educational hunts introduce your students to resources they can regularly refer to.

Best for: Teaching students about estimation and measurement; hands-on learners; kinetic learners; group work.

Start this quick game to  build students’ perception and understanding of measurement.

Grouping students in small teams, give them metre sticks. They then look around the room for two to four items they think add up to a metre in length. In a few minutes, the groups measure the items and record how close their estimates were.

Want more of a challenge? Give them a centimetre-mark to hit instead of a metre. You can then ask them to convert results to micrometres, millimetres and more.

Best for: Linking physical activity and mathematics; catering to active learners; cross-curricular education; students who enjoy physical activities.

Fuse math and physical education by  delivering ongoing lessons that explain and explore certain motions.

It’s time to practice long jumps. But first, students can estimate how far they’ll jump. After, they can see how close they were.

Such activities can also supplement lessons about lifting, throwing and other actions — potentially interesting students who don’t normally enjoy gym or math.

Grade levels: All grades

Best for: Encouraging discussion and cooperation; fostering critical thinking; aiding understanding and retention; catering to a range of learning styles.

Launch a think-pair-share exercise to  expose students to three lesson-processing experiences in quick succession.

As the strategy’s name implies, start by asking students to individually  think  about a given topic or answer a specific question. Next,  pair  students together to discuss their results and findings. Finally, have each pair  share  their ideas with the rest of the class, and open the floor for further discussion.

The three parts of this exercise vary in length, giving you flexibility when lesson planning.

And because it allows your students to process content individually, in a small group and in a large group, it caters to your classroom’s range of learning and personality types

19. Hold a Game of Math Jeopardy

Grade levels: 3rd-12th

Best for: Reviewing multiple topics; competitive learners; group work; interactive class reviews.

Transform this famous game show to focus on your latest skill or unit,  preparing students for a quiz or test.

Setup involves attaching pockets to a bristol board, dividing them into columns and rows. Each column should focus on a topic, whereas each row should have a point value — 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1,000.

A team can ask for a question from any pocket, but other teams can answer first by solving the problem and raising their hands.

Once the class answers all questions, the team with the highest point total claims your prize. But each student wins in terms of engagement and practicing  peer support .

Looking for more fun math games? Check out this list of 23 classroom math games for kids .

Best for: Applying math to real-world scenarios; career-focused learning; students interested in how math is used in the professional world.

Teach your students about  how math is used in different careers and real-world situations  by visiting  Get the Math .

The website, aimed at middle and high school students, features videos of young professionals who explain how they use algebra. They then pose job-related questions to two teams of students in the video.

Your class can also participate, learning how to apply algebraic concepts in different scenarios. It’s a straightforward way to vary and contextualize your lesson content.

21. Virtual Math Escape Room

Grade levels: 4th-12th

Best for: Group activities where teamwork and problem-solving skills are essential. This activity is excellent for tech-savvy students andfor situations where you want to increase engagement through interactive digital tools.

Escape rooms have been a rising trend in recent years. Take advantage of their popularity by setting up a virtual math escape room. Develop a series of math puzzles that students must solve to "escape." Use a digital platform that allows you to hide clues and puzzles in an online environment. The time pressure and narrative can make solving math problems an exciting adventure!

22. Break the Code (Cryptography)

Grade levels: 5th-9th

Best for: Students who enjoy solving mysteries and puzzles. It's an engaging way to introduce abstract mathematical concepts like modular arithmetic and to showcase the practical applications of mathematics.

Awaken the budding mathematicians and detectives in your students with cryptography. Introduce simple encryption techniques and provide coded messages for your students to decipher. This activity can be tailored to different complexity levels, right from elementary to high school level.

Here's a simple version of math code breaking activity below!

Need further support? Check out these math worksheets!

As well as using fun math activities to deliver math content, you can also use worksheets. Ideal as part of a station rotation, these quick exercises can help students tackle math problems so you can gauge their understanding.

Here are some free printable worksheets to get you started:

• 1st Grade Math Worksheets
• 2nd Grade Math Worksheets
• 3rd Grade Math Worksheets
• 4th Grade Math Worksheets

Final Thoughts

Each of these exercises can inject engagement into your lessons, helping students process content and demonstrate understanding.

What’s more,  they’re versatile.  You can use many of the above activities to introduce concepts or reinforce lessons, and as minds-on exercises or exit tickets. Useful for you, fun for students.

Who says math can’t be engaging?

👉 Try Prodigy today — the standards-aligned, game-based learning platform that delivers fun math activities based on the student’s unique strengths and skill deficits. It’s used by more than 700,000 teachers and millions of students around the world.

K-5 Math Centers

K-5 math ideas, 3rd grade math, need help organizing your k-5 math block, 5 ways to include math problem solving activities in your classroom.

Are you looking for math problem solving activities that are not too easy and not too hard, but juuust right? I’ve got something just for you and your students.

Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks are open-ended math tasks that provide just the right amount of challenge for your kids. Here’s a little more about them.

Open-ended math problem solving tasks:

• promote multiple solution paths and/or multiple solutions
• boost critical thinking and math reasoning skills
• increase opportunities for developing perseverance
• provide opportunities to justify answer choices
• strengthen kids written and oral communication skills

What Makes These So Great?

• All Common Core Standards are covered for your grade level
• 180+ Quality questions that are rigorous yet engaging
• They are SUPER easy to assemble
• Provide opportunities for meaningful math discussions
• Perfect for developing a growth mindset
• Easily identify student misconceptions so you can provide assistance
• Very versatile (check out the different ways to use them below)

You can find out more details for your grade level by clicking on the buttons below.

I’m sure you really want to know how can you use these with your kids. Check out the top 5 ideas on how to use Solve and Explain Problem Solving Tasks in your classroom.

How and When Can I Use Them?

Solve and Explain Tasks Cards are very versatile. You can use them for:

• Math Centers  – This is my favorite way to use these! Depending on your grade level, there are at least two (Kinder – 2nd) or three (3rd-5th) tasks types per Common Core standard. And each task type has 6 different questions. Print out each of the different tasks types on different color paper. Then, let students choose which one question from each task type they want to solve.

• Problem of the Day  – Use them as a daily math journal prompt. Print out the recording sheet and project one of the problems on your white board or wall.  Students solve the problem and then glue it in their spiral or composition notebooks.

• Early Finisher Activities  -No more wondering what to do next!Create an early finishers notebook where students can grab a task and a recording sheet. Place the cards in sheet protectors and make copies of the Early Finisher Activity Check-Off card for your kids to fill out BEFORE they pull a card out to work on. We want to make sure kids are not rushing through there first assignment before moving on to an early finisher activity.

• Weekly Math Challenges  – Kids LOVE challenges! Give students copies of one of the problems for homework. Then give them a week to complete it. Since many of the questions have multiple solutions and students have to explain how they got their answers, you can have a rich whole group discussion at the end of the week (even with your kindergarten and 1st grade students).

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• Formative Assessments  – Give your students a problem to solve. Then use the Teacher Scoring Rubric to see how your kids are doing with each standard. Since they have to explain their thinking, this is a great way to catch any misconceptions and give feedback to individual students.

So this wraps up the top 5 ways that you can use problem solving tasks in your classroom.  Click your grade level below to get Solve and Explain problem solving tasks for your classroom.

• Read more about: K-5 Math Ideas

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25 Exciting Hands on Math Activities for Elementary

Engaging elementary students in hands on math activities is a fantastic way to foster a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts while making learning enjoyable.

These activities not only make math come alive but also encourage active participation and critical thinking.

By incorporating hands-on experiences, educators can create an enriching learning environment that sets a strong foundation for future mathematical success.

We will explore a variety of creative and effective hands on math activities for elementary students, ensuring that the learning process is both fun and educational.

Math Manipulative Creations: Building Geometric Shapes

One exciting hands-on math activity for elementary students involves using math manipulatives like building blocks or interlocking cubes to create various geometric shapes. Start by introducing basic shapes like squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. Then, challenge students to use the manipulatives to construct these shapes on their own. As they become more comfortable, encourage them to combine shapes to form more complex figures, such as making a hexagon from triangles or a parallelogram from rectangles. This activity not only reinforces shape recognition but also enhances spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.

Fraction Beach: Sandbox Exploration of Fractions

Create a tactile learning experience with a Fraction Beach activity. Fill a large sandbox with sand and divide it into sections representing different fractions. Students can use shovels, buckets, and other tools to manipulate the sand, creating visual representations of fractions. This hands-on approach offers a unique way for students to grasp the concept of fractions as parts of a whole.

Fraction Pizza Party: Understanding Fractions through Play

Fractions can be a challenging concept for elementary students to grasp, but a Fraction Pizza Party activity can make it more accessible and enjoyable. Provide students with circular paper cutouts resembling pizza slices. Ask them to divide the slice into different fractions, such as halves, thirds, and quarters, using markers or colored pencils. Then, they can decorate each slice to represent the fraction they’ve created. This hands-on approach allows students to visualize fractions and comprehend their relationship to a whole, transforming abstract ideas into tangible concepts. Related: 20 Creative Math Door Decoration Ideas

Shape Hunt Scavenger Hunt: Exploring Geometry in the Environment

Take math learning beyond the classroom with a Shape Hunt Scavenger Hunt. This activity involves going outdoors or exploring different areas of the school to identify and categorize various shapes in the environment. Provide students with a list of shapes to find, such as squares, circles, rectangles, and triangles. They can document their discoveries by taking photos or drawing sketches of the objects they find. Not only does this activity reinforce shape recognition, but it also encourages students to see the relevance of math in their surroundings.

