Buzz (a math game)

I played this game with some grade 2 students the other day that were skip counting by different numbers (2’s, 5’s, and 10’s) and for the most part… we had very little problems with it.

Here is the gist of it.

Have everyone that is going to be playing sit in a circle (ideally this would be the whole class). The game is basically just a counting game but anytime you get to a number that you would be skip counting by instead of saying that number one would say “buzz” instead. If the person says “buzz” on the wrong number they are out. If a person says the number instead of saying buzz they are also out. If someone says the wrong number they are out. The nice bonus to this game is that students need to be quiet in order to hear what number they are at so they know what they need to say.

It can however, get a little noisy once more than a couple people are sitting out so have something (like reading) for them to do at their desks).

In case my explanation made no sense at all here is a quick example. In this example we would be skip counting by 5’s (or saying buzz on any multiple of 5)

So here is what the students should be saying

1, 2, 3, 4, buzz, 6, 7, 8, 9, buzz, 11, 12, 13, 14, buzz, 16

Makes perfect sense right?

When students get a little older you could have them practice it with 7’s (so you would be saying buzz on any multiple of 7) or you could add in a second rule such as you must say buzz on any factor of 5 but you must say fizz on any multiple of 10. In this case the sequence should go:

1, 2, 3, 4, buzz, 6, 7, 8, 9, fizz buzz, 11, 12, 13, 14, buzz, 16

You need to say both fizz and buzz on number 10 because it is divisible by 5 and 10.

Use whatever number(s) you are currently working on in your math class and have fun!

Want more simple math games?  Try SNAKE!