Free Math Worksheets for 1st Grade – 4 Great Websites

Photo Courtesy - Jimmie

You might not like using worksheets as the main teaching tool for your child, but the fact remains that when used appropriately, worksheets can be very useful for both students and teachers. This is especially true when it comes to math, a subject that demands plenty of practice and reinforcement. And since it’s never too early to help your child acquire foundational math skills, your first grader will definitely benefit from doing the occasional worksheet. Here are 5 great websites that offer printable and free math worksheets for 1st grade. You can use them for homework, homeschooling or classroom use.

1. Math Blaster
Mathblaster.com lends a much-needed helping hand to first graders trying to move beyond counting and telling time. This popular website offers free math worksheets on a variety of 1st grade subjects– from basic single-digit addition and subtraction to more advanced topics like fractions and geometry. Whether your child needs to polish previously learned skills or move on to more advanced math topics, the free math worksheets here are all the practice he’ll ever need! Besides, you get to download high quality printables by subject experts, designed to make math fun and interesting for young children.

2. Math is Fun
First graders are quick learners but get quickly bored if you present them with the same learning material all the time. That’s why parents and math teachers are always on the lookout for new resources that will help sustain their interest in math. If you’re one of these, mathisfun.com is the perfect website for you. Here, mathematics teachers and mathematicians have come together to create free math worksheets that undergo stringent quality checks. New worksheets appear at frequent and regular intervals on the website, so your child gets enough practice ona variety of math topics.

3. The Math Worksheet Site
As the name suggests, themathworksheetsite.com is a treasure trove of free math worksheets for all grades. What sets it apart from its peers is its intuitive interface that allows you to tailor each worksheet to target your child’s weak areas. This makes a lot of sense because math skills are built on a foundation of cumulative skills – for instance, a first grader who hasn’t mastered counting yet will find it difficult to learn addition. This website allows you to shake off the constraints of readymade worksheets and textbooks that might offer too much or too little practice to your first grader.

4. Math Drills
Uncluttered layouts and thousands of free math worksheets are the USPs of mathdrills.com and this is the go-to website to help your first grader become proficient in math. Here, you’ll find everything you could possibly want –worksheets that build basic as well as advanced math skills; loads of extra practice and new math strategies to help your child conquer the Math Monster. No wonder so many math teachers and homeschooling parents swear by Math Drills!

Kids’ Math Games that Teach Counting

 

Photo Courtesy: Natural Math

Some kids take to math as fish do to water; others hate, fear and loathe it. Actually, teaching beginning math skills to a 3 year old is as easy as 1+1=2, if you go about it the right way. And no, getting him to push paper is NOT the right way. So, what’s a parent to do? Try some of these kids’ math games that teach your child how to count –and put the fun back into learning!

1. Neighborhood Number Crunch
Your neighborhood is packed with numbers – all you need to do is get your child to pay attention. Take him for a stroll around the block and watch out for numbers painted on street signs, mailboxes, doorways and curbs. As soon as you spot a number, call it out. See who can spot the most numbers. Want to make this kids’ math game a tad more challenging? Have your child count up to the number he spots.  For added variety, count trees, cars, dogs or even people dressed in red.

2. Cookie Bake ‘n’ Learn
Kids love cookies! But apart from being good to eat, cookies can also help your child learn counting. For a simple math lesson, have him count the number of cookies in a freshly baked batch. For more advanced learners, cookies can be the perfect fractions lesson as he cuts each into thirds, fourths, eighths or halves. Young children are visual learners and the act of actually cutting a cookie into fractions and adding or subtracting them can help them understand the lesson better than any worksheet could. This yummy kids’ math game teaches some unforgettable lessons!

3. Play date fun
The next time your toddler’s chums come over, have them play some classic games that also incorporate counting skills. For a game of hide-and-seek, ask your child to be “It.” As his friends hide, encourage him to count to 10 or 20 or even 50 if possible. For an older child, a hopscotch course in the yard is a great kids’ math game that hones his counting as well as large motor skills. If the kids are in the mood for something quieter, get them to play the classic board game Chutes and Ladders that has them counting their way up ladders and down chutes as the die rolls.

