Looking for some fun middle school activities to incorporate in your math lessons? Trying to come up with fun ideas that fit your curriculum? Here are 20 great activities and project ideas! There are three main themes to the activities listed below: real life, food (perfect for those hungry pre-teens!), and creativity. The instructions for all activities can be easily modified for students in Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8. If your child is home-schooled, or you are just looking for additional home learning tasks, then these activities are perfect for you! All of the materials can easily be found in your home.
So, grab a cup of tea, sit back, relax and read on…
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1. M & Maths
Use M&Ms to teach math! Provide students with a pile of M&Ms to count and convert into fractions, decimals, and percentages. You can also extend this activity by getting the students to graph their findings.
- Materials needed: M&Ms
- Topic: Fractions, decimals, percentages, and graphs
Learn more: Our Journey Westward
2. What is the best buy?
In this project, your students will become experts at identifying the best deal. Working through a range of scenarios, students will get plenty of practice in calculating unit rates.
- Materials needed: Printed worksheets
- Topic: Unit rates
Learn more: What is the best buy?
3. Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi (A Math Adventure) by Cindy Neuschwander
Teach your students about the circumference of circles by reading this math book and using oranges or paper plates to turn circles into rectangles!
- Materials needed: Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter book, paper plates or oranges
- Topic: Circumference
Learn more: Almost Unschoolers
4. Candy Bar Volume
Do your students love candy? Entice them with this sweet activity. Students will practice calculating and comparing the volume of real candy bars. Challenge them to use this activity to work out which candy bar they should choose the next time they are told “You can choose one candy bar only!”
- Materials needed: A range of different sized candy bars
- Topic: Volume
Learn more: Classroom Magic
5. Measuring the Volume of a Solid
In this activity, students will be calculating the volume of different solids. The blog article suggests using rocks, but you can use any random objects you can find – a box, your iPad, or even the TV remote!
- Materials needed: Any solid objects
- Topic: Volume
Learn more: Susan Evans
6. Popcorn Math
Teach students the basics of measuring and the skill of estimation by making popcorn together – and enjoy eating it together afterward!
- Materials needed: Paper, popcorn kernelsTopic: Capacity, measurement, collecting data, and making comparisons
Learn more: Our Journey Westward
7. Measuring Volume of Boxes and Spheres
Students can go on a treasure hunt around the classroom or your home, looking for objects that are box or sphere-shaped. Once the students have collected a range of objects, let them calculate and compare the volumes.
- Materials needed: Boxes or sphere-shaped objects
- Topic: Volume
Learn more: The Homeschool Scientist
8. Oreo Stacking
Calling all Oreo fans! Challenge students to stack Oreos as high as they can in this activity to learn about data collection and averages. Just make sure students stack more than they eat!
- Materials needed: Paper, Oreos
- Topic: Data collection
Learn more: Teaching in Room 6
9. How much does a pumpkin cost?
This activity consists of a series of three lessons. Students will be given an imaginary amount of money that they must use to buy the largest pumpkin possible. A great opportunity for students to apply their calculation skills to a real-life scenario.
- Materials: A range of different-sized pumpkins
- Topic: Algebra, weight, cost
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
10. Percentage Scavenger Hunt
Print off the clues and place them around your school or home and send your students off on a percentage scavenger hunt. Students will be so actively engaged that they will forget it’s a math lesson!
- Materials: Scavenger hunt clues, paper, pencils, clipboards (if available)
- Topic: Percentages
Learn more: Pinterest
11. Ratio and Baking
Give students the chance to apply their understanding of ratio to a real-life situation – scaling up a baking recipe. If you really want to go the extra mile, why not try out the recipe for real and make some delicious cookies!
- Material: Recipe worksheet, ingredients (optional)
- Topic: Ratio
Learn more: Pinterest
12. Paper Airplane Graphs
Children can learn how to graph distance each time they fly their paper airplanes. This activity requires little preparation, but it is a great way to engage your students.
- Materials needed: Paper
- Topic: Measurement, record keeping, graphing, averages
Learn more: Our Journey Westward
13. A Trip to the Moon
Let students prepare for a trip to the moon by using ratios to calculate their ‘space’ weight. A great activity to practice math skills while learning about fascinating science concepts.
- Materials: Printed worksheets
- Topic: Graphs, equivalent ratios
Learn more: A Trip to the Moon
14. Rotational Symmetry
Students can use this interactive game to explore how objects behave when they are rotated around a centralized point.
- Materials needed: Access to a computer or device
- Topic: Rotational symmetry
Learn more: PBS Learning Media
15. Frank Stella Protractor Artwork
Students can analyze Frank Stella’s artwork made with a protractor and attempt to design and draw their very own version. A great opportunity for students to enhance their maths and art skills.
