10 Super Fun Math Riddles for Kids! (with Answers)

10 Super Fun Math Riddles and Puzzles for Kids Ages 10+ (Answers Included!)

Some have been around for centuries, while are others are brand spanking new—but all have been selected as the most fun and engaging math riddles for those who love to challenge their problem-solving skills and have fun solving math puzzles. Enjoy!

The Educational Value of Math Riddles:

Fun and engaging math riddles and logic puzzles are an amazing way to get students to think critically, develop problem-solving skills, and think about mathematics in a creative way!

In fact, several recent studies have shown that students who work on math puzzles—with and without teacher supervision—improve their math problem-solving skills, learning abilities, and willingness to stick with challenging problems, according to Edutopia.

And if you are looking for a collection of super fun, challenging, and sometimes silly math riddles and brain teasers for kids, then it’s time to put your brain to the test!

Note that the following math riddles are best suited for kids ages and older and they are also fun for high school students and adults!

Are YOU ready?

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Free Worksheet Included!

There is also a link to download a Free Printable PDF Math Riddles Worksheet and Answer Key that shares all of these riddles at the end of this post!

All of the math riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers below are from the best-selling 101 Math Riddles, Puzzles, and Kids Ages 10+! PDF workbook, which is now available!

10 Awesome Maths Riddles and Brain Teasers for Kids:

Math Riddle #1: Truth or Square?

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Truth or Square?

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Math Riddle #2: How Old Is Lucy?

Keep reading the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve How Old is Lucy?

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Math Riddle #3: Triple Threat

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Triple Threat!

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Are you looking for more super fun Math Riddles, Puzzles, and Brain Teasers to share with your kids?

The best-selling workbook 101 Math Riddles, Puzzles, and Brain Teasers for Kids Ages 10+! is now available as a PDF download. You can get yours today by clicking here.

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Math Riddle #4: Matchstick Mayhem

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Matchstick Mayhem!

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Math Riddle #5: The In-Between

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve The In-Between!

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Math Riddle #6: Which Weighs More?

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Which Weighs More?

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Math Riddle #7: Big Spender!

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Big Spender!

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Math Riddle #8: Mystery Parking!

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Mystery Parking!

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Math Riddle #9: Cuppla’ Coins

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Cuppla’ Coins!

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Math Riddle #10: Pascal’s Triangle

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve Pascal’s Triangle!

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Math Riddle #11: Bonus!

Keep reading to the bottom of this page to see the answer key AND click here to see a detailed explanation of how to solve the Bonus Riddle!

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Looking for More Fun Math Riddles?

Check out our free collection of 36 Math Riddles for Kids (with answers)!

How many riddles can your kids solve?

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ANSWER KEY:

1. 14 Total Squares (detailed explanation)

2. Lucy is 37 (detailed explanation)

3. 1, 2, and 3 (detailed explanation)

4. 0+4=4 or 5+4=9 (detailed explanation)

5. A Decimal Point (detailed explanation)

6. Neither. They both weigh the same! (detailed explanation)

7. The hoodie costs $125, the shoes cost $25 (detailed explanation)

8. 87 (flip the image upside down) - (detailed explanation)

9. One is a quarter and one is a nickel (detailed explanation)

10. 6 (detailed explanation)

11. 1, 5, 10, 10, 5, 1 (detailed explanation)

Free PDF Worksheet:

Click here to get your Free Math Riddles PDF Worksheet and Answer Key!

And click here to sign up for our math education mailing list to start getting free K-12 math activities, puzzles, and lesson plans in your inbox every week!

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Are you looking for more super fun Math Riddles, Puzzles, and Brain Teasers to share with your kids?

My best-selling workbook 101 Math Riddles, Puzzles, and Brain Teasers for Kids Ages 10+! is now available as a PDF download. You can get yours today by clicking here.

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Did I miss your favorite math riddle for kids? Share your thoughts, questions, and suggestions in the comments section below!

(Never miss a Mashup Math blog--click here to get our weekly newsletter!)

By Anthony Persico

Anthony is the content crafter and head educator for YouTube's MashUp Math and an advisor to Amazon Education's 'With Math I Can' Campaign. You can often find me happily developing animated math lessons to share on my YouTube channel . Or spending way too much time at the gym or playing on my phone.

