“If two’s company and three’s a crowd, what are four and five?” asks the teacher.
“NINE!” shouts the little freckle-faced red-head girl in the back row.
“Here’s another one: What’s really easy to get into, but hard to get out of?”
A quick-witted, puzzle-loving, funny boy replies, “TROUBLE!”
Kids love telling riddles, no matter how silly or nonsensical. The great thing about riddles is that they make you think in a different manner. Adding riddles to “boring” worksheets will surely make the process much more fun and engaging.
Adding and Subtracting two digit numbers
Two digit addition and subtraction with regrouping can be challenging, frustrating, and boring for most students. But, if you add some riddles to your lesson plans, your students will look forward to solving these kinds of problems.
The benefit is two-fold.
First, the kids need to practice math and solve number problems to figure out the riddle. Second, they will be completely absorbed in their work, making the time pass easily. Given a proper and fun challenge, kids will beg for similar worksheets.
Have you ever had any students beg for more math?
Knowing that riddles make boring things more fun, I have added this element to some of my materials.
If your kids are working on two digit addition or two digit subtraction with regrouping, I have a set of riddle worksheets that will be perfect for them.
First, the students solve each math problem. Note – I suggest encouraging solving all problems first so that they don’t solve backward by deducing the riddle answer and recording that corresponding number to solve the math problem.
Next, students take the letter beside the problem and record it in the appropriate box at the bottom of the page.
The great thing about riddle worksheets is that they are self-correcting. If the answer is wrong and you enter the wrong letter into the puzzle at the bottom, the riddle answer won’t make sense. Also, if their solution isn’t on the bottom of the page, students know their answer is incorrect and they must fix their mistake. This teaches them accountability and independence.
Using Games for Practicing Two Digit Addition & Subtraction
Riddles are one way to spark interest in learning. Adding games to your lesson plans will also motivate your students. Games are a break from the norm while being hands-on, interactive, and still educational!
Another benefit of using math games in the classroom is the automatic feedback that comes from them. If answers aren’t found, students will understand that they made a mistake that must be fixed. The key to advancing in the game is correct answers and fixing errors.
Additionally, playing games with peers can lead to peer tutoring. Peers sometimes have better results explaining math strategies than teachers. Also, there is less pressure because the teacher may not be present which allows a student to relax more, process better, and solve problems on their own. Players helping each other also fosters a sense of kindness and community in the classroom.
Here’s an example of a math game incorporating two digit regrouping. To play, students spin to choose a number problem. Then write down the problem and solve it. If the answer is found on the first lily pad, they assume the answer is correct and then move their game marker to that answer on the game board. If not, they miss a turn.
Each pack has the same game format. Once students understand the gameplay and directions, there is little time spent on re-teaching how to play. It’s a win-win for you and the students – the work is all done for you and the students will practice math in an engaging and fun manner with games.
Grab a Pack Today
Looking for fun, engaging, hands-on materials to reinforce adding or subtracting two digit numbers? Find your game pack of addition and subtraction sheets and games from our store. If you would prefer to purchase from our store on Teachers Pay Teachers, please click this link.
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