- Materials: Pencil, protractor, ruler, Frank Stella’s Protractor Series
- Topic: Using a protractor
Learn more: Art is What I Teach
16. The Kings Chessboard: The Power of Doubling
Students can learn the power of doubling through this story. After reading, encourage your students to think about how they could use the power of doubling to get more pocket money!
- Materials needed: The King’s Chessboard book
- Topic: Doubling
Learn more: Our Journey Westward
17. Scale a Comic
Let your students apply their creativity in this activity. Students will design and produce their very own comic before learning learn how to scale it up or down to fit a frame.
- Materials: Printed worksheets
- Topic: Scaling
Learn more: Scale a Comic Activity
18. Tessellation Project
Learn different techniques to create amazing tessellation artwork using rotation, reflection, and translation.
- Materials: Paper, pen, scissors
- Topic: Rotation, reflection, translation
Learn more: Geometry Coach
19. Pythagoras Using Lego
Fed up of always drawing triangles to learn about Pythagoras? Then, check out this activity - students will use Lego pieces to prove Pythagoras theorem! Now, that sounds more fun!
- Materials: Lego
- Topic: Pythagoras theorem
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
20. Geometric Snowman
If Christmas is approaching, then be sure to check out this activity. By folding a snowman, students will learn about geometry and have a new decoration for the Christmas tree!
- Materials: Snowman template, scissors
Learn more: Mini Eco
21. Integer Dots
This activity only takes 2-3 minutes to teach and then students can practice adding and subtracting integers hands on. It is a great way to visually teach students the rules for integers.
- Materials: counters or craft puffs in two different colors
- Topic: Integers
Learn more: Math in the Middle
22. Escape Room Review
A fun activity is a great idea for math review! The escape room will have students working cooperatively on solving problems!
- Materials: glue stick, scissors, a ruler, manila folders, a metal paper fastener/brad, and a mirror
- Topic: A review of 6th grade concepts
Learn more: Beyond the Worksheet
23. Card Sort
This activity is appropriate for the 7th or 8th grade math class. Students are given different word problems with card sets. They need to find the correlating cards for finding the points, slope, and graph to write the linear equation.
- Topic: Slope and linear equations
- Materials: glue stick and colored paper
Learn more: Kelly McCown
24. GCF Game
A simple game that has students solve the find the greatest common factor (GCF) to decipher a hidden message! A fun way to practice finding the GCF.
- Topic: greatest common factor
- Materials: 3 different colored pens, scissors, glue
Learn more: Math in Demand
25. Mental Math Game
Use this game to flex those mental math skills using integers with different operations. It can be adapted to work on just one operation or all and needs very limited materials and prep.
- Topics: Operations with integers
- Materials: dice
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
26. Sorting Activity
Effective math review for order of operations, this activity has students solve expressions and sort them into different answer groups.
- Topics: Order of Operations
- Materials: colors paper, scissors, glue
Learn more: My Math Resources
27. Secret Picture
Students will simplify radicals to discover color codes. They will then use the different colors to create a mystery image.
- Topic: Radicals
- Materials: colored pencils
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
29. Percentage Change Worksheet
This worksheet uses real-life instances to find the increase and decrease in the percent of change.
- Topic: Real-World Percent Change
- Materials: Percent Change
Learn more: Percent Change, Lesson 1
30. Scaffolded Equations
The activity has leveled math equations that can be used in different ways - for homework that needs to be leveled to challenge students.
- Topic: 2 steps Equations
- Materials: none
Learn more: Pret Homework
31. Kahoot!
A fun game to play to keep students engaged is Kahoot! This pre-made Kahoot focuses on finding the surface area of three-dimensional shapes.
- Topic: Surface Area
- Materials: computers or phones
Learn more: Kahoot!
32. Area Foldable
If you need to cover key math concepts, interactive notebooks are great! This activity for an interactive notebook covers how to find the areas of a triangle.
- Topic: Area of a Triangle
- Materials: scissors, glue, colored paper
Learn more: Caffeine Queen Teacher
33. Dance, Dance!
Get math students up and out of their seats when teaching transversals. Students will move, using tape on the floor as their guide, to dance along with the directions for a transversal.
- Topic: Transversals
- Materials: colored tape, speakers
Learn more: Tiffany Mosier
34. 31-derful Game
A simple game to use on the first day or for early finishers. Students need to create rows and columns that are all equal to 31 with any 25 cards they choose.
- Topic: patterns and addition
- Materials: decks of cards
Learn more: Everybody is a Genius
35. Pi Day Stations
Students will rotate around 6 different stations doing different activities, like pi reading and applying pi in a formula.
- Topic: Pi
- Materials: colored papers, circular objects, rulers
Learn more: Math Giraffe
36. Fibonacci Art Circles
Students will learn about the sequence and how it is found in nature. Then they will create their own sequence using a compass and colored paper.
