Building Fluency with Strategy Games
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BUILDING FLUENCY WITH STRATEGY GAMES
When it comes to building fluency with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, strategy games are hard to beat. Unlike games decided by luck or chance, strategy games transform repetitive practice into engaging mental workouts that build number sense. Players aren't just recalling facts - they're anticipating their opponent's next move and analyzing multiple possible moves and their consequences to make the best choice. That combination of logical reasoning and mathematical thinking is a powerhouse for building real, lasting skills.
Below are two favorites that can be played across grade levels with all four operations, making differentiation simple. An added bonus is that they require minimal materials, keeping setup and packup time manageable!
1. CLOSE THE SQUARE
Close the Square is a twist on the classic pencil-and-paper strategy game Dots and Boxes. Players take turns spinning the spinner and choosing one of the two numbers in the section where it lands. They then perform the designated operation using their chosen number. Strategic decision-making is key, as players aim to complete and capture as many squares as possible. The winner is the player who has captured the most squares when the game ends.
Materials needed: a transparent spinner (or a pencil and paperclip) and two coloured pencils (or dry-erase markers if using a dry-erase pocket).
Numerous versions for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are available in the All Access Math Hub.
TIP: To save time and reduce paper use, place the gameboards in dry erase pockets instead of printing new copies each time students play. Have students use different-colored dry erase markers so they can easily identify their work. The gameboards can then be wiped clean and reused again and again.
2. LINE OF FOUR
Line of Four is a two-player strategy game where the goal is to claim four squares in a row - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. On each turn, players may move only one of the two transparent counters on the numbers at the bottom of the board and perform the required operation. Success depends on strategic thinking, as players must decide which counter to move to either extend their own line of four or block their opponent’s progress.
Materials needed: two transparent counters and two coloured pencils (or dry-erase markers if using a dry-erase pocket).
RESOURCES
If you're an All Access Math Hub member, head to the Hub to download and print addition, subtraction, multiplication and division versions of these games for basic and extended facts.
Not yet a member? Click the button below to download some FREE samples of Close the Square (addition and multiplication) and let us know how it goes!