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10 Best Math Movies for All Ages

The 10 Best Math Movies for All Ages

What are the absolute best movies with math as a major theme?

The 10 Best Math Movies for All Ages (Image: Mashup Math MJ)

Are you looking for a list of the best math movies ever made? The following list celebrates math in the movies by highlighting a collection of the best math movies, all of which are appropriate for children and adults alike. In fact, all of the movies on the list are rated PG-13, PG, or G, making them all school appropriate.

(Jump right to the list of the 10 Best Movies About Math)

Seeing math in the movies is more than just entertainment. Mathematics and its applications shown on the big screen can inspire students to consider pursuing careers in STEM, appreciate mathematical concepts and how they apply to real life, and understand how mathematics can be used to solve problems in a variety of circumstances.

The following list of school-appropriate math movies can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. If you are a teacher looking for movies with math a main theme to show in your classroom, there are options on this list suitable for students in elementary school, middle school, and high school, as the parental guidance recommendations range from G to PG to PG-13.

via GIPHY

So, whether you want to give your kids a break from testing, supplement your instruction, or share some well-earned Friday fun time, showing movies about math in class can be an educational and enjoyable experience. 

While it can be challenging to find movies that are directly related to mathematics, there are plenty of creative ways to appropriately show full movies and/or movie clips in your classroom. If you are struggling to find a math movie that is right for your kids, check out the following list, get the popcorn ready, and enjoy!

Wait! Do you want FREE math worksheets, activities, and puzzles in your inbox every week? 💁‍♀️ Click here to sign-up for our free email newsletter

*Disclaimer: You should always get permission from your administration and use discretion before showing any movie or movie scene to your students.

*Copyright Disclaimer: All film poster images beloware scaled-down, low-resolution images used for the sole purpose of providing critical commentary on the film in question or of the film poster itself.

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1.) Queen of Katwe (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: A Ugandan girl sees her world rapidly change after being introduced to the game of chess.

Why? This relatively unknown Disney movie about 10-year-old Phiona and her incredible rise to become a chess master might be my favorite of any of the math movies for kids on this list. If you are looking to open up the possibilities of mathematics to a diverse group of students, Queen of Katwe is an excellent option.

Math Movies for Kids: Queen of Katwe is one of the best PG-rated movies with math as a main theme. (Image: Fair Use)

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2.) Stand and Deliver (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a Hispanic neighborhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to help gang members and no-hopers pass the rigorous Advanced Placement exam in calculus.

Why? Stand and Deliver is an incredibly inspiring true story that is a must-see for teachers and students alike. If you are looking to motivate students of any background and inspire them to reconsider their personal limits and potential for growth and achievement, then showing Stand and Deliver is a no brainer.

Stand and Deliver may be the greatest movie about a math teacher ever made! (Image Source: Fair Use)

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 3.) A Beautiful Mind (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: After John Nash, a brilliant but asocial mathematician, accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish.

Why? A Beautiful Mind is more than just an interesting tale about a paranoid mathematician, it shares several examples of how beautiful mathematics truly is and how it applies to our everyday world.

Famous Math Movies: A Beautiful Mind (Image: Fair Use)

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4.) Flatland (G)

IMDb Synopsis: Based on Edwin Abott's classic novella "Flatland", this is an animated film about geometric characters living in a two-dimensional world. When a young girl named "Hex" decides to "think outside the box" (in a world where such thought is forbidden), her life becomes in danger and it is up to her grandfather to save her life.

Why? This short animated film released in 2007 teaches math concepts through an interesting story driven by fun characters (one of which is voiced by Martin Sheen) living in a two-dimensional world and mathematically inspired world. You can access the movie at flatlandthemovie.com.

Math Movies for Kids: Flatland (Image Source: Fair Use)

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Released in 2015, The Man Who Knew Infinity is one of the best math movies for middle school students and older. (Image: Fair Use)

5.) The Man Who Knew Infinity (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his friendship with his mentor, Professor G.H. Hardy.

Why? The Man Who Knew Infinity is simply a fantastic story about the rise of a famous mathematician and a beautiful mentorship that allowed him to overcome great odds to change the field of mathematics forever. While the movie is not very well known, it is a must-see for any math enthusiast.

