Family Activities

Maths inspired arts & crafts, games, puzzles, baking and more!

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How to Play Tenzi

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11

Tenzi is a dice game for two or more players, which is great for number recognition. You will need a set of ten dice per player, with a different colour of dice each. The basic aim of the game is to be the first player to get all of your dice to show the same number.

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How to Play Sim

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

We have another fun maths game to share with you today. Sim is a pen & paper game for two players. It's named after cryptographer and mathematician Gustavus Simmons, who first introduced the game in 1969.

Multiplication Dice Game

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15

Today we have a really simple game to share with you, that can be played at home, on the go, or in the classroom. The game encourages multiplication and addition skills, and also requires some strategic thinking and considering the probability of what numbers you are going to roll.

Five Field Kono

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Learn how to play Five Field Kono - a strategy game from Korea. The aim of the game is to be the first to get all your counters to your opponent’s side of the board.

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Threes Away

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

We love a good dice game! If you travel with some dice in your pocket, you'll never be bored, there's so much you can do with them. Today's game Threes Away requires five dice - you'll also need to think strategically, and it encourages number recognition too.

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How to Play Queah

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Queah is a traditional board game from Liberia. The two-player strategy game has some similarities to draughts, in that you capture your opponent's counters by jumping over them. A unique feature is that you have a reserve, from which you can replace your captured counters.

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Maths Tales RPG

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

This RPG game about maths in Ancient Egypt was developed by Daisy Abbott from Anderston Primary Parent Council, for Maths Week Scotland 2024.

Shut the Box

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Shut the Box is a fun dice game for two or more players, though can also be played by one player as a solitaire game. It's a great game for encouraging number recognition and practicing addition and number bonds.

How to Play Sevens

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Sevens is a fun dice game for two or more players, that you can play anywhere, any time. It encourages number and quantity recognition, and basic addition skills.

Dots & Boxes

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15

Whether you’re travelling and need something to keep the kids busy on the road, or looking for a boredom buster back at home, you can’t go wrong with this quick and easy pen and paper game.

How to Play Dara

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Learn how to play Dara - a row building game from Northwest Africa, that encourages number sense, logical thinking and spacial perception.

Maths Games & Activities for the Beach

  • Age groups
  • 0-4
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside... Keep up your maths over the summer holidays, with our fun games and activities to do at the beach.

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Pyramid Addition

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15

Pyramid is a card game for two or more players, to practice addition. For older children, the same game play can also be used for multiplication. To play either version, you will need a standard set of cards with the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) removed.

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Pig Dice Game

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

Pig is a dice game for two or more players. All you need to play is one six sided die, some paper and a pen or pencil to keep score. Pig is what's known as a jeopardy game, where you have to decide whether to jeopardise previous points gained by rolling again to gain even more points. As well as practicing basic maths skills counting up your scores, Pig teaches you to think strategically - if you are too greedy and take too many risks, you might lose your points!

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Flip 3 Equations Game

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15

This is a great card game for practicing simple equations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. All you need is one deck of regular playing cards, with the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) removed.

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Maths War Card Game

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11
  • 12-15

Maths War is a great little game to practice different kinds of maths skills, including number values, place value, addition and multiplication. All you need is one of two packs of regular playing cards, with the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) removed.

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Roll-a-Snowflake Game

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11

This open ended drawing game encourages number recognition and counting, and celebrates the symmetry of snowflakes. Discuss why the die has only even numbers, and where to place your symbols on the grid to keep your snowflake symmetrical

>> Download Roll-a-Snowflake Instructions

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Collaborative Drawings

  • Age groups
  • 8-11
  • 12-15
  • 16+

In this collaborative drawing challenge, one person describes whilst the other draws. It’s not as easy as it sounds! You can use only shapes and directional words in your description. Why not have several people drawing at once and compare your pictures at the end – did you all draw the same thing?

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Decorate-a-Tree Race

  • Age groups
  • 5-7
  • 8-11

There’s two ways to play our Decorate-a-Tree game. In Best of 5, the player with the most points after five rounds wins. In First to 20, it’s the player to reach 20 points first.

For an extra challenge, try to reach 20 points exactly on your last throw – so if e.g. you have 17 points, you need to roll a 3 to win. If you roll a higher number, you’ll need to try again in the next round.

>> Download Tree Game Template