4. 20 Questions Daily Math
Make math a part of your child’s everyday routine. Challenge him with math questions related to the things he does in his daily life. For instance,
•    At a red light, how many black cars can he spot?
•    At the dentist’s, how many people will be left in the waiting room if five are called in?
•    If you ate only 1/3of your dinner, how much would you have left over?
•    How many Mars bars would you be able to buy if you had $5?

These kids’ math games are sure to challenge and intrigue your child. Just try to make them as creative and fun as possible!

4 Learning Games for Kids that Build Academic Skills

Play is one of the most important ways in which kids learn new academic skills and practice useful social behaviors. Making play a part of your child’s curriculum ensures that learning is fun and keeps him motivated. There are several online learning games for kids  that help young students build a solid foundation in math, science, social studies, language arts and other subjects required by current elementary school curricula. These games are carefully designed to appeal to an audience that has a notoriously short attention span and gets quickly bored by conventional learning methods. 

Here’s a list of the top 4 online learning games for kids:
1. Math Blaster HyperBlast  

If your child is ready for a fast-paced inter-galactic adventure, have him hop on his HyperCycle  and see if he can get the better of alien robots and get past complicated blockades with nothing but his math skills. This fun learning game for kids has 30 levels of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and is available in English and Spanish. Players can also adjust the difficulty level and gameplay to match their skill level.    

2. DigitalDialects
If you’re looking for interesting ways to help your child learn another language, Digital Dialects is the place to go. This unique website offers interactive learning games for kids in more than 50 languages from around the world. Players simply click on the language they want to learn and are taken to a page that covers different subjects ranging from colors and vocabulary to food and clothing. Learning a language has never been so easy for kids! 

3. GrandPrix 

Experienced math teachers have contributed their learning tips, techniques and well-kept secrets to design this interactive math learning game for kids. Your child competes with his classmates or online playmates in a thrilling car race that can only be won by solving multiplication problems correctly. The speed of his car depends on how quickly he solves each problem. Players get a huge adrenaline rush as they practice math against time! It’s easy to get hooked to Grand Prix!

4. HistoryGames
Online learning games for kids are often more effective than conventional teaching methods. Kids connect with games on an entirely different level, resulting inparticipatory rather than passive learning. 

Why Online Math Games Work So Well - Learning with Math Games for Kids

At home or in the classroom, online math games make a big difference to the way kids learn mathematics. Math whizzes and struggling learners alike are only too eager to get their turn at the computer, and readily spend hours answering questions on multiplication, fractions, algebra and more. Whether you’ve seen this phenomenon yourself or you’re still not convinced about the effectiveness of using math games for kids, you’re probably wondering how these games can make such a difference when teaching mathematics. Here are some of the main reasons math games for kids are so effective.

Motivation – When in the classroom, even the best of teachers cannot hold a child’s attention for much longer than an hour. Fun math games for kids can keep children playing and working on their math for hours at a stretch. This is because games use rewards like points, levels and badges to keep their players motivated and to encourage them to work harder and aim for higher goals. This type of positive reinforcement is enough to keep children going even when they make mistakes or encounter difficulties along the way.

Constant practice – Math games for kids are designed to repeat the same type of math questions until they sense that the player is able to answer them correctly. This way, kids keep practicing the same mathematical concepts and procedures until they are able to complete them with ease. This type of repetitive practice plays a key role in mastering math facts and procedures.

Immediate feedback – Immediate constructive feedback is another key aspect of math games for kids that contributes to their effectiveness in teaching math. When feedback is provided immediately, it serves as positive reinforcement for kids doing well and a corrective element for kids who need to alter their approach.

Relevance – For many kids, working with numbers does not hold much meaning for them. Students often wonder how math is important in the real world when they are never expected to solve numerical equations in their daily lives. Math games for kids highlight the relevance of mathematics by creating meaningful situations for the application of math skills. Virtual situations like buying groceries, measuring ingredients or running a business provides a context and relevance for the math problems.

Customization – Math games for kids provide a customized experience for every player. The complexity of the math problems is adjusted according to the skill and abilities of the player. This creates a personalized learning experience that keeps quick learners from getting bored and slow learners from giving up.

Engagement – Just like any other online game, kids’ math games are designed to engage the player and keep them coming back for more. Kids get engrossed with their progress and performance in the game and they are eager to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the game, whether those skills are game-related or math-related. 