- Topic: Fibonacci sequence and using a compass
- Materials: ruler, compass, scissors, glue stick, pencil, colored paper
Learn more: What Do We Do All Day
37. Barbie Bungee
This activity is a hands-on bungee jumping simulation. For each "jump", they will measure how far the doll went, add the data to their table, and adjust rubber bands. They will continue until they have enough data and then use it to create plots.
Learn more: Illuminations
38. Lego Man World Cup Ratio
Students will use the ratio of their Lego man to determine and draw a proportionally sized soccer field with chalk on the playground or outdoor area.
- Topic: ratios
- Materials: chalk, measuring instruments
Learn more: Maths Pig
39. Grudgeball
Grudgeball is a fun, but low prep way, to review concepts with students at the end of a unit. Students are in groups and asked math questions, if they answer correctly, they get to take so many Xs off the board and shoot the ball. If they make the basket, they can give Xs to other groups. Whoever gets rid of their Xs first, wins.
- Topic: any
- Materials: dollar store basketball hoop
Learn more: Engaging Them All
40. Quadratic Tic Tac Toe
Students will practice solving and factoring quadratic equations while they play a game of tic tac toe in pairs. The worksheet includes two game boards.
- Topic: quadratic equations
- Materials: none
Learn more: Doc Player
41. Inequalities Memory Game
Students will have to use their memory to match up pairs of inequality cards. Cards include expressions, number lines, and different operations.
- Topic: inequalities
- Materials: printed cards
Learn more: Middle School Math Man
42. Dice Probability Experiment
Students will use critical thinking skills, hypotheses, and finding probability in this fun experiment.
- Topic: probability
- Materials: 20 sided dice, dry erase board, markers (paper/pencil)
Learn more; STEAMsational
43. Distributive Puzzle
Students will use the distributive property to solve expressions and match up the pieces to build a puzzle.
- Topic: distributive property
- Materials: print out
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
44. Fractions Centers
These centers cover numerous topics on fractions - comparing, modeling, using fractions with operations, and more.
- Topic: Fractions
- Materials: dice, printouts
Learn more: Jennifer Findley
45. Math Art
Students use a 100s grid to create artwork using math. They will color code the works determining the fraction, decimal, and percent for each color.
- Topic: fractions, decimals, percents
- Materials: colors and printout
Learn more: Linden STEAM Academy Project-Based Learning
46. Exponent Battle
Students will be dealt a base card and an exponent card. Whoever had the highest product wins that round.
- Topic: exponents and multiplication
- Materials: playing cards
Learn more: Learn with Math Games
47. Surface Area of Right Prisms
Students will use a 3D paper shape to analyze the surface and solve to find the area of the specific shape.
- Topic: surface area
- Materials: paper, scissors, task cards
Learn more: I'm Kendall Hunt
48. Human Box Plot
This is a scaffolded activity where students will use real-life data to examine box and whisker plots and learn about data sets.
- Topic: Box and whisker plots
- Materials: 2 yardsticks and rope or masking tape
Learn more: ETeams
49. Measurement Conversions Game
If you need a simple game in math class, try this conversions game. It is great for reviewing measurement conversion and there is not much prep involved.
- Topic: metric and customary system
- Materials: printout, game pieces
Learn more: The Imagination Teacher
50. Pixel Math
Create digital art using Google by solving math problems.
- Topic: multiplying fractions
- Materials: computer
Learn more: Teach with Tina
51. Word Problems Activity
Students will use modeling, number lines, and the standard algorithm to help them solve word problems involving the division of fractions.
- Topic: dividing fractions
- Materials: markers, print out
Learn more: You've Got This Math
52. Two Truths and a Lie
This is a fun math activity for any topic! Students need to create their own problems - 2 being correctly solved and 1 incorrect. Then they need to explain why. A great exit ticket or switch with other students to see if they can find the lie.
- Topic: any
- Materials: print out
Learn more: Math Equals Love
53. Geometric Reflections
Students will create different reflections of a polygon. As they create it, they will have a visual representation of a reflection to analyze.
- Topic: reflections
- Materials: hole punch, graph paper, pencil
Learn more: Scaffolded Math and Science
54. Digital Task Cards
Students will solve binomials using Google Forms. The digital content is editable, so you can modify the activity as needed for your class.
- Topic: multiplying binomials
- Materials: computer
Learn more: Lindsay Bowden
55. Angle Coloring Page
A simple way to teach angles and can be used as a visual memory aid for students who need a refresher. The color-coding helps students remember what type of angle has which measurement.
- Topic: angles
- Materials: colors, paper, print out
Learn more: Scaffolded Math
Final Thoughts
The maths activities above have all been chosen to help to improve your students’ engagement and progress in math. Not only will these activities instill more fun in your lessons, but they require limited preparation time to make your life easier too! The hands-on element of the activities will help your students to learn math without even realizing it – and you’ll probably be forever remembered as their best maths teacher!
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