Printable and No-Tech Tug of War Maths Games
A printable tug of war math game needs only a drawn line and a counter. Draw 11 boxes in a row on paper, or on a whiteboard, and put a counter in the middle box. Each player owns one end, and every won round moves the counter one box toward its winner. Then choose one of these four games.
Game | You need | Best for | Decided by |
|---|---|---|---|
Track, two dice | Pairs and mixed ages | Luck | |
Cards | Track, playing cards | Pairs, bigger numbers | Luck |
Question card relay | Track, written facts | Small groups or a class | Knowledge and speed |
Real rope | Rope, ribbon, open space | Outdoor lessons | Knowledge and speed |
Laminate the track to reuse it, and use 7 boxes when you want a much shorter game.
Card tug of war
Remove the face cards from a pack. Each player turns over two cards and adds or multiplies them, and the larger result moves the counter. An ace counts as 1. Confident players can treat red cards as negative numbers, so a red 7 and a black 3 make −4.
Question card relay
Write facts on cards with the answers on the back. Two teams line up, and the first player from each answers the same card. The first correct answer moves the marker, then both players go to the back of the line. Put the facts your group most needs on the cards, and pull out any card that nobody gets right so you can teach it.
Can you play with a real rope safely?
Yes, if nobody actually pulls hard. On a playground, mark a centre line on the ground and tie a ribbon on a rope. Teams step the rope one pace for each correct answer. Avoid a real pulling contest unless it is properly supervised, because rope burns and falls can happen.
Making it count
Ask each player to say how they worked out the answer before moving the marker, and keep a list of facts that caused trouble. Luck plays a part in card and dice games, which lets beginners sometimes beat stronger players fairly. When you have a device to hand, the online game keeps the score and the list of missed questions for you.
Ready-made sets for question cards
| Skill | Write on the cards |
|---|---|
| Bonds to 10 | 3 + ? = 10, 6 + ? = 10, 8 + ? = 10 |
| Doubles | Double 6, double 9, double 15, half of 18 |
| Times tables | 7 × 8, 6 × 9, 12 × 4, 8 × 8 |
| Fractions | 1/3 of 18, 3/4 of 20, 2/5 of 30 |
How do you run a card game for a whole class?
Split the class into pairs, each with a track and a small pile of cards. Play for five minutes, then rotate one player from each pair so everyone meets a new partner. Pairs keep every student active, which is hard to do with one shared screen. Collect the cards that caused the most arguments, because those are your next teaching points.
How long will each game take?
On an 11-box track, a game decided by luck can take many rounds because the counter wanders back and forth. Use 7 boxes for a game of about five minutes. Question games tend to end faster when one team is stronger, so level the teams or use different card piles for each side.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for a no-tech tug of war game?
A drawn line of 11 boxes and a counter are enough for the basic track.
Is a real rope safe?
Step the rope one pace per correct answer without pulling hard, and avoid a real pulling contest unless it is properly supervised.
Can adults play these versions?
Yes. Use larger cards or harder questions to suit the players.