Math Game: Musical Chairs with Task Cards

Musical Chairs with Task Cards, movement in math, math games, task cards

Did you ever enjoy playing Musical Chairs when you were younger? I know I did! My own kids, niece, and nephews loved playing at Nana's fall parties.

Musical Chairs with Task Cards, movement in math, math games, task cards

I figured that my students would enjoy playing as well. 

Why Play Musical Chairs in Math?


1) Students get to listen to music and move.
2) It's something they haven't done for a long time or have never done. 

Math Musical Chairs Game Rules:


1) Set up your chairs in a circle or back to back like in birthday party musical chairs.
2) Have one chair for everyone and put a task card under each seat.
3) Give students a clipboard and recording sheet.
4) Students stand by a chair, you start the music, and the kids start moving around the chairs.
5) When you stop the music, students take a seat, get the card that goes with that seat, and answer the question on their recording sheet.
6) Keep repeating until time is up.

Musical Chairs Game Suggestions:


🪑 You can take one chair away each round for a little more competition.
🪑 Give some basic rules such as only one person per chair and no sitting on laps.
🪑 Students will end up with a card they have already completed. I tell them to trade with a neighbor or if it's a card where the numbers can change (ex: ask a female for 3 numbers) they can do that card again. I have small classes so I will also trade a card since I have leftovers.
🪑 You can use any set of task cards for this activity.
🪑 Use Pandora or Spotify for the music. I set up a variety of stations (70's music, 80's music, country, salsa, tango, etc) and rotate them.

Musical Chairs with Task Cards, movement in math, math games, task cards

Musical Chairs with Task Cards, movement in math, math games, task cards

My students enjoyed this game. They tell me, "It's better than a worksheet!"

Grab any set of task cards, find some music, and round up the chairs. 

You can also head over to my TPT Store to get some Musical Chairs pre-made math games like