The Sydney Teacher Blog

The Hot Seat is one of my favourite quick maths classroom games. One student sits in the “hot seat” and asks questions to figure out a hidden number or answer, while the class responds only with yes, no, or maybe, which gives clues to help solve the problem under time pressure. It’s simple, engaging, and builds reasoning fast.

Maths In a Line is one of those activities that instantly lifts the energy in my classroom. Students line up, solve a maths question, and if they’re correct they move forward in the relay while trying to stay “in the line” for as long as they can. It’s fast, fun, and a great way to build mental maths skills without them even realising it.

Number Duel is one of those quick, no-prep maths games I like to use when I want my class focused and thinking fast. Students go head-to-head as they name numbers that fit a given rule or category, racing to stay in the game. It’s simple to run, brings a bit of friendly competition into the room, and is a great way to build number sense and pattern recognition.

Maths Tug of War is another free, low-prep maths warm-up I like to use from Transum.org. It challenges students to calculate quickly, work together as a team, and race to pull the rope in their favour - boosting mental maths, speed, and teamwork all at once!

Equation Detective is one of those activities I love using in my classroom. Students become “detectives,” working through equations to spot mistakes, justify their thinking, and fix the errors. It’s a fun, problem-solving maths game that builds critical thinking and keeps students engaged as they work things out together.

I’m Going On An Island: Maths Edition is a go-to maths warm-up that my students love. I choose a secret maths rule, students suggest numbers or expressions, and they work together to figure out the pattern. It’s quick, engaging, and builds strong reasoning while feeling like a game.

What's My Sign? is a quick, hands-on maths warm up that gets students thinking deeply about operations and equations in a way that actually sticks. It’s one of those go-to activities I have used time and time again because it settles the class quickly and gets everyone involved from the start.

Engage your students with Maths Emoji Game, a playful maths warm-up that builds memory, problem-solving, and number sense through fun emoji activities.

Number ladders are a quick and fun way to boost mental maths. Students start with a number and work up the ladder, performing operations at each step, building number sense and problem-solving in just a few minutes.