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Moneyball is another excellent addition to our collection of movies with math a central theme. (Image: Fair Use)

6.) Moneyball (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.

Why? You won't find a movie that demonstrates the tremendous role that mathematics plays in professional sports better than Moneyball. Showing the full movie will give your kids a better idea of how mathematics applies to the real world as well as possible career paths, such as becoming a Major League Baseball scout, that require a deep understanding of applied mathematics.

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Math in the Movies: Is The Martian the best STEM movie ever? (Image: Fair Use)

7.) The Martian (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Why? The Martian is probably the best STEM movie ever. There are countless scenes where Matt Damon has to use mathematics and mathematical reasoning to overcome challenges and advance his quest for survival. If you are looking to show your kids that math can take you places, then The Martian is your best choice!

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Join our mailing list to get free K-8 math activities, puzzles, and worksheets in your inbox every week (plus two free pdf math workbooks!) Click here to sign up right now!

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When in doubt, one of the best math movies to show is Hidden Figures. (Image: Fair Use)

8.) Hidden Figures (PG)

IMDb Synopsis: The story of a team of female African American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Why? Hidden Figures is an incredible and inspiring movie that demonstrates the power of mathematics and the fact that the subject is open to individuals of all genders and backgrounds.

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9.) The Imitation Game (PG-13)

IMDb Synopsis: During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.

Why? The Imitation Game is a compelling movie because it tells the story of Alan Turing, a brilliant mathematician who, during World War II, made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and cryptography. The film highlights Turing's ability to use mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills to crack the German “Enigma” code and help the allied powers win WW2. The movie also presents complex mathematical concepts in an accessible way, making it an effective teaching tool for students of all levels.

Math in the Movies: The Imitation Game highlights how mathematics influenced the outcome of WW2. (Image: Fair Use)

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Math Movies for Middle School Students: Donald in Mathmagic Land (Image: Fair Use)

10.) Donald in Mathmagic Land 

IMDb Synopsis: Donald Duck goes on an adventure in which it is explained how mathematics can be useful in real life. Through this journey it is shown how numbers are more than graphs and charts, they are geometry, music, and magical living things.

Why? Did you really think that this 1959 classic would not be on this list? This timeless gem was made to show kids that mathematics is more than just a set of procedures and rules. Despite its age and short duration (it's only 27 minutes long), it still stands up and is a beloved by students and teachers alike. And did I mention that you can watch the full movie for free on YouTube? 

Did I miss your favorite math movie or TV show? Share your suggestions in the comments section below. Subscribe to our mailing list here to get more free daily resources, lessons, and tips in your inbox every week.

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Search Tags: math movies, math in the movies, movies with math, movies about math, math movies 72, movie on maths, math in movies, math movie, math movies for middle school, math movies for kids , math teacher movie, movie about a math teacher

Are You Using This Genius Strategy for Math Writing?

Image Source: Mashup Math MJ

Writing about math helps kids to organize their thinking, use key vocabulary, and communicate mathematically—which leads to deep and meaningful understanding.

Over the past few years, math teachers are incorporating more writing activities into their lesson plans—a trend that is being driven by the use of highly engaging think-notice-wonder writing prompts that spark deep mathematical discussion and are highly effective as warm-up or cool-down activities. 

This strategy has recently been endorsed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

By asking What do you notice? What do you wonder? we give students opportunities to see problems in big-picture ways, and discover multiple strategies for tackling a problem. Self-confidence, reflective skills, and engagement soar, and students discover that the goal is not to be "over and done," but to realize the many different ways to approach problems.

How does it work?

Math teachers often struggle to find topics for their kids to write about. Sometimes the best way to encourage creativity and exploration is simply posting an image and asking students to describe what they think, notice, and wonder about what they are seeing.

The best way to use think-notice-wonder activities is to choose an image every day and project it as large as you can at the front of your classroom.

Then, have students write 3 sentences about the image starting with:

      •     I think…

      •     I notice…

      •     I wonder…

✔  You may want to have students share their entries in a daily math journal. This practice will get them used to writing about mathematics regularly.

✔  Try not to give too many prompts. You’ll be surprised by how creative and detailed student responses will become over time!

