Your students likely have various attitudes toward math—so how can you keep them all engaged? There are plenty of ways to incorporate fun math activities for middle school into the classroom environment.
Middle School Math Games and Activities for Grades 6-8
Check out these six middle school math games and activities below to teach sixth, seventh, and eighth graders about topics ranging from two-step inequalities to estimated square roots. Each of these printable PDF activities, which originated from HMH's Into Math and GO Math! programs, are available for teachers to download.
Grade 6
Activity #1: Magnitude Madness
Students will relate real-world situations to rational numbers, then find the number's magnitude, or absolute value, and graph the number on a number line. We suggest completing this activity as a whole class, or in large groups.
Materials:
- 1 set of activity cards per class or group
Activity #2: R-A-T-I-O
In this math game for Grade 6, students will create and recognize different ratios. This activity is designed to be completed in groups of two.
Materials:
- 1 gameboard
- 2 sliders (any small, easily moved items such as paper clips) per group
- 15 game pieces per player (different color for each player)
Grade 7
Activity #1: Inequalitrio
Students will match three cards with different representations of the same two-step inequality relationship. This hands-on middle school math activity is designed to be completed in groups of 6 to 15.
Materials:
- 1 set of activity cards (real-world problems, inequalities, and graphs) per group
- 1 calculator per student
- Scratch paper
Activity #2: Scale a Comic
Students will predict dimensions on an enlarged scale drawing of an image and then create the scale drawing. We suggest having students complete this math project individually.
Materials:
- 1 frame from a comic strip per student (approximately 1 to 2 inches square in size)
- 1 centimeter ruler per student
- 1 sheet of graph paper per student (4 squares per inch)
Grade 8
Activity #1: Prime Predictions
Students will plot a sequence of prime numbers in the coordinate plane and use a trend line to predict other prime numbers. It is recommended that students complete this activity in groups of two to four.
Materials:
- 1 straightedge per group
- Grid paper
Activity #2: Root-O!
Students will evaluate and estimate square roots, including of rational and irrational numbers. This activity is designed for three or more players.
Materials:
- 1 Root-O! board per player
- 1 set of caller cards
- 25 counters (or dried beans) per player
- Scratch paper
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Learn more about HMH's Into Math and GO Math! programs, designed to raise student achievement scores and support teachers along the way.
