©2013 Math in the Middle

Instructions
“Alphabet Math” is my absolute favorite back to school activity! I play it every year with my
students on the first day of school and they always enjoy it. It’s a great, informal way to
refresh the students’ math vocabulary after summer break, as well as an excellent way
for you to see what your students already know!
How to Play:
- Break the class up into groups of 3 or 4
- Distribute one alphabet math handout to each group
- Each group needs to write down one math vocabulary word for each letter of the
alphabet that they don’t think any other group will have. It has to be a word that they
can define and it can’t be a number (i.e. twenty is not an acceptable word for “t”)
- I typically give groups around 20 minutes to come up with their words, but some
classes need more time – use your judgment.
- When time is up, check the answers. Call out each letter of the alphabet, one at a
time, and go around the room, giving each group a chance to say their word for that
letter. Have them define their word orally, too. If any two groups have the same
word or if a group is unable to define their word, they need to cross it out.
- The students get one point for each word that is not crossed out at the end of the
game.
- The group with the most points wins!

*** Helpful hints ***

- I have never had a class come up with an acceptable word for “j” so tell your
students not to get hung up on that letter
- I typically teach the same students year after year from 6th – 8th grade and I play
this game with them every year (They ASK to play!) It is always fun to see how their
math vocabulary has improved from the beginning of 6th grade to the beginning of 8th
grade. New 6th graders often have a tough time finding words for some of the
letters, like “x” and “y”, whereas those letters are usually easy for 8th graders who
come up with words like “x-axis” and “y-coordinate”
- I can typically get through the entire game in one 50-minute class, but occasionally
need to take part of a second class to finish checking answers. It really is well
worth it to not rush through the game, and give students plenty of time to share their
answers and define them even if it means taking part of a second class. You can
learn so much from your students’ answers!

Playing in a virtual setting?

Click here for a Google Slides version of the alphabet math sheet!
(Simply click “make a copy” to save the activity to your Google Drive and then share it with your
students through Google Classroom.)
A_____________________ N_____________________

B_____________________ O_____________________

C_____________________ P_____________________

D_____________________ Q_____________________

E_____________________ R_____________________

F_____________________ S_____________________

G_____________________ T_____________________

H_____________________ U_____________________

I______________________ V_____________________

J_____________________ W____________________

K_____________________ X_____________________

L_____________________ Y_____________________

M____________________ Z_____________________
A_____________________ N_____________________

B_____________________ O_____________________

C_____________________ P_____________________

D_____________________ Q_____________________

E_____________________ R_____________________

F_____________________ S_____________________

G_____________________ T_____________________

H_____________________ U_____________________

I______________________ V_____________________

J_____________________ W____________________

K_____________________ X_____________________

L_____________________ Y_____________________

M____________________ Z_____________________