Stand Off: Simple Water Gun Math Game

Summer is here and the kids are officially ready to take a break from learning. But you don’t want them to completely lose all the important things they learned during the school year! This can be especially true of math if it’s not put to use over the summer months. Not to worry – this simple and low prep math game is a fun chance for your kids to get outside, enjoy the sun, play with water guns, and review their math facts at the same time!

Materials Needed:

• Two water guns
• Water

How to Play Stand Off: A Water Gun Math Game

This game is so simple, you don’t even need to spend time preparing. Simply give each child a water gun and have them stand a few feet apart, facing each other.

Then give one child a math problem such as “What is 12 + 5?” (or something age appropriate).

If they get it right, they get to squirt their partner with their water gun.

But if they get it wrong, their partner gets to squirt them!

Then you simply take turns calling out math problems to each child following the rules for squirting each other!

One great thing about this game (besides the easy set up) is that two kids who are completely different ages and working on different levels of math skills can play together. Simply give each child math problems that are appropriate for where they are.

Simple Variation to the Game:

If you have kids who are the same age playing each other, you could play more like a “quick draw” variation.

Instead of giving a math problem to only one of the kids at a time, call out a math problem to them both.

The first to call out the correct answer gets to squirt their partner with the water gun.

If you’re looking for an easy way to come up with a variety of age-appropriate math problems, try using this problem of the day calendar. There’s a ton of variety, allowing you to review various math concepts at once.

Or simply grab a set of flash cards like these for addition and subtraction or these for multiplication and division and call out problems.

And if you’re looking for more fun (not worksheets) ways to keep those math skills sharp over the summer, check out this huge list of ideas.

More Water Gun Math Ideas:

And if your kids loved this game and want to try more “water gun math,” you may like some of these ideas:

• Squirt and measure: Have them squirt their gun on the driveway or sidewalk and then measure the distance of the water. (Bonus if you have multiple water guns that you can squirt and compare!)
• Sidewalk fact practice: Write out math problems in water on the driveway or sidewalk and let kids “write” the answer with their water guns.
• Water squirter game: Add a unique twist to practicing their facts by trying to shoot toilet paper rolls with the water gun when they get an answer correct.

What would you add to the list? Have you ever done “water gun math” with your kids? What are some other favorite outdoor math games? Share in the comments!

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