Board Games Gift Ideas to Boost Math Skills in 2nd and 3rd Graders

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In math we can support our students to understand concepts but, at the end of the day, they need to practice those skills over and over to become fluent and confident mathematicians. This collection of board games gives your students the repeated practice they need while remaining engaged in board games!

This list of 10 board games will keep your child entertained and engaged so that they do not even recognize that they are working on their math skills at all!

Games to Improve Spatial Reasoning & Number Sense

Battleship– In this classic game kids are working on a grid to place and hide their own ships while also trying to identify where their opponents ships are hiding. This game is an excellent exercise in spatial reasoning and also introduces students to working on a grid.

Mastermind for Kids– Boost logic skills with this game. One person chooses a pattern of colored pegs while the other tries to guess the sequence. While this game isn’t directly tied to a specific math standard it will improve overall logic and organization.

Laser Maze– A spatial relationships booster for sure! When kids play games that ask them to turn, orient and imagine what would happen with a piece when you move it to a new place they are strengthening their “mental workspace”. That mental workspace is critical for solving math problems!

Rush Hour Traffic Jam– Another spatial relationships and logic game. This one-player game is one that my 7 year old goes back to again and again. Leveled cards allow for kids to choose the puzzles that are most appropriate to their level of play.

Games to Improve Place Value, Calculation & Strategy

The Clumsy Thief– This is a really fun and fast paced game that will improve in mental math of 2-digit benchmark numbers. Each player places down two cards from their hand that equal exactly $100 and then the game begins. Simultaneously, players look at the cards on the table. If they have a card that pairs with any face up card to make $100 exactly they place the card and steal the pile. A great way to get a TON of fact practice in without ever noticing.

Panda Playing Cards– It is critical that every kid have a deck of playing cards in a theme that is fun and meaningful to them. You can play so many partner, group or solo games with a deck of cards that this is an absolute must-have. My 7 year old has a set of manatee cards his grandmother brought him after a vacation and he plays with it a few times a week. My 5 year old is getting a set of purple unicorn playing cards for Christmas this year. An easy and inexpensive stocking stuffer with a big impact!

Game of Life & Monopoly – Both of these games target similar skills with students moving around a board and managing money. Some simple addition and multiplication can be found in both games with Monopoly being the more complex option of the two. This is another set of games where there is a TON of mental math and calculation practice without kids knowing that that is what is going on!

Sushi Go Spin Some for Dim Sum– This game is an absolute FAVORITE for both of my kids. My son (age 7) can work through and use simple addition and multiplication to calculate his score at the end of the game. My daughter (age 5) is a pure agent of chaos. She is able to follow the rules and play the game but there is no strategy evident. As adults my husband and I really like the strategy of this game. It’s very much a simplified version of Sushi Go Party and is quite literally fun for the whole family.

Catan Jr. – A dice rolling, empire-building pirate strategy game. Enough luck is built into the rolling of the dice that anyone can enjoy this game but choosing where and how to expand your territory makes this game a fun and strategic experience. A little brother to Settlers of Catan but an enjoyable game in it’s own right for kids!