Cool Math Games

A common struggle of mathematics teachers is holding a student’s ATTENTION, so any ideas that offer to break up the monotony of drill-and-kill are a welcome addition. Cool Math Games is a website that offers different types of lessons and games. The lessons span from basic arithmetic to pre-calculus, and the different types of games include categories of strategy, skill, numbers, shapes, pictures, logic, and memory.

I must admit that I struggle to find a mathematical relationship to some of the games, yet many of the games are RELEVANT to mathematics and are fun. So far, my two favorites are called Bloxorz and B-Cubed.

Bloxorz is a game in which the goal is to put a moveable block into a square hole. The block, which are two cubes stuck together, is moved around a world of squares that are stuck together. In the world, a player must navigate narrow pathways, bridges, and sidelines. This game is great for students who are developing their spatial abilities, for the block can only move on its side two squares at a time or on its end one square at a time. The block will fall over the edge if its side or end does not cover the squares that make up the world, but the game will start over again at the same level, so a player can build their CONFIDENCE by learning from their mistakes and adjusting their strategy.

B-Cubed is a game in which the goal is to slide a moveable cube onto a red square and in the process eliminate all the grey squares that make up the world. As the player moves beyond a grey square that held it in the previous step, the square falls off the world and can no longer be used. It’s a good tool for students because it helps them to strategically plan moves in anticipation of having enough grey squares to get to the red square. Another positive aspect is that there are some situations where the world can be conquered by more than one method—similar to solving an equation in more than one way. After a player conquers a world they enter a new more difficult world, so one experiences SATISFACTION in developing their skills and knowing they are well prepared for their next challenge.