Money Math Market: Applying Real-life Math Skills

Teaching elementary students about money can be both practical and enjoyable through a Money Math Market activity. Set up a pretend market with various items labeled with price tags. Give students play money and have them shop for items, making calculations of their purchases and finding the total cost. This hands-on experience helps students understand the value of different coins and bills, as well as practice addition and subtraction in a real-world context. It also promotes financial literacy from an early age.

Measurement Olympics: Exploring Length, Weight, and Volume

Host a Measurement Olympics to help elementary students grasp the concepts of length, weight, and volume in a playful way. Set up various stations where students can measure objects using rulers, scales, and measuring cups. They can compare the lengths of different items, weigh objects, and pour liquids into containers to understand volume. This activity not only enhances their measurement skills but also encourages them to apply mathematical reasoning to real-world scenarios.

Tangram Teasers: Puzzling with Shapes and Spatial Relationships

Tangrams are a fantastic tool to develop spatial reasoning and geometry skills in elementary students. Provide each student with a set of tangram pieces – seven flat shapes that can be combined to form various figures. Challenge students to recreate specific shapes, animals, or objects using the tangram pieces. This activity promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial visualization while engaging students in a creative puzzle-solving adventure.

Math Board Games: Learning Through Play

Engage elementary students in the world of board games that are designed to teach and reinforce mathematical concepts. Games like “Monopoly,” “Chutes and Ladders,” and “Uno” can be adapted to incorporate math challenges. Students roll dice, draw cards, or spin spinners, answering math questions or performing calculations as part of the game mechanics. This approach blends learning with leisure, making math more enjoyable and interactive. Related: 20 Helpful Grief Activities for Elementary Students

Pattern Play: Unveiling the Magic of Patterns

Patterns are everywhere, and the Pattern Play activity helps elementary students discover the magic behind them. Begin with simple patterns of colors, shapes, or numbers, and let students continue the sequence. Gradually increase the complexity of the patterns as they become more confident. This activity hones pattern recognition skills and lays the foundation for understanding more intricate mathematical concepts, such as algebraic patterns and sequences.

Geometry in Art: Creating Symmetrical Masterpieces

Merge math and art with the Geometry in Art activity, where students explore symmetry and geometric shapes to design their own masterpieces. Provide them with drawing materials and guide them to create symmetrical images by drawing on one side and reflecting the design on the other. This activity not only encourages creativity but also reinforces concepts like line symmetry and geometric transformations, showcasing the beautiful intersection of math and artistic expression.

Time Travel Adventure: Learning with Elapsed Time

Help elementary students grasp the concept of elapsed time through a Time Travel Adventure. Present them with scenarios involving different start and end times, and ask them to calculate the duration in hours and minutes. You can use real-life scenarios like planning a day’s activities or calculating travel times between destinations. This activity strengthens students’ time-telling skills and develops their understanding of time intervals.

Math Storytelling: Numbers and Narratives

Combine math and literacy with the Math Storytelling activity, where students create their own mathematical stories. Encourage them to invent characters, settings, and situations that involve mathematical concepts. They can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division to solve problems within their stories. Sharing their stories not only nurtures their creative skills but also reinforces their understanding of mathematical operations in a meaningful context.

Math Puzzles and Riddles: Brain-Teasing Challenges

Engage elementary students’ critical thinking skills with Math Puzzles and Riddles. Provide them with age-appropriate puzzles that require logical reasoning and mathematical insights to solve. These puzzles can range from number sequences and logic puzzles to classic riddles with mathematical twists. The challenge of cracking these brain-teasers makes math enjoyable and encourages students to think outside the box.

Fractional Kitchen: Exploring Fractions in Cooking

Bringing fractions into the kitchen creates an interactive and delicious learning experience. Organize a Fractional Kitchen activity where students follow recipes and use measuring cups and spoons to prepare dishes. As they measure ingredients like flour, sugar, and liquids, they gain a tangible understanding of fractions in a practical context. This activity bridges the gap between abstract fractions and real-life applications.

Math Around the World: Exploring Cultural Numerical Systems

Expose elementary students to the diversity of numerical systems with the Math Around the World activity. Introduce them to various counting systems used in different cultures, such as Roman numerals or the Mayan number system. Allow them to explore these systems by representing numbers and performing basic calculations. This activity fosters cultural awareness while deepening students’ appreciation for the universality of mathematical principles.

Math Art Gallery: Graphing Coordinate Plane Creations

Transform the concept of graphing on a coordinate plane into an artistic endeavor with a Math Art Gallery activity. Provide students with a set of coordinates and guide them to plot points on graph paper. As they connect the dots, intricate designs and images will emerge. This activity allows students to explore the relationship between numbers, coordinates, and visual representations, enhancing their graphing skills in an engaging way.

