A List of the Best Maths Games for KS1

Maths games for the basics

Getting your maths foundation right is extremely important. Maths topics build on top of each other, and so if your base is weak, you may struggle at a more advanced stage.  💭

In this article, we’ll tell you about some maths games that involve maths symbols, turning numbers into words, and counting.

Fun maths games to learn mathematical symbols

If you are in the KS1 stage, you only need to learn 4 equation symbols. The plus ➕, the minus ➖, the multiply ✖️, and the divide. ➗ 

First things first, you should print out the symbols with their correlating names. Then you can create several games from this. 

This first game involves only the plus and minus symbols. Take two numbers in a sum, leaving a space between the two numbers. Exchange the plus and minus and compete with your friends to see who shouts out the answers first as soon the symbol changes. 🗣️ This game lets you learn how different symbols affect numbers. 

This game can be used for multiplication and division, too. 

But first, let's talk about the difference between multiplication and division. Learning multiplication and division can often be complicated. However, at a KS1 level, you can use the multiplication by addition and the division by subtraction method. These methods work exactly how they sound. You subtract or add using the numbers you have. This is especially used with picture problems! 😮

Turning picture problems into real-life games

Instead of using a photo of 9 apples 🍎 as an indication of 3 x 3, you can use 9 apples in your home! 

Don’t have apples? You can use anything to create this game. Crisps or M&M’s, too. 🍪

When working with division, we subtract in groups of the dividing numbers. For example, taking 9 apples, we subtract 3 groups of 3.  Using physical items represents the answer (3) in a fun and visual way. 

This method is used with only pictures in classrooms. Using physical items is more beneficial in grounding the ideas than pictures. 🖼️

Number games for counting

Counting is probably the next most important thing in maths. You count when adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. The order of numbers is crucial to KS1 maths learning. 

To learn to count, you can use games like hopscotch. 🐸 Counting backwards, however, can get a little trickier. However, this might be the place you start to struggle. Using items in and around your house as a visual representation is one of the easier methods. If you are still struggling, write the numbers on the items or create special number cards. 🟨

Maths games for maths words

Associating maths words with their actual numbers can get complicated.

Learning new words is always scary… So why not make it a game? Then everything will clear up! 😌 Try the classic memory game, where you use the number and the word instead of two identical images. Pack them all out on a table and learn each word with their number. 

What’s next?

After learning the basics, we can start to look at more maths games. You should start with games centred around 2D and 3D shapes, addition, and subtraction. These two topics go hand in hand sometimes as they can be used in picture problems. You can start learning the telling of time and working with money.

These topics are just as important, if not more, than any others.

Maths games for learning shapes

Some of the best ways to learn about shapes and how to identify them are through hands-on experience. 🟪 Maths games for shapes are limitless, especially for 2D and 3D shapes!

Take different items in your house and line them up to show the faces. This is a great way to learn 2D shapes after they have been covered in class. Make it into a guess the shape math game show! 🔺 Whenever you guess the correct shape name, you get a point. Maybe you can even get an extra point if you say why it is that specific shape? It’s your choice. That’s what makes this so fun!

This maths game show can work well for 3D shapes, too, if you have them in your home. 🧊 You can also have fun making these shapes using online resources. Then you will have these shapes available in the future. This makes it easy to count all the sides. Alongside teaching you how to count how many 2D shapes are in a certain 3D shape. 

How can maths games help with telling time?

There are two types of time telling for you to learn at a maths KS1 level; analogue and digital time. ⌚ 

The best game to learn time telling? Ask your parents to ask you the time randomly. Or maybe when they are starting to prepare dinner and want to plan what time the food will be ready. If they trust you enough, they can even ask you the time before they leave for work. 😉

If you are just learning to tell time, you should ask them to ask you just the first numbers or whether you are currently in AM or PM time. Depending on your school, you’ve probably only learnt 12-hour time, rather than 24-hour. This means you only have to worry about 12-hour time-telling. 😊

Learning minutes and the words associated with them can be the most difficult. Maybe you struggle with understanding why there are only 60 minutes in an hour? Or maybe you struggle with learning what half, quarter past and quarter to lingo mean. ⏱️

The money maths game

This game is pretty fun - after all, who doesn’t love money, right? 

Put together a grocery list and write down the amounts for each item on the list! 💷 Then try to add the numbers. In the beginning, don’t try adding up the pence as well because that can be confusing. Also, try keeping the numbers below 10. This will make sure that you aren’t overwhelmed by confusing numbers.

However, once you’re comfortable with these numbers, you can try including the pence and larger numbers.

How well do online maths games work?

We feel online maths games are a great supplement to classes and tuition sessions. They help you visualise things in a fun way beyond what may be possible in a larger classroom setting.

They also help you learn how to use a computer and browse the internet.  🖥️So what are you waiting for? Get started now!

And if you don’t know how to get started, visit Topmarks Maths.

Topmarks Maths

Topmarks Maths is a fun online platform that is free to use. Both English and maths games are available. We recommend this fun maths game platform if you are at a KS1 or KS2 stage. The platform is great for revision and to help you understand complicated maths sums.

Topmarks Maths is a winner when it comes to online maths games. 👍

Maths games – What about KS2?

You can carry most of this advice through to KS2 too. Maths games for KS2 are, however, a little more complicated than KS1. The subjects broaden out from the foundations that we mentioned above. However, everything is based on the core foundation. So ensure that you understand that really well! 🏘️

Maths games are integral for learning maths in a fun and playful way. No one likes learning math in an old-fashioned way anymore! Whether you decide to go with the online method or find you have enough time at home to design games, do everything you can to become a real maths genius. 🧠

Still having trouble with maths games or maths in general? Book a tutoring session here with one of our tutors today!