✔  Try to choose images that work with the day’s topic/theme

What would think-notice-wonder look like in YOUR classroom?

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Image: Mashup Math MJ

Imagine an unusual day where your kids enter class expecting a normal warm-up practice problem but are caught by surprise.

They see the above image of a drone delivering a package displayed on the board along with a writing prompt that calls for them to complete the statements I think..., I notice..., and I wonder...

What kind of creative thoughts and ideas would they have?

How much weight can the drone carry? How many packages can it hold at once?

How would thinking about this image activate their prior knowledge and spark their curiosity?

What are the dimensions of the largest and smallest box it can hold? Does it have to be square?

What kind of anticipation would it build for an upcoming lesson or activity?

Does the drone use GPS coordinates to get from point to point?

Why Think-Notice-Wonder?

Engaging in think-notice-wonder writing activities at the start of a math class is a great way to ignite student thinking, spark creativity, and build anticipation.

Even if students are not directly engaged in mathematical problem-solving, their curiosity and interest will carry on throughout the day’s lesson.

Be mindful that your kids will need some time to get used to these kinds of activities, but after a week or so, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the spike in engagement, boost in student enthusiasm and high quality of responses!

Are you ready to try it with your kids?

Here are a few more sample graphics for you to try in your classroom:

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Want more? Download 101 Daily Think-Notice-Wonder Writing Prompts for Engaging Your Kids

You can now share 101 Daily Think-Notice-Wonder Writing Prompts with your kids with our PDF workbook!

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Do you have experience using think-notice-wonder activities with your math students? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below!

(Never miss a Mashup Math blog--click here to get our weekly newsletter!)

By Anthony Persico

Anthony is the content crafter and head educator for YouTube's MashUp Math and an advisor to Amazon Education's 'With Math I Can' Campaign. You can often find me happily developing animated math lessons to share on my YouTube channel . Or spending way too much time at the gym or playing on my phone.

10 Free Counting Worksheets for Kindergarten

10 Free Counting Worksheets for Kindergarten

A Post By: Anthony Persico

Are Your Kindergarten Students Ready for These Fun and Engaging Counting Worksheets (with answer keys)?

One of the most fundamental and important math skills is basic counting. This key skill is first introduced at the pre-school and kindergarten levels and forms as the foundation of all math topics that follow (counting beyond single digits, grouping, addition, subtraction, working with money, etc.).

While there are tons of free kindergarten math worksheets available online, they are not all created the same. Many free worksheets are simply bland and uninteresting, leaving much to be desired and often leading children to start their mathematics journey off on the wrong foot. After all, we never want our students to see mathematics as a dull or boring subject (when it is, in fact, quite the opposite).

However, if you are looking for free counting worksheets for kindergarten students that are actually fun and engaging, then you’re in the right place. In today’s post, you will find 10 Free Counting Worksheets that can be download as pdf files, which are easy to print or share digitally.

These colorful worksheets give students an opportunity to practice and apply their counting skills in the context of “find the fib” or “two truths and one lie,” where students are given three counting examples or diagrams (two of which are true and one of which is false) and must figure out which choice is a fib. Why are these kinds of worksheets so effective for helping students to improve their counting skills? Because they require students to think deeply and actually apply their concepts of numbers and counting in a way that allows them to think critically and mathematically (and have fun at the same time).

Ready to see the results for yourself? Go ahead and download and share a few of our free counting worksheets with your kindergartners and see how they react. If you find the worksheets useful and would like to gain access to all of our kindergarten math activity libraries, you can click here to learn more about our membership program and sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Are you ready to download your Free Counting Worksheets for Kindergarten Students?

• Use the links below to download and save each worksheet as a pdf file.

• Each worksheet includes a sample image so you can preview the worksheet before downloading.

• The second page of each worksheet includes an answer key.

• While working on these worksheets, we recommend that you encourage your students to explain why they chose a statement as being untrue. You can take it a step further by asking them how they should change the statement to make it true.

• Whenever you find an answer, ask the question “does this solution make sense?”

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10 Free Counting Worksheets for Kindergarten

How to Download and Print:

Below you will find preview images and links to download all ten kindergarten math worksheets. There will also be a link denoted by a download symbol ⤓. Once you click on one of these links, the corresponding worksheet will download in a new window as a PDF file. Once the file is downloaded, you can save it to your personal device and or print the worksheet.

