This is a simple, fun dice game for two players. The focus is on reinforcing calculation skills and looking for combinations of numbers that create specific totals.

The game uses a windows board which is based on a photograph of a real building, the resource could be used as part of a topic on buildings or homes. Or the idea can be transferred to large-scale use in the playground using chalk or card numbers. Read more »

In our previous mental and oral suggestion (Mental Monday #12) we focussed on calculation. That activity involved displaying a grid of numbers and challenging the children to choose numbers to solve specific problems. Read more »

This is a unique twist on an old pencil and paper game. The focus is on addition, subtraction and multiplication, as well as adding a little strategic thinking and problem solving.

The children work in pairs on a 'dotty' sheet, playing a version of boxes... they take it in turns to join two horizontally or vertically adjacent dots by a line. Read more »

This is a simple game for two players. The focus is on logical deduction and strategic thinking.

The children pay on a board that consists of an 11-sided polygon (a hendecagon). They start the game by placing a counter on each of the eggs.

Then, they take it in turns to remove either 1 or 2 adjacent counters. The player who picks up the very last counter is the winner.

It is as simple as that! Read more »