Subtraction Finders Keepers {Math Facts Game}

"Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers"

How often have you heard your students say this to each other? (Or maybe you've even said it yourself)

Two summers ago I took a Spanish for Educators class and one of the activities that we did was this Finders Keepers game. It was a fun, easy way to work on our Spanish vocabulary. Right away I began thinking of ways to adapt it for my classroom. I decided it would be a great way for students to practice their math facts.

Here's what you'll need:

• one game board for each PAIR of students (students will be working with a partner)
• 2 sets of color tiles (one partner should have one color and the other partner a different color- I like to use the red and blue foam tiles that came with our math manipulatives)
• 1 set of problem cards

How to Play:

• Divide your students into partners & choose 1 person to call out the subtraction problems (or you can do this job if you choose)
• Distribute 1 game board to each set of partners and have them place it between them
• When a problem is called out, the students have to figure out the answer to the problem and be the first one to place his/her colored tile on the correct square
• The student with the most colored tiles on the board at the end of the game wins

Variations:

• If you want to make the game shorter, you could set a timer and say whoever has the most tiles on the board when the timer goes off wins
• Instead of using the colored tiles, you could laminate the game boards and have each partner use a different color dry erase marker to mark an "X" on the correct answer

Click here to download your FREE copy

I'm working on an Addition, Mulitplication and Division version. Make sure to follow by blog so you won't miss out on future FREEBIES!