Maths In Games
How to make maths quests from any suitable game
Build mini quests around counting, measuring, timing, comparing and explaining.
Quick answer
You can make maths quests from any suitable game by turning game elements into counting, measuring, timing, comparing, or explaining challenges. These quests help children practice maths skills in fun, real-life ways.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to turn any game into a maths quest that helps you practice counting, measuring, timing, comparing, or explaining numbers and shapes. Success signs:- You can spot maths in your favourite games
- You can make a simple maths challenge from a game
- You can explain how your maths quest works
- You can play your maths quest with a friend or family member
Why this matters
Maths is all around us – even in the games we love. When you play games, you already use maths without realising it. You count your points, measure how far you jump, or compare your scores with your friends. By making maths quests, you turn your game time into learning time. This helps you understand maths better and makes it more fun. Whether you’re playing Minecraft, Super Mario Maker, or a board game, you can make a maths quest that teaches you something new.How it works
Making maths quests from games is easy. Here’s how to do it step by step:- Choose a game you like and know well
- Think of a maths skill you want to practice (like counting, measuring, or comparing)
- Look for game elements that match your maths skill (like coins, blocks, points, or time)
- Make a challenge using those elements
- Play your quest with a friend or family member
Examples you can see
Let’s look at some real examples of maths quests you can make from games. Example 1: Minecraft Quest You're building a house. You need to count how many blocks you use for each wall. You can make a quest like:- How many blocks do you need to build 4 walls, if each wall is 5 blocks long?
- How many different types of blocks do you use?
- How many coins do you collect in 3 levels?
- How many jumps do you make in 1 minute?
- How many spaces do you move in 5 turns?
- How many times do you roll a 6 in 10 rolls?
- How many flowers do you plant in 3 days?
- How much time do you spend gardening each day?
Try it as a mini adventure
Let’s go on a maths quest adventure together! Quest: How many blocks do you use to build a tower?- Choose a game that uses blocks (like Minecraft or LEGO)
- Build a tower with 5 layers
- Count how many blocks you use in each layer
- Write down your numbers: Layer 1 = 4 blocks, Layer 2 = 5 blocks, Layer 3 = 3 blocks, Layer 4 = 6 blocks, Layer 5 = 2 blocks
- Now add them all up: 4 + 5 + 3 + 6 + 2 = ?
- How many blocks did you use in total?
- Make a tower with 3 layers and count the blocks
- Compare your tower with a friend's tower
- Time how long it takes you to build your tower
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking that all games are good for maths quests. Why it happens: Not all games have numbers or shapes to work with. Fix: Look for games that involve counting, measuring, or comparing. If you're not sure, try making a simple challenge first.
- Mistake: Making the quest too hard. Why it happens: Wanting to show off or being too excited. Fix: Start with simple numbers and make it fun. You can make it harder later.
- Mistake: Forgetting to explain your quest. Why it happens: Thinking others will understand without words. Fix: Always tell your friend or family member what to do. Use simple words and show them how.
- Mistake: Not using the game's features. Why it happens: Not paying attention to what's in the game. Fix: Look closely at your game. What numbers, shapes, or actions can you use?
Parent and carer guide
As a parent or carer, you can help your child make maths quests in just 5-10 minutes. Here’s how:- Ask questions like: "What numbers do you see in this game?" or "How many times do you do this?"
- Join in and play the quest together. This makes it more fun and helps your child learn.
- Encourage creativity by saying: "What if you made a quest about how long it takes to build something?"
- Keep it light and fun. Don't worry if the quest isn’t perfect.
- Help with writing if your child is still learning to write numbers.
- Notice progress – if your child is counting or comparing numbers more often, they’re learning!
Practice questions
- How many coins do you collect in 4 levels if you collect 3 coins in each level?
- If you build a wall with 6 blocks and you make 3 walls, how many blocks do you use?
- How many jumps do you make in 2 minutes if you jump 5 times every 30 seconds?
- How many different types of blocks do you use if you use 2 stone blocks, 3 wood blocks, and 1 glass block?
- How many times do you roll a 6 in 10 rolls if you roll 3 times in 1 minute?
- 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 coins
- 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 blocks
- 5 jumps every 30 seconds = 10 jumps in 1 minute = 20 jumps in 2 minutes
- 2 + 3 + 1 = 6 types of blocks
- 3 times in 1 minute = 6 times in 2 minutes
FAQ
Q: Can I make a maths quest from any game?
A: Yes! Any game can be turned into a maths quest. Just think about what numbers, shapes, or actions are in the game.
Q: What if my child doesn’t like maths?
A: Maths quests make maths fun and connected to play. Your child will enjoy the game and learn maths at the same time.
Q: Do I need to be good at maths to help my child?
A: No! You can learn together. Ask questions, play, and explore. Your child will learn from your curiosity.
Q: How long should a maths quest take?
A: A quest can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 30 minutes. It depends on your child and how much they want to do.
Q: What if my child gets stuck?
A: That’s okay! Help them by asking simple questions like: "What do you see?" or "How many do you have?" You can also make the quest easier or take a break.