Ideas for "Keep Them Busy" Maths Activities

I've used all these activities to supply my children with things to do if they get stuck on their current maths work and are waiting for me to come and help them.

Maths Grids

I usually have a large selection of maths grids that the children can fill in while they're waiting. They provide basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division practice. A sample one is shown to the right. I have a whole selection of levelled sheets that the children can work through. Completed sheets (if the answers are all correct first time) earn the children merit points.

Table Searches

I found these excellent sheets at the Cleave Books website. Instead of words the children search for tables, which are hidden in the usual ways. There's a huge selection of searches, in pdf format, there so I suggest that if you like the idea then you pay the site a visit.

Number of the Day

Choose a number (daily or weekly) that the children have to 'explode' by writing down all the different ways they can think of making that number. Reward children who reach a certain target or come up with the most ways on their table. Or reward entire tables for a collective effort.

You could even do harder, Countdown-style challenges!

Maths Challenges

WH Smiths has loads of books full of maths challenges that are suitable for writing and displaying in your classroom to keep children occupied while they're waiting for you. At the very least the books will give you ideas for your own challenges to set.