Maths Bop It

Maths warm-ups don't have to mean sitting still and working through problems on paper! Bring a little movement and excitement into the classroom with Maths Bop It. It is a quick, no-prep game that gets students thinking fast, moving their bodies, and putting their number skills to the test!

How It Works

Start by assigning an action to each number category. For example:

• Multiple of 3 → Do a 360-degree spin

• Multiple of 7 → Touch the floor

• Square number → Do a star jump

• Factor of 100 → Clap twice

Once everyone knows the actions, start calling out numbers. Students need to work out which category each number belongs to and perform the matching action as quickly as they can.

If a student gets the action wrong or misses it, they're out for that round. Keep going until there's one student left standing, or play for a set number of rounds.

Here's What It Looks Like in Action

You call out 64. It's a square number, so everyone does a star jump!

Next, you call out 12. It's a multiple of 3, so everyone spins.

Want Some Numbers to Get You Started?

• 64 – Square number (star jump)

• 12 – Multiple of 3 (spin)

• 28 – Multiple of 7 (touch the floor)

• 20 – Factor of 100 (clap twice)

And here's my favourite little twist: call out a number that doesn't fit any of the categories, like 11. Everyone has to freeze! Anyone who gets carried away and performs an action is out. It's a great way to keep students on their toes!

Want to Make It Easier?

Start with just two categories, such as square numbers and multiples of 3. Once students get the hang of the game, introduce more categories and actions to make things a little trickier.

You can also swap the number categories to match whatever you're currently teaching, making this an easy warm-up to revisit throughout the year.

Why It's So Good

• Reinforces number sense, multiplication facts, and number properties

• Combines physical movement with mathematical thinking

• Builds listening skills, concentration, and quick decision-making

• Keeps students engaged through playful challenges and a little friendly competition

• Can be adapted to different maths topics, year levels and ability levels

I love this one because it gets students moving while keeping their minds busy! It's a fun way to burn off some energy, sharpen number sense and sneak in a little maths practice without feeling like another lesson.