Math Jeopardy: Interactive Review Game

Elevate the excitement of reviewing math concepts by playing Math Jeopardy. Create a game board with different categories and point values related to the curriculum. Divide students into teams and take turns choosing questions from the board. Students must solve the presented problems within a specified time frame to earn points. Math Jeopardy not only reinforces learning but also promotes friendly competition and collaboration among students.

Math-Inspired Building: Exploring Geometry with Construction

Combine engineering and mathematics with a Math-Inspired Building activity. Provide students with materials like toothpicks, marshmallows, or straws, and challenge them to create geometric shapes or structures using their imagination. This hands-on experience helps them understand concepts like angles, symmetry, and stability, all while fostering creativity and hands-on problem-solving skills.

Math Mysteries: Solving Interactive Math Whodunits

Engage elementary students in mathematical detective work with Math Mysteries. Present them with scenarios where they must solve mathematical clues to uncover the answers. These mysteries can involve a range of math topics, from solving equations to deciphering patterns. As students work through the clues, they not only sharpen their math skills but also enjoy the thrill of solving puzzles.

Math in Nature: Outdoor Exploration of Patterns and Shapes

Nature is a treasure trove of mathematical inspiration. Take students on an outdoor exploration to discover Math in Nature. Observe patterns in leaves, petals, and seeds. Look for symmetry in butterfly wings or geometric shapes in rock formations. Encourage students to document their findings through sketches or photographs. This activity fosters a deeper connection between math and the world around us while encouraging curiosity and observation skills. Related: 100 Fun Questions Of The Day for Elementary Students

Recommended:

• 25 Teeth Brushing Activities for Preschoolers
• 24 Fun Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
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Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

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10 Fun Math Problem Solving Activities

I love using fun games and activities to get my kids excited about math. That’s why I was so excited to discover Beast Academy Playground! The site includes a wide variety of math problem solving activities, games, puzzles, and ideas that can be used with your current homeschool curriculum. If you’re looking for some fun ways to get your child interested in math again or some new ideas for teaching math at home, this is a great place to start.

I received compensation in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.

What is Beast Academy Playground?

As a homeschool parent, I know that fun math problem solving activities are hard to come by. Practicing math can be frustrating and boring for kids. And, it’s not enough to just teach math facts – children need to learn how to solve complex problems too!

Beast Academy Playground is the perfect solution. This site was created by Beast Academy, a homeschool curriculum for kids ages 8-13 that’s written as a comic book. Beast Academy Playground is a website that includes a growing library of fun activity ideas for kids ages 4-11.

The site includes both tabletop games that can be played with paper and pencil and more active games that can be played outside. Parents can sort the activities by concept, age, number of players, and more to find the perfect activity to complement any math lesson. New activities, games, and crafts are added to the site weekly.

Key Features of Beast Academy Playground

I love that every game on the site includes variations. These are different ways to adapt the game to fit the number of kids in your family or the age and grade level of your child.

In addition, most of the games can be played alone or in small groups. This makes Beast Academy Playground so easy for the whole family to use together!

Beast Academy Playground was developed by the experts at Art of Problem Solving, who are global leaders in K-12 math education. Each activity is intentionally designed to help kids learn new math concepts.

I was excited to see that each game also includes learning notes. This section helps parents understand what their kids will be learning when they play the game. I felt like I was prepared to be a better math teacher after I read the tips in this section!

Check out Beast Academy Playground and learn more now!

How to use Math Problem Solving Activities in Your Homeschool

Introduce a new concept.

One way to use problem-solving activities in your math lessons is to help introduce a new concept. For example, when we were learning about even and odd numbers, we started our math lesson by playing the Odds vs. Evens game from Beast Academy Playground. This simple math problem solving activity is a variation on the game Rock Paper Scissors. This was a fun way to help us review addition facts while introducing the concept of odd and even numbers.

Practice Problem-Solving Skills

Another great way to use Beast Academy Playground is to help kids practice their problem-solving skills. One fun problem solving game that my kids love is the Fox and Hare game. In this outdoor game, the fox needs to use strategy to try to catch the hare on a grid, while the hare tries to avoid capture. You can change the size of the grid to create a variety of problems for kids to solve.

Practice Math Facts

If your kids need extra practice with their math facts, games and math puzzles can be a fun way to practice these important skills. Beast Academy Playground has games for addition and subtraction, as well as concepts like skip counting that will help kids learn their multiplication facts.

One favorite that we enjoyed was Troll Hole . In this game, we took turns writing numbers on a special game board. In the end, we had to add up all the numbers to see who was the winner. My kids had so much fun with the theme of this game and loved getting to draw the troll in the hole!

Independent learning

As homeschool parents, we always need ideas for independent learning activities. Beast Academy Playground includes some great math problem solving games that are perfect for self-directed math learning. The many different activities on the site include several fun activities for one player that kids can work through independently to reinforce their math skills.

