
Knock off the Clock is a fun, fast-paced math game that can be used for addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. If you are playing with younger children, use addition and subtraction only. Older students can use any operation.
Here's How to Play This Fun Math Game
Have each student draw a clock on their paper, with the numbers 1-12 labelled as shown here.

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Students roll two dice and add, subtract, multiply, or divide them. They write the full equation on their paper and then cross the answer off of their clock, “knocking” out one of the numbers.

Play continues until all the numbers have been “knocked off the clock.”
If you are playing in pairs rather than individually, students compete to see who can be the first one to knock all the numbers off their clock.

Here’s a video so you can see this game in action.
Knock off the Clock is a fun game to play as a math warm-up, or if you have five minutes left in class and want to use it effectively.
Using Math Games with Older Students
Even if you teach older students, try playing simple games like this every once in awhile! You might think they are past it, but don’t underestimate the power of having fun in math class. And who couldn’t use a bit of fact fluency practice?!
Looking for other fun math game ideas for your classroom? Salute was always a class favorite in my Grade 3-4 class, and I know your students will love it too! Find the full game instructions HERE.
10 Comments
These are great! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is awesome !! We play dice games in my too lm but I put the dice in a small clear containers. Love this!!!
You have such great wonderful ideas! Will certainly try it out .
We played this game independently in Grade 5 Math this morning… We loved it! They can’t wait to play it with an opponent 🙂
That’s great to hear, Fiona! I’m so glad they liked it!
Love this! I have not played this before. It reminds me of shut the box.
Thank You
These are so great, thank you very much! I love low prep but fun activities for my students, and they do too.
Hi, Shelley. Thanks for sharing you ideas, I’m a final year math student teacher and i’m enjoying your lessons and hoping to implement them with my future learners soon😊
Hi Shelley,
All of your ideas put the “fun” into our math lessons. I use your math game ideas in my math centers and my students really look forward to them.
Thank you
Love this game! I will try it with my summer school students. I think it will be a lot of fun! They still love playing “Race to 100!”