Running + Math = MATH TAG: K-5 (Fact Fluency) Gym Game

Hey PE Teachers – Supercharge your K-5 PE classes while building essential math skills with MATH TAG!

Welcome to MATH TAG -the high-energy PE activity where students get their hearts pumping and math brains buzzing!

MATH TAG

This creative, kid-approved tag game turns addition and multiplication fact practice into active fun, making math review exciting, memorable, and perfect for elementary physical education.

MATH TAG – How to Play

MATH TAG with Mrs T.

Hi there, it’s so great to meet you! I’m Mrs. T. or you can call me Jen – a Michigan mom, wife, new grandma (aka “Jemma”) and K-12 PE teacher who is on a mission to MAKE SCHOOL FUN AGAIN!

READY! SET! LET’S PLAY!

FULL LESSON PLAN PDF

First, let’s take a few moments to gather the equipment you’ll need to play this “Math on the Run” PE Game:

Equipment Needed

2-3 HULA HOOPS
DICE (Two Dice for Each Hula Hoop)
DRY ERASE BOARDS and MARKERS (One for Each Hula Hoop)
2-3 POOL NOODLES

Easy Game Set-Up

FIRST, choose 2-3 students to be the MATH TAGGERS and give them each a pool noodle.

NEXT, spread the hula hoops around the gym and place a dry erase board, marker and set of dice in each hoop.

FINALLY, send the rest of the students to an end line in the gym to wait for the game to begin.

How to Play: MATH TAG

OBJECT OF THE GAME: To have a Total Blast RUNNING, CHASING, THINKING, and LEARNING!

When the music starts, or the game begins, a regular game of tag begins.

If a student gets tagged they must head to an open “MATH CENTER” or hula hoop and complete the following:

ROLL THE DICE
USING THE TWO NUMBERS ON THE DICE – WRITE THE MATH EQUATION AND ANSWER ON THE DRY ERASE BOARD
GIVE A THUMBS UP WHEN THE PROBLEM IS COMPLETE

When the teacher sees a “Thumbs Up” he/she runs over to the student, checks their math problem to make sure it is correct.

Once the teacher sees that the problem is correct, the student erases the board and gets right back into the tag game.

Play for a few minutes and then begin a new round with new MATH TAGGERS.

Game Teaching Tips

TIP #1: I like to use the big foam dice when I play this game with my students. You can usually find these at the Dollar Store or at most party stores.

TIP #2: If you don’t have dry erase boards you can also use shiny clipboards – they work great and the dry erase marker wipes away easily.

TIP #3: To keep this game developmentally appropriate I usually have my K-2 students work on addition problems inside the hula hoops and my 3-5th grade students work on multiplication problems.

MATH TAG - Addition, Multiplication, PE Game

So, what do you say? Why not blast some “clean” and upbeat PE music , maybe tell a few funny sports jokes and bring the excitement of MATH TAG to your gymnasium TODAY!

And hey, guess what? You can snag your very own PDF of this awesome PE Game that includes an Easy-to-Follow 2-Page Lesson Plan, Set-Up Diagram, and Game Teaching Tips RIGHT HERE!

This low prep, minimal equipment game is also a very easy emergency PE lesson plan to leave for a substitute teacher.

Just print off, gather the equipment and you’re good to go.

If you’re looking for more easy, fun, and super unique (not boring) Low or No Prep physical education games and PE Projects, I’ve got a bunch more for you.

How about a game of BULLSEYE BAGS (cornhole in the gym), CRAZY BALL SOCCER , BAS*KICK*BALL (Basketball + Kickball), or an energizing and educational brain break game of CATCH & STACK?

Mrs. T’s K-5 PE GAMES GROWING BUNDLE

Math Tag is also included in my “ALWAYS GROWING” K-5 PE Game GROWING BUNDLE too!

Huge Physical Education Growing Bundle - PE Games and Teacher Resources

You can Snag your Physical Education HUGE GROWING BUNDLE Right Here!

Be sure to check out my other unique and fun Teacher Resources (Instant Bulletin Boards, Fun Classroom Decor, Learning and PE Games) in my Love 2 Teach and Learn TPT store RIGHT HERE!