For extra review

Hands-on activities are also helpful when kids need a little extra review on a topic. For example, we played Kanga Ruler to help review skip counting. The kids loved this game because it was active and fun!

Top 10 Math Problem Solving Activities from Beast Academy Playground

Here are 10 of our favorite games that help kids develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, all while having fun at the same time.

Trashketball

In this game, kids aim and try to score a basket into a trash can. Then, they add up the points they score. You can modify this game to add extra intellectual challenges for older kids or adapt the math so that younger kids can play too!

Trashketball was my kids’ favorite Beast Academy game, hands down. They loved trying to score as many baskets as they could. They had so much fun that they decided to keep playing even after our math lesson was finished!

Learn how to play Trashketball here.

In this math game for young children, kids race to stack towers of number cards. This is a great way to review numbers and counting. My kids really enjoyed trying to build the tallest tower that they could!

Learn how to play Towers here.

Bumper Cars

Although it took us a few tries to understand the strategy behind this game, my kids loved the concept of trying to figure out new ways to move the cars on the road. This was another great mathematical practice for strategy and solving difficult math problems.

Learn how to play Bumper Cars here.

Hungry Monster

This was a great way to practice inequalities and comparing numbers, and my kids loved feeding the correct answer in each inequality to the hungry monster!

Learn how to play Hungry Monster here.

Fruit Flies

In this math game for older problem solvers, kids try to claim as many grapes as they can for themselves, while blocking their opponent from getting any. This game is like an interactive logic puzzle, and it’s a good way for kids to learn critical thinking skills.

Learn how to play Fruit Flies here.

Blind Heist

In this game, Battleship meets addition as kids try to build the highest towers on their own secret side of the board. There are many different solutions and strategies to be successful, and my kids loved trying different solutions to this open-ended problem.

Learn how to play Blind Heist here.

Möbius Madness

This is a classic brain teaser for a reason- my kids were fascinated by the magic of a piece of paper with only one side. My kids were able to follow the directions easily and afterwards, they were excited to show their magical piece of paper to everyone who would watch.

Learn how to play Möbius Madness here.

This fast-paced card game was the perfect way to help my kids practice their addition facts.

Learn how to play Fifteen here.

Cookie Cutter

This game helps kids practice both spatial reasoning skills and fine motor skills at the same time. And, the result is a fun picture that they can color!

Learn how to play Cookie Cutter here.

Odd Knights

This was a fun way to practice even and odd (and it even led to a history lesson about the Knights of the Round Table!)

Learn how to play Odd Knights here.

What math problem solving activities will you use?

Whether it’s for extra practice or math review , Beast Academy Playground has something for every math learner. This site is a great resource to find exciting games that help kids develop number sense, problem solving, and logical thinking skills. If you want fun and engaging math activities that don’t require a textbook, this is the place to go. For more math problem solving activities and fun math games, check out Beast Academy Playground !

Find hands on activities to teach spelling and reading here!

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Free Math Worksheets — Over 100k free practice problems on Khan Academy

Looking for free math worksheets.

You’ve found something even better!

That’s because Khan Academy has over 100,000 free practice questions. And they’re even better than traditional math worksheets – more instantaneous, more interactive, and more fun!

Just choose your grade level or topic to get access to 100% free practice questions:

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High school statistics, ap®︎/college statistics, precalculus, differential calculus, integral calculus, ap®︎/college calculus ab, ap®︎/college calculus bc, multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra.

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Fun Math Problem Solving Activities for the Fourth Grade Classroom

Math is an important subject that students need to master in order to do well in their future studies. But it can be difficult to make math fun for students, especially at the fourth grade level. That’s why I’ve put together this list of my favorite problem solving activities that my fourth grade students love! Let’s take a look.

Problem Solving Ideas

Math Games – One of my favorite activities is to have the students play math games such as “24 Challenge” or “Math Baseball”. In these games, students are given a set of math facts or equations and they must solve them before their opponents can. This helps them practice their problem-solving skills while having fun. It also encourages them to work together as a team, which is great for building teamwork skills.

Word Problems – Another great activity is having the students work on word problems together. I like to have them write out the equations and then discuss how they solved each one. This helps them understand how to break down complex problems and identify key words or phrases that will help them figure out the answer more quickly. It also gets them thinking critically about how they approach solving each problem, which can be very beneficial in later grades when they have more challenging material to tackle!

Group Work – Group work can be a great way for the students to practice problem solving skills with their peers. I like to assign groups of four or five and give each group a set of math problems that they need to solve together as a team. This helps reinforce collaboration and cooperation among the students, as well as fostering an environment where everyone is comfortable voicing their ideas without fear of judgment from their peers or teacher.

