Why use commercial games in math class?
My interest in this topic began by using ancient logic games with high school students to encourage improvement in deductive reasoning. Moving into elementary education, it is clear in previous research that games support students engagement in math class, problem solving, conceptual understanding, and fluency. However, students often view instructional games (those designed just for math class to “teach” particular topics) with some skepticism. Commercial games (those available at toy or book stores) are seen as authentic contexts and often contain mathematical elements worth exploring. Often students have played these very games at home, but get to see them from a new perspective through mathematical conversations.
Using games on a weekly basis, I have explored with teachers and students the qualities of experiences they have when learning math through commercial games. An important result has been students’ development of mathematical processes. In particular, students have shown great growth in logical and spatial reasoning. Logical reasoning was evidenced through informal deductive statements as students convinced themselves and others of best moves. Spatial reasoning was evidence through first physically testing playing pieces on game boards toward an ability to predict moves in advance or find the best spot to place a game piece. More importantly, students explained how they saw themselves as mathematical thinkers — evidenced through direct statements of being mathematicians and through growth in productive disposition.
About the Site
This site contains a repository of ideas for how to use commercial games in math class to encourage mathematically thinking. While the focus is on elementary mathematics, many could be extended to junior high and high school. Each game post is made up of a description, instructions, web links, mathematical processes, and resources to help you integrate the games into your math lessons. I encourage you to adapt the worksheets and lessons to reflect the game play of your students.
Consider the site a work-in-progress, as new games and resources are added. Primarily the resources are for use in classrooms, but parents can adapt them for home use. I welcome suggestions for games or comments on how your students have benefited from incorporating commercial games in your math class!
General Resources for Teaching
Here is a list of games that can be used in math class to develop mathematical thinking skills.
Here is an Exit Slip that can be used for most games.
Here is a strategy making slip to worked on before and after the game.
One tool that has been employed throughout the research are the logical and spatial reasoning wheels. These wheels were used in planning lessons, in conversations with the students and in analyzing the data. I encourage you to incorporate the wheels into your teaching.
Who am I?
My name is Janelle McFeetors and I am an Associate Professor in elementary mathematics education at the University of Alberta. I have been in many elementary school classrooms to investigate how students are learning mathematics in meaningful ways through commercial games. I’ve learned that while students initially engage because of the motivating context, they quickly move to developing mathematical processes essential to all of their mathematical learning and come to see themselves as confident problem solvers and mathematical thinkers.
I am also a former high school mathematics teacher. Through my experiences with high school students, I learned that it is possible for them to learn mathematics for understanding through an inquiry-based approach. Listening to students’ mathematical thinking and noticing how they were growing as mathematical learners consistently inspired me to shape educative learning experiences.
Additionally, I have two children who constantly clamor to play games at home. We have tested out many more games than have posts on this site … so far. I look forward to expanding the resources toward offering suggestions of how parents can engage mathematically with their children through games!
Research
The commercial games and resources highlighted on this website have all been used in a number of elementary school classrooms. These are articles that outline what I found in the research . These articles offer rationale for the use of games and recommendations for how to implement board games as a tool for learning.
- Ready, SET, Play: Learning Elementary School Mathematics through an Attribute-based Game
McFeetors, P. J., & Ireland, K. (2016). Ready, SET, play: Learning elementary school mathematics through an attribute-based game. Delta-k: Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, 53(2), 38-47.- Board Games as Play-full Pedagogical Pivots for STEM Teaching and Learning
Higgins, M., & McFeetors, P. J. (2019). Board games as play-full pedagogical pivots for STEM teaching and learning. Journal of the Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies, 17(1), 90-110. https://jcacs.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/jcacs/article/view/40426/36422- Experiencing Geometric Thinking and Language through Commercial Games
McFeetors, P. J., & Wing, M. (2020). Experiencing geometric thinking and language through commercial games. Vector, 61(2), 9-15.- Generative Unit Assessment: Authenticity in mathematics Classroom Assessment Practices
McFeetors, P. J., Marynowski, R. & Candler, A. (2021). Generative unit assessment: Authenticity in mathematics classroom assessment practices. Education Sciences, 11(7), article 366. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11070366- Logical Reasoning in Action(s)
Mann, M., & McFeetors, P. J. (2024). Logical reasoning in action(s). Vector, 65(1), 9-16.
Looking for more research on board games in math class? Here are additional resources!
- Educative Experiences in a Games Context: Supporting Emerging Mathematical Reasoning
(pp. 737-740) - Developing Mathematical Processes through Commercial Games (p. 424)
- Generative Unit Assessment: Re-visioning Assessment for Growth (poster)
- Developing Mathematical Processes through Commercial Games (poster)
- Understanding Teachers’ Educative Play with STEM Games (poster)
- Co-enactment of Spatial and Logical Reasoning in Game Play: The Case of Santorini (poster)
- Exploring Spatial and Logical Reasoning with Santorini Gameplay
There is even more research however, these articles require subscriptions to access:
- McFeetors, P. J., & Mason, R. T. (2009). Learning deductive reasoning with games of logic. Mathematics Teacher, 103(4), 284-290. https://doi.org/10.2307/20876607
- McFeetors, P. J., & Palfy, K. (2017). We’re in math class playing games, not playing games in math class. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 22(9), 534-544. https://doi.org/10.5951/mathteacmiddscho.22.9.0534
- McFeetors, P. J., & Palfy, K. (2018). Educative experiences in a games context: Supporting emerging reasoning in elementary school mathematics. Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 50, 103-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2018.02.003
- McFeetors, P. J., & MacDonald, B. (2020). Learning geometry through commercial games. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 25(3), 34-40.
- McFeetors, P. J., Jin, Q., & Ahmed, N. (2023). Spatial and logical reasoning in game play: The case of Santorini. Ontario Mathematics Gazette, 62(2), 28-34.
About Collaborators
I am indebted to the teachers who have open up their classrooms and the students who have shared their mathematical thinking with me. In the words of one teacher, we’ve learned how to “be in math class playing games, rather than playing games in math class.” This perspective has helped us focused on improving mathematical thinking in students, especially through mathematical processes, instead of simply providing fun moments.
Investigating how students learn through games has only been possible through conversations with colleagues. Carrie and Ralph have made innumerable suggestions to strengthen opportunities to learn math meaningfully through games. Collaborating with Krista Francis (University of Calgary) has moved my thinking forward in leaps and bounds, especially in investigating how spatial and logical reasoning are interconnected and permeate game play. Kaitlyn, Miriam, Kylie, Stephanie, Brita, Nimrah, Dom, Stefan, Munesah, Mischa, Isaiah, and Qingna have given invaluable research support — including sharing results with teachers and developing this website.
I’m grateful to the University of Alberta, the Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for providing funding to support the research project.