Math Vs Zombies - Math Games Grade K - 5
Save yourself from the undead with fast-paced math fact practice
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Math Vs Zombies - Math Games Grade K - 5
Pros: Entertaining music and cartoon graphics hold kids' attention as they practice basic operations.
Cons: Timed games could be stressful for some kids.
Bottom Line: A very good way to practice math operations and mental math in an engaging arcade format.
Have students challenge each other at certain levels. For example, third graders who have been practicing multiplication by 4 and 5 can work through "easy" level three in the "Into the Wild" world to practice all multiplication facts through 5s.
Using an iPad, kids can take turns in small groups to work through different skills in a cooperative or collaborative effort.
Math Vs Zombies - Math Games Grade K - 5 is an arcade-like game where kids can practice math skills from basic operations through multi-digit multiplication and division in a series of entertaining worlds. Choose a level (easy, medium, hard) and play seven games in each world of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. In each world, kids solve a series of math problems. When zombies appear (with creepy music), players solve each zombie's math problem by choosing a number on the touchscreen and then zapping that zombie with a lightning bolt. In the seventh game at each level, the zombies each carry four math problems that have to be solved to complete the game. Winning each level unlocks the next. You can repeat levels as many times as you want. The creepy/cute characters and the ominous music add an appeal to a game that's essentially a fun way to practice math.
Kids will enjoy practicing math problems in the game-like format, which helps them to generalize and reinforce the use of math facts. The cartoon graphics and music add to the entertainment factor. It's easy to use, and the draw of zombies is attractively mainstream. Kids may stay on task longer because it's fun to zap the zombies. Kids with basic addition skills all the way up to older kids will be challenged at one of the three levels.
The small things that take away from it are the difficulty in seeing the numbers on a phone or iPod and lack of control of the timer in each level. Some audiences may also find that the lack of diversity when the zombies are zapped into human children, all of whom appear to be Caucasian, could be disappointing. Each level has a time limit, which will be exciting for some kids but stressful for others. Incorrect answers make the control panel flash red. If the time limit runs down, kids can restart the level and try again. As long as they're not intimidated by the time constraints of this app, it could be a fun way to practice math skills, either alone or with friends or classmates.
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Community Rating
The zombie craze attacks math facts
Overall, my students enjoy the app and the characters developed in the game. I think that the beginning levels of each operation, when the numbers are single digits, are best to reinforce basic math facts. My students gain confidence when they beat those levels, but quickly lose that confidence in the medium levels due to the challenge of larger numbers and the short time limit to solve them. I agree with Andrew L. in his field note (/app/math-vs-zombies-math-games-grade-k-5-teacher-review/3950486) that this app could have so much more potential through game play variance and by allowing students to create their own character to zap the zombies back to humans.
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