Math doesn’t have to be boring! Problem solving activities are a great way for fourth grade teachers to engage their students in learning while still making sure they understand key concepts from the curriculum. From math games and word problems, to group work, there are plenty of activities you can use in your classroom that your fourth graders will love! And who knows—you might even find yourself having fun too !

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3 Problem-Solving Math Activities

Scottie Altland · September 5, 2018 · 1 Comment

A problem is simply a “problem” because there is no immediate, known solution. Problem solving activities in mathematics extend well beyond traditional word problems .

You can provide your student with activities that promote application of math skills while “busting boredom” at the same time! Puzzles and riddles, patterns, and logic problems can all be valuable exercises for students at all levels of mathematics. By engaging in short, fun activities like these, you can help your student become a more skillful, resilient, and successful problem-solver.

When practicing problem-solving skills, be certain to give your student time to explore a problem on her own to see how they might get started. Then discuss their approach together. It is important to provide support during the problem-solving process by showing that you value their ideas and helping them to see that mistakes can be useful. You can do this by asking open-ended questions to help your student gain a starting point, focus on a particular strategy, or help see a pattern or relationship. Questions such as, “What have you done before like this?”, “What can be made from …?” or “What might happen if you change…?” may serve as prompts when they needs inspiration.

Try the activities below to boost your student’s problem-solving skills.

Download the activities here .

1) Toothpick Puzzles

Toothpick puzzles (also referred to as matchstick puzzles) provide students a visualization challenge by applying their knowledge of basic geometric shapes and orientations. The only supplies you need are a box of toothpicks, a workspace, and a puzzle to solve. The goal is for students to transform given geometric figures into others by adding, moving, or removing toothpicks. These puzzles range in complexity and can be found online or in math puzzle books. As an extension, challenge your student to create their own puzzle for someone else to solve.

Sample toothpick puzzles of varying difficulty:

Download solutions to this activity here.

2) Fencing Numbers

The goal of this activity is to create a border or “fence” around each numeral by connecting dots horizontally and vertically so that each digit is bordered by the correct number of line segments.

Print a sheet of dot paper .

Use pencils and scissors to cut the size grid you want to use.

This game can be modified for abilities by adjusting the size of the grid and amount of numerals written. For example, a beginning student might begin with a grid that is 5 x 5 dots with a total of four numerals, while a more advanced student might increase the grid to 7 x 7 dots with six to eight numerals.

Begin by writing the digits 0, 1, 2, and 3 spread repeatedly in between “squares” on the dot paper. Each digit represents the number of line segments that will surround that square. For instance, a square that contains a 3 would have line segments on three sides, and a square that contains a 2 would have line segments on two sides, and so on. See the example boards and solutions for a 5 x 5 grid below.

Beware; there may be multiple solutions for the same problem! Thus, encourage your student to replicate the same problem grid multiple times and look for different solutions. A more advanced student can be challenged to create their own problem. Can they make a grid with only one solution? Is it possible to make a problem with four or more possible solutions?

3) It’s Knot a Problem!

Exercise lateral thinking skills– solving a problem through an indirect and creative approach that is not immediately obvious. You need two people, two pieces of string (or yarn) about one meter long each (or long enough so the person who will wear it can easily step over it), and some empty space to move around. If possible, use two different colored pieces of string. Each person needs a piece of string with a loop tied in both ends so it can be worn like “handcuffs”. Before tying off the loop on the second wrist, the participants loop the string around each other so they are hooked together. The figure below illustrates how the strings should appear when completed.

The goal is to unhook the strings while following these guidelines:

1) The string must remain tied and may not be removed from either participant’s wrists. 2) The string cannot be broken, cut, or damaged in any way.

Caution! This activity not only tests problem-solving skills, but it also promotes positive communication, teamwork, and persistence.

Problem-solving skills are not always taught directly but often learned indirectly through experience and practice. When incorporating problem solving activities aim to make them open-ended and playful to keep your student engaged. Incorporating fun activities like these from time to time foster creative and flexible thinking and can help your student transfer problem solving skills to other subject areas. By providing guidance and helping your student to see a problem from different perspectives, you will help foster a positive disposition towards problem-solving. As your student continues to learn how to effectively solve problems, they increase their understanding of the world around them and develop the tools they need to make decisions about the way they approach a problem.