If you need a more detailed explanation of how to save and/or print any of these free pdf worksheets, please view our video tutorial by clicking this link.

*Note that you can click on any of the worksheet images to see an enlarged preview before you download.

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Counting Worksheet #1:

Topic: Counting Numbers 1-5

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice B is a fib!

Suggested:

10 Free Kindergarten Math Worksheets for Ages 4+

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Counting Worksheet #2:

Topic: Counting Numbers 6-10

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice B is a fib!

Suggested:

Do you want Free K-12 Math Resources, Lesson Plans, and Activities in your inbox every week?

View fullsize

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Counting Worksheet #3:

Topic: Counting Numbers 1-10, Grouping

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice A is a fib!

Suggested:

11 Super Cute Math Jokes and Puns for Kids

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Counting Worksheet #4:

Topic: Grouping, Identify More Than or Less Than

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice A is a fib!

Suggested:

Why You Should Be Using "Which One Doesn't Belong?" to Ignite Student Thinking in Math

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Counting Worksheet #5:

Topic: Grouping, Identify More Than or Less Than

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice C is a fib!

Suggested:

Number Bonds Explained! (Free Worksheet Included)

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Counting Worksheet #6:

Topic: Grouping, Counting Numbers 1-10

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice C is a fib!

Suggested:

Play with Math! 10 Fun Ideas for All Ages

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Are you looking for more super fun Kindergarten Math Worksheets?

The best-selling workbook 101 Kindergarten Math Worksheets: Super Fun Math Activities for Ages 4-7 is now available as a PDF download. You can get yours today by clicking here.

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Counting Worksheet #7:

Topic: Grouping, Counting Numbers 1-10

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice C is a fib!

Suggested:

Free Printable Fraction Chart for Kids

View fullsize

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Counting Worksheet #8:

Topic: Grouping, Counting Numbers 10-15

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice B is a fib!

Suggested:

Bar Charts and Bar Graphs Explained!

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Counting Worksheet #9:

Topic: Grouping, More/Less Than, Counting up to 20

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice A is a fib!

Suggested:

Free Printable Multiplication Chart (Times Table Practice for Kids)

View fullsize

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Counting Worksheet #10:

Topic: Grouping, Comparing Numbers, Counting up to 20

Worksheet Download:

⤓ Click here to download your pdf worksheet

Answer: Choice B is a fib!

Suggested:

101 Kindergarten Math Worksheets Workbook for Ages 4-7

View fullsize

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Thoughts? Share your questions and suggestions in the comments section below!

(Never miss a Mashup Math blog--click here to get our weekly newsletter!)

By Anthony Persico

Anthony is the content crafter and head educator for YouTube's MashUp Math and an advisor to Amazon Education's 'With Math I Can' Campaign. You can often find me happily developing animated math lessons to share on my YouTube channel . Or spending way too much time at the gym or playing on my phone.

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Here's an Awesome Way to Teach Kids Fractions

Are you looking for strategies to help your kids understand equivalent fractions this school year?

Creating fraction kits is a great way to get your kids exploring equivalent fractions and acquiring a deep, conceptual understanding of the topic.

The video below demonstrates how to create a fraction kit; it was designed to serve as a follow-along activity:

Materials: construction paper, markers, scissors, and a ruler.

Looking for the corresponding lesson guide? click here to download yours

And here are some great links to more fun math activities:

• How to Convert Decimals into Fractions in 3 Easy Steps

• 4th Grade Word Problems: Free PDF Worksheets

• Check Out This Awesome Mean, Median, and Mode Activity

• 10 Super Fun Math Riddles for Kids

• Free Math Coloring Worksheets for 5th Grade

• Idea: How to Engage Your Students at the Start of Any Lesson

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“I always look forward to getting my Mashup Math newsletter email every week. I love the free activities!” -Christina R., 5th Grade Math Teacher, Dallas, TX

Do YOU want free math resources, lesson activities, and puzzles and games for grades 1-8 in your inbox every week? Join our mailing list and start getting tons of free stuff (including a free PDF workbook)!

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