'SMATH (Review)
by Pressman
Disclosure
This product was purchased by us. We did not receive compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are our own. This review includes an affiliate link. We may receive a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. See our full disclosure for more information.
Overview
'SMATH is a crossword-styled board game designed for 2-4 players ages 6 and up. Players take turns creating equations (instead of words) while trying to earn the most points. The game can be played with or without brackets making 'SMATH easy to adapt for younger players.
Contents
- Gameboard (15 1/4" Square)
- 184 playing pieces (78 numerical tiles (6 of each: 0-12), 10 blank tiles, 36 equal sign tiles, 36 operation sign tiles (9 of each: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), and 12 pairs of bracket tiles)
- 4 tile racks
- Storage bag
Price
- $15.95 (at the time of this review)
How to Play
Players choose 10 tiles from the storage bag and place them on their tile racks so that the other players don't see them. Taking turns, players create equations using as many tiles as they can to score the most points. Each tile has an assigned value, and there are bonus squares on the gameboard that can double or triple the value of a single tile or equation. Equations can be placed horizontally or vertically on the gameboard. Equal signs and brackets are kept separated, and players can use as many of these tiles as needed in their equations. Players can build on previously placed equations or create new connecting equations. Players replace played tiles with tiles from the bag. The game ends when all tiles have been played or when no other moves are possible. The player with the most points wins.
Educational Emphasis
This math game teaches children about the order of operations and how to write simple and complex math equations using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
The Good
We're Scrabble fans, so we enjoy playing 'SMATH. Since the tiles are kept in a storage bag, it's easy to set up, and cleanup is a breeze.
- Easy to set up and cleanup.
- Easily adaptable for younger players.
- Makes learning how to write basic equations fun.
The Not-So-Good
The tiles come attached in sheets, so they have to be broken apart before the game can be played. It's not a big deal, but the breaks aren't very smooth, and some of the pieces will have bits sticking out. This doesn't effect the educational value of the game by any means, though. The biggest downside is that you cannot combine numbers (like 2 and 4 to make 24) so the largest number that can be played is 12. There are blank tiles, but this definitely puts a limit on what equations can be created.
Tips
- Leave out the brackets and multiplication and division signs to make the game easier for younger players.
- You need to keep the equal signs and brackets separate from the others, so we recommend you store them separately, too.
- If the children playing are just being introduced to the order of operations, skip the scoring part and just have them take turns making equations.
Recommendation
We recommend 'SMATH to families homeschooling primary and middle school students. Since tiles can easily be omitted, it's easy to adjust the game for different levels of play. Younger players may need assistance.
Summary
This math game is great for introducing the order of operations and reinforcing basic math skills. Since it's easy to omit brackets, division signs, and multiplication signs, 'SMATH can be easily adapted for younger players.