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Reader Interactions

February 25, 2020 at 11:13 am

The ideas are very brilliant it encourages critical thinking and also help student think for a solution. Awesome!😍

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I think it is an excellent program for tracking student progress and I love the new feature of Problem Solving and Reasoning for students to be able to show their reasoning… I also love the Practice and Fluency feature – it’s exactly what students need to do to improve their understanding and ability to consolidate in an area of Maths. Penny N, Primary School Teacher Great Ryrie Public School

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

• team building problem solving activities for employees
• free problem solving games for adults
• virtual problem solving activities for students
• group problem solving activities
• problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

• a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
• undercover teams of agents and spies
• challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
• team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

• a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
• detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
• trails of evidence and hidden secrets
• group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

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3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

• a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
• immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
• engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
• opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

• teammates’ tastes and interests
• company knowledge and history
• industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

• Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
• Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
• Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
• Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
• Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

• Moral machine
• Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
• Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

• Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
• You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
• After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
• You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
• An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

• Set up shelter
• Explore the island
• Try to signal for help
• Make weapons for self-defense
• Build a raft to escape the island
• Start a fire
• Choose a group leader
• Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

• Play an online role playing video game
• Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
• Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
• Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
• Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

• Human rights violation by powerful country
• Food shortage
• Disease epidemic
• Technology privacy violations
• Civil war branching into surrounding countries
• Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

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FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons

M athematics is a fundamental subject that shapes the way children think and analyze the world. At the primary school level, laying a strong foundation is crucial. While hands-on activities, digital tools, and interactive discussions play significant roles in learning, worksheets remain an essential tool for reinforcing concepts, practicing skills, and assessing understanding. Here’s a look at some helpful worksheets for primary school math lessons.

Comparison Chart Worksheets

Comparison charts provide a visual means for primary school students to grasp relationships between numbers or concepts. They are easy to make at www.storyboardthat.com/create/comparison-chart-template , and here is how they can be used:

• Quantity Comparison: Charts might display two sets, like apples vs. bananas, prompting students to determine which set is larger.
• Attribute Comparison: These compare attributes, such as different shapes detailing their number of sides and characteristics.
• Number Line Comparisons: These help students understand number magnitude by placing numbers on a line to visualize their relative sizes.
• Venn Diagrams: Introduced in later primary grades, these diagrams help students compare and contrast two sets of items or concepts.
• Weather Charts: By comparing weather on different days, students can learn about temperature fluctuations and patterns.

Number Recognition and Counting Worksheets

For young learners, recognizing numbers and counting is the first step into the world of mathematics. Worksheets can offer:

• Number Tracing: Allows students to familiarize themselves with how each number is formed.
• Count and Circle: Images are presented, and students have to count and circle the correct number.
• Missing Numbers: Sequences with missing numbers that students must fill in to practice counting forward and backward.

Basic Arithmetic Worksheets

Once students are familiar with numbers, they can start simple arithmetic. 

• Addition and Subtraction within 10 or 20: Using visual aids like number lines, counters, or pictures can be beneficial.
• Word Problems: Simple real-life scenarios can help students relate math to their daily lives.
• Skip Counting: Worksheets focused on counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s.

Geometry and Shape Worksheets

Geometry offers a wonderful opportunity to relate math to the tangible world.

• Shape Identification: Recognizing and naming basic shapes such as squares, circles, triangles, etc.
• Comparing Shapes: Worksheets that help students identify differences and similarities between shapes.
• Pattern Recognition: Repeating shapes in patterns and asking students to determine the next shape in the sequence.

Measurement Worksheets

Measurement is another area where real-life application and math converge.

• Length and Height: Comparing two or more objects and determining which is longer or shorter.
• Weight: Lighter vs. heavier worksheets using balancing scales as visuals.
• Time: Reading clocks, days of the week, and understanding the calendar.

Data Handling Worksheets

Even at a primary level, students can start to understand basic data representation.

• Tally Marks: Using tally marks to represent data and counting them.
• Simple Bar Graphs: Interpreting and drawing bar graphs based on given data.
• Pictographs: Using pictures to represent data, which can be both fun and informative.

Place Value Worksheets

Understanding the value of each digit in a number is fundamental in primary math.

• Identifying Place Values: Recognizing units, tens, hundreds, etc., in a given number.
• Expanding Numbers: Breaking down numbers into their place value components, such as understanding 243 as 200 + 40 + 3.
• Comparing Numbers: Using greater than, less than, or equal to symbols to compare two numbers based on their place values.

Fraction Worksheets

Simple fraction concepts can be introduced at the primary level.

• Identifying Fractions: Recognizing half, quarter, third, etc., of shapes or sets.
• Comparing Fractions: Using visual aids like pie charts or shaded drawings to compare fractions.
• Simple Fraction Addition: Adding fractions with the same denominator using visual aids.

Money and Real-Life Application Worksheets

Understanding money is both practical and a great way to apply arithmetic.

• Identifying Coins and Notes: Recognizing different denominations.
• Simple Transactions: Calculating change, adding up costs, or determining if there’s enough money to buy certain items.
• Word Problems with Money: Real-life scenarios involving buying, selling, and saving.

Logic and Problem-Solving Worksheets

Even young students can hone their problem-solving skills with appropriate challenges.

• Sequences and Patterns: Predicting the next item in a sequence or recognizing a pattern.
• Logical Reasoning: Simple puzzles or riddles that require students to think critically.
• Story Problems: Reading a short story and solving a math-related problem based on the context.

