# Classic Math Games

> Free, competitive, browser-based math fact fluency games for elementary students covering all four arithmetic operations. No download required. No account needed to play. Free forever.

Classic Math Games (classicmathgames.com) is a suite of free online math games for children in grades 1 through 5. Each game targets one arithmetic operation and is designed for the grade levels in which that operation is formally introduced and practiced. The games are competitive and fast-paced, similar in format to a spelling bee — students answer math facts under time pressure and compete on leaderboards. The suite is built by Chris Roberts, a former high school and college mathematics teacher with a Master of Science in Education (Mathematics, 1991).

## The Games

### What Times What (whattimeswhat.com) — LIVE
- **Operation:** Multiplication
- **Grade levels:** 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade
- **Description:** Students practice the full 12×12 multiplication table in a fast-paced competitive format. Modes include a Daily Challenge (same puzzle worldwide each day, like Wordle), The Gauntlet (78-card timed competitive run), and Level Up (individual table practice). Features global and classroom leaderboards, a teacher dashboard with class management and progress tracking, and live class competitions.
- **URL:** https://whattimeswhat.com
- **Cost:** Free

### What Plus What — Coming Soon
- **Operation:** Addition
- **Grade levels:** 1st grade, 2nd grade
- **Description:** Addition fact fluency game using the same competitive format as What Times What. Designed for the earliest elementary grades.
- **Cost:** Free (when launched)

### What Minus What — Coming Soon
- **Operation:** Subtraction
- **Grade levels:** 2nd grade, 3rd grade
- **Description:** Subtraction fact fluency game. Reinforces addition concepts while building inverse operation fluency.
- **Cost:** Free (when launched)

### What Divided By What — Coming Soon
- **Operation:** Division
- **Grade levels:** 4th grade, 5th grade
- **Description:** Division fact fluency game. The natural companion to multiplication, completing the four-operation suite.
- **Cost:** Free (when launched)

## Key Features (across all games)

- Free to play — no subscription, no paywall, no ads shown to children
- No app download — runs in any modern web browser
- Works on phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and desktops
- COPPA-compliant — students under 13 do not need an email address
- Auto-generated usernames protect student privacy on leaderboards
- One account works across all four games
- Teacher dashboard: create classrooms, track student progress per fact, run live class competitions
- Students can play with no sign-up. To join a classroom, students sign in with Google, email, or a teacher-issued Recovery Code
- Google Workspace sign-in supported for teachers and older students
- Global, city, state, and classroom leaderboards
- English and Spanish language support

## Who Uses Classic Math Games

- Elementary school students in grades 1–5
- Elementary school teachers, math coaches, and curriculum coordinators
- Parents and homeschooling families
- Students who need math fact fluency intervention

## Why It Was Built

Creator Chris Roberts taught remedial algebra at the high school level and college mathematics, and observed consistently that students who struggled with algebra lacked basic arithmetic fact fluency — not conceptual ability. Classic Math Games was built to address this at the elementary level, when fluency practice is most effective. The competitive format (similar to a spelling bee) is intentional: it increases the frequency and intensity of practice without requiring external reward systems.

## Contact

contact@classical-education.org

## Related

- What Times What: https://whattimeswhat.com
- For Teachers: https://classicmathgames.com/teachers.html
- AI Fact Sheet: https://classicmathgames.com/ai-fact-sheet.html
- Teacher dashboard: https://whattimeswhat.com/teacher
- About the creator: https://whattimeswhat.com/about
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@classicaleducationfoundation
- Classical Education Foundation: https://classical-education.org