Positive attitude – One of the biggest challenges a math teacher faces is to get the students to like the subject. Math games for kids achieve this effortlessly by removing the fear of failure and building self concept through the positive reinforcement and reward system in the game. This creates a positive attitude towards math that is essential in performing well.

Train Young Learners’ Minds with Multiplication Worksheets

As kids move up the ladder of grades, they find it increasingly difficult to cope with the horde of new math skills that are added to their curriculum. Among the new topics and skills, it is multiplication that they find rather difficult, as it is an altogether different discipline from the much simpler concepts of addition, subtraction and pattern recognition. It requires nuanced skills like observation, retention and application to understand and successfully solve multiplication problems. Apart from the countless multiplication games available online, multiplication worksheets, too, play an important role in training the young minds. 

How do Multiplication Worksheets Train Young Minds?

Multiplication worksheets are the perfect free resource that helps kids practice multiplication skills. Some unarguable benefits of multiplication worksheetsare listed below.

●     Free multiplication worksheets available online are most often created by experienced teachers and parents who have themselves tried and tested these free resources. They have applied their experience to make these multiplication worksheets the best online practicing tool with a little tweak and twist here and there!

●     Arrays of DIY multiplication worksheet tools are available online which are more accurate than anything else! These generator tools require the creators to enter their unique preferences – range of numbers, levels, horizontal or vertical alignments, and type of integers – and print accurate, free multiplication worksheets in a single click!

●     Some math websites like Math Blaster, Education, and Math is Fun try to make multiplication worksheets as colorful and bright as possible so that kids enjoy solving them. From kindergarteners to middle schoolstudents, kids of all ages find such multiplication worksheets fun and worth their effort. 

●     Parents and teachers find it convenient to make kids practice downloaded multiplication worksheets as they come with accurate answer keys.

Roles of Other Multiplication Resources in Training Young Minds

Learning capabilities differ from one child to another – therefore, suitable multiplication resource will also differ from one child to another. Some might find multiplication worksheets to be extremely useful while other kids might prefer multiplication games to help them practice their multiplication skills. 

Playing dominoes, with a fun twist, is an interesting and interactive way to practice multiplication skills. Before your child places a tile, ask him to multiply the dots on each side. He gets to place the tile only if his answer is right, otherwise he removes one. This is a multiplication activity that he’ll not mind repeating over and over!

To help kids practice their multiplication tables, encourage them to read the registration plates of cars on the go and multiply the numbers. For example, if the registration number of a car is 371, ask him to multiply 3x7x1! This is a great practice that will help kids learn multiplication with fun on the go!

Popular Online Games with a Math Twist

Practicing math is usually pretty low on an average student’s list of priorities. Playing online games effortlessly makes it to the top of the list. Parents and educators quickly put two and two together to conclude that the simplest way to get students to practice math is to sneak it into a fun online game. Catching on, game developers began to create engaging and addictive cool math games that disguised math practice as entertainment. This tactic is not very different from those macaroni and cheese meals with hidden vegetables that parents serve their fussy eaters. Unsurprisingly, it works equally well. 

Math is used in a wide variety of situations and ways in real life. The cool math games online reflect this diversity, sneaking math into every type of online game popular with kids. A quick look at the top cool math games for kids reveals how ingeniously learning and fun can be combined. In some cases, previously existing online games were tweaked to add an element of math to the game play. In others, a popular game format was replicated to create a new game with a math twist to it. Here are some of the most popular ones online: 

Cool Math Racing Game - Crazy Taxi 

Racing games are all about speed, rides and control of the vehicle. Very popular with young boys, there are hundreds of free racing games online. The online game ‘Crazy Taxi’ has always been a big hit with the public. In the game, players drive a taxi with the simple goal of driving as fast as possible. Cars that get in the way are simply jumped over. The success of the online game led to a cool math game on similar lines – the cars in the game each have a number across the back of the vehicle. The taxi driver’s goal is to get to the finish line while bumping into all cars that are multiples of a given number, and avoiding the others. 