Worksheets allow students to practice at their own pace, offer teachers a tool for assessment, and provide parents with a glimpse into their child’s learning progression. While digital tools and interactive activities are gaining prominence in education, the significance of worksheets remains undiminished. They are versatile and accessible and, when designed creatively, can make math engaging and fun for young learners.

The post 10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons appeared first on Mom and More .

3 Ways to Strengthen Math Instruction

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Students’ math scores have plummeted, national assessments show , and educators are working hard to turn math outcomes around.

But it’s a challenge, made harder by factors like math anxiety , students’ feelings of deep ambivalence about how math is taught, and learning gaps that were exacerbated by the pandemic’s disruption of schools.

This week, three educators offered solutions on how districts can turn around poor math scores in a conversation moderated by Peter DeWitt, an opinion blogger for Education Week.

Here are three takeaways from the discussion. For more, watch the recording on demand .

1. Intervention is key

Research shows that early math skills are a key predictor of later academic success.

“Children who know more do better, and math is cumulative—so if you don’t grasp some of the earlier concepts, math gets increasingly harder,” said Nancy Jordan, a professor of education at the University of Delaware.

For example, many students struggle with the concept of fractions, she said. Her research has found that by 6th grade, some students still don’t really understand what a fraction is, which makes it harder for them to master more advanced concepts, like adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.

At that point, though, teachers don’t always have the time in class to re-teach those basic or fundamental concepts, she said, which is why targeted intervention is so important.

Still, Jordan’s research revealed that in some middle schools, intervention time is not a priority: “If there’s an assembly, or if there is a special event or whatever, it takes place during intervention time,” she said. “Or ... the children might sit on computers, and they’re not getting any really explicit instruction.”

2. ‘Gamify’ math class

Students today need new modes of instruction that meet them where they are, said Gerilyn Williams, a math teacher at Pinelands Regional Junior High School in Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

“Most of them learn through things like TikTok or YouTube videos,” she said. “They like to play games, they like to interact. So how can I bring those same attributes into my lesson?”

Part of her solution is gamifying instruction. Williams avoids worksheets. Instead, she provides opportunities for students to practice skills that incorporate elements of game design.

That includes digital tools, which provide students with the instant feedback they crave, she said.

But not all the games are digital. Williams’ students sometimes play “trashketball,” a game in which they work in teams to answer math questions. If they get the question right, they can crumble the piece of paper and throw it into a trash can from across the room.

“The kids love this,” she said.

Williams also incorporates game-based vocabulary into her instruction, drawing on terms from video games.

For example, “instead of calling them quizzes and tests, I call them boss battles,” she said. “It’s less frightening. It reduces that math anxiety, and it makes them more engaging.

“We normalize things like failure, because when they play video games, think about what they’re doing,” Williams continued. “They fail—they try again and again and again and again until they achieve success.”

3. Strengthen teacher expertise

To turn around math outcomes, districts need to invest in teacher professional development and curriculum support, said Chaunté Garrett, the CEO of ELLE Education, which partners with schools and districts to support student learning.

“You’re not going to be able to replace the value of a well-supported and well-equipped mathematics teacher,” she said. “We also want to make sure that that teacher has a math curriculum that’s grounded in the standards and conceptually based.”

Students will develop more critical thinking skills and better understand math concepts if teachers are able to relate instruction to real life, Garrett said—so that “kids have relationships that they can pull on, and math has some type of meaning and context to them outside of just numbers and procedures.”

It’s important for math curriculum to be both culturally responsive and relevant, she added. And teachers might need training on how to offer opportunities for students to analyze and solve real-world problems.

“So often, [in math problems], we want to go back to soccer and basketball and all of those things that we lived through, and it’s not that [current students] don’t enjoy those, but our students live social media—they literally live it,” Garrett said. “Those are the things that have to live out in classrooms right now, and if we’re not doing those things, we are doing a disservice.”

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Mathematics > Dynamical Systems

Title: on the emergence of ergodic dynamics in unique games.

Abstract: The Unique Games Conjecture (UGC) constitutes a highly dynamic subarea within computational complexity theory, intricately linked to the outstanding P versus NP problem. Despite multiple insightful results in the past few years, a proof for the conjecture remains elusive. In this work, we construct a novel dynamical systems-based approach for studying unique games and, more generally, the field of computational complexity. We propose a family of dynamical systems whose equilibria correspond to solutions of unique games and prove that unsatisfiable instances lead to ergodic dynamics. Moreover, as the instance hardness increases, the weight of the invariant measure in the vicinity of the optimal assignments scales polynomially, sub-exponentially, or exponentially depending on the value gap. We numerically reproduce a previously hypothesized hardness plot associated with the UGC. Our results indicate that the UGC is likely true, subject to our proposed conjectures that link dynamical systems theory with computational complexity.

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arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs .