Mental Math Exercises
Simple and No-Prep
All Grades
5-10 minutes every day
General Suggestions
Create a plan and avoid winging it so that you can be thorough with the practice. Stay easy and fun and make them almost beg you for more difficult ones! Keep a careful watch on those who are with you and those who daydream. Call on one child and get the answer and then ask who got that answer. Any other answers? Who got that one? This leads to a quick class discussion on wrong turns and strategies.
Silent Math
Teacher draws on the board:
+ - x (symbol for “divided by”)
Teacher stands in middle of symbols and in silence holds up hands to represent a number and then points to a symbol (while continuing to face the class) and then holds hands up to represent a second number. Children calculate the answer.
Begin with easy like 5+2 and then progress to 5+5+2 and then longer strings of same operation of addition.
Next enter in two operations like 5+2-1 and then progress to 5+2-1-3, etc.
Then, of course, 3 operations, and then 4.
This has many possibilities for focus on carrying and borrowing, etc.
Clap, Clap, Snap
Teacher sits on a stool facing class. Begin with ones.
A clap means forward one, eg. clap, clap, clap = 3
A snap means backwards one, eg. clap, clap, clap, snap = 2
Children calculate the answer. A good stretch for the child who needs to develop auditory skills! A way to show off a bit for the auditory learner!
Extensions:
Work on one set of multiples at a time, eg. 5’s: clap, clap, clap, snap, snap = 5
Continue to work on longer and longer strings to increase concentration skills, eg. 10’s: clap, clap, clap, clap ,clap, snap, snap, snap, clap, snap, snap, clap = 20 This keeps the teacher sharp as well!
This exercise works as well with first graders as it does with 6th graders. Don’t be afraid to get into hundred thousands, millions, billions, trillions.
Also, a good trick up your sleeve for making use of an extra minute or two at dismissal, etc.