Cool Math Strategy Game – Fireboy and Watergirl 

Strategy games are another type of immensely popular online game for kids. By their very nature, strategy games help kids develop problem solving, logical and critical thinking skills. These skills play an important role in solving math problems. Therefore strategy games are a perfect example of cool math games for kids. Fireboy and Watergirl is a fun strategy game online. Players control two avatars made of fire and water respectively. While both characters must work together to win each level, they cannot come in contact with each other or they risk losing their lives. 

Cool Math Simulation Game – Coffee Shop 

Simulation games are games that replicate real life situations to give players experiences that they otherwise could not have. For example, there are simulation games where players manage a sports team, run a farm, build a city or even live life as a different persona. In simulation games, the player’s actions shape the development and progress of the game. Coffee Shop is a cool math game that works the same way. Players run their own coffee stand, buying material to make coffee, fixing the recipe and setting the price of a cup of coffee at the start of each day. Customers’ reactions vary accordingly, forming the reputation of the hotel. Players use each day’s earnings and the business lessons learnt to buy material for the next day. Games like this require players to use their math skills in realistic, life-like situations. Coffee shop involves calculating how much ingredients can be bought each day, calculating the profit on each cup of coffee, reading graphs about customer experience, etc. Additionally, players make important decisions based on the mathematical information available to them. 

These are just a few of the many types of cool math games available for kids to play. If you are looking for a great math game for your children, you can do a little research to find out what kind of online game they like best, and then look for fun online math games in those categories. With a little patience and effort, you’re sure to find great math games that get your kids eager to practice math – err.. play online!

Ways to Make Math Cool for Kids

Everybody’s focus today is on how to make math cool for kids. Gone are the days when teachers and parents would resort to math worksheets and drills to help their kids master the subject. Interactive online math games, unique teaching methods, and hands-on, practical examples are slowly becoming the most used approaches to teaching the subject.

Sounds easier said than done? Here are some simple and innovative ways to make math cool for kids.

Cool Math for Kids – Ideas and Tips

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to the best or the right way to teach math. However, observing what kind of method your kids enjoy the most and using it to successfully teach them new concepts is always a good idea. Here are some ideas you can implement in the classroom or at home and watch the little ones grow up to love the subject!

1. Using Music to Teach Math

   While this may come as a surprise to some, math and music are far more closely linked than you can imagine! Music relies heavily on a solid understanding of math. It can also be used to teach kids math concepts such as fractions.
   
   Aren’t you amazed at how kids manage to remember lyrics of their favorite songs? They even know the latest songs by heart in just a couple of listens. So, why not use music and rhythm to teach them math concepts or formulas? Bring music into your classroom. You can use it as a mode of instruction or even use it to help kids understand new concepts like patterns. Get creative and use your kids’ reactions as feedback. Get creative and watch the little ones look forward excitedly to every math class! How cool is that?

2. Play Cool Math Games

   Today’s kids are definitely far more tech-savvy than we were at that age! Computers, smartphones, and tablets have changed the way we all look at technology, and everything you need is just a click or a tap away.
   
   Exploit the benefits that technology offers to make math cool for your kids. There are umpteen math games and apps that are available to serve this very purpose. Browse online and zero in on games that are a great combination of learning and fun. Depending on the age group of the kids you are teaching and the topics in question, you can choose specific games and even set the level of difficulty. By avoiding the oft-used traditional method of putting pen to paper to practice math, you help kids look at math differently and enjoy the process of learning!

3. Keep it Real and Interactive

   Math is a subject that cannot be memorized and blindly rehashed on a test paper. It is a subject that needs to be fully and clearly understood. The best part about the subject is its use in everyday activities! Hence, the easiest way to make math cool for kids is to use real-life examples to introduce different concepts to the little ones.
   
   Bring pizza into the classroom and ask kids to divide it into 8 equal slices. Pretend to buy a bunch of items (chocolates are a good bet!) and ask kids to calculate the total. Extend the example to calculate the amount of change that you need to get back if you gave the cashier a hundred dollar bill. Not only will classes be more interactive with such examples, but kids will also see how relevant math and its different concepts are to everyday living.
   
   Math is a crucial subject to master. If kids develop a dislike towards subject, it will be difficult to change that as they grow older. Implement these different ideas and ways to make math cool for kids at an early age and watch them grow to love the subject and value its importance. Don’t hesitate to get creative and come up with your very own ways to make math cool!