10 Educational Games Kids Love (K–6) — Fun Learning Through Play

As homeschooling families, we LOVE when learning feels natural, hands-on, and exciting. One of the best ways to make that happen is through educational games. Whether you need a quick math warm-up, a rainy-day activity, or a quiet independent learning option, these games pack a big educational punch.

Here are 10 engaging, teacher-approved games for Kindergarten through 6th grade—covering math, spelling, history, logic, and more!

1. Sum Swamp (Math • Ages 5–8)

• Type: Board game

• Skills: Addition, subtraction, odd/even, number sense

• A classic in younger grades, Sum Swamp turns math facts into an adventure-filled swamp crawl. Kids roll, add, subtract, and race to the finish. Perfect for boosting confidence with early computation.

  

2. Scrabble Junior or Bananagrams (Spelling & Vocabulary • Ages 5–12)

• Type: Board/Card

• Skills: Spelling, phonics, vocabulary, word building

• Scrabble Jr. is great for beginning readers, while Bananagrams offers fast-paced word-building for older kids. Great for morning baskets, spelling warm-ups, or early-finisher activities.

  

3. Ticket to Ride: First Journey (Geography & Strategy • Ages 6+)

• Type: Board game

• Skills: U.S. geography, map reading, planning, logical thinking

• Kids connect routes, learn city locations, and strengthen spatial reasoning—without realizing they’re learning geography.

4. Timeline (History • Ages 8+)

• Type: Card game

• Skills: Historical sequencing, dates, cause & effect

• Players place events, inventions, and discoveries in chronological order. It's simple but gets everyone (even adults!) talking about history.

5. DragonBox Numbers or DragonBox Algebra (Math • Ages 5–12)

• Type: App / Computer game

• Skills: Number sense, algebraic thinking

• These beautifully designed math games introduce deep math concepts through puzzles and playful exploration—no worksheets needed.

  

6. Osmo Educational Games (STEM, Spelling, Math • Ages 4–10)

• Type: Tablet + manipulatives

• Skills: Coding, math, spelling, creative thinking

• Kids interact with physical pieces that sync to the screen. Great for hands-on learners! Popular choices include Osmo Words, Osmo Coding Awbie, and Osmo Math Wizard.

  

7. Prime Climb (Math • Ages 8–12)

• Type: Board game

• Skills: Multiplication, division, factors, number strategy

• A colorful, strategy-based math game perfect for upper elementary students. It makes prime numbers and factorization surprisingly fun!

  

8. Oregon Trail Handheld or Card Game (History • Ages 8–12)

• Type: Handheld or card game

• Skills: U.S. history, decision-making, cause/effect

• Kids make choices, face obstacles, and learn about pioneer challenges

  

9. Prodigy Math or Prodigy English (Math & ELA • Ages 6–12)

• Type: Computer game

• Skills: Math facts, grammar, reading comprehension

• Game-based learning that feels like an adventure RPG. Kids love it, and parents get data on progress.

  

10. Rush Hour (Logic • Ages 6+)

• Type: Logic puzzle

• Skills: Critical thinking, planning, problem solving

• Kids slide cars on a grid to free a trapped vehicle. Great for independent quiet time, brain breaks, or centers.

  

How to Use Games in Your Homeschool

Here are a few easy ways to incorporate them weekly:

🌟 Morning warm-up: Start the day with a quick round of a card game.

🌟 Friday Fun Day: Rotate board games as part of your weekly routine.

🌟 Independent learning: Logic and digital games make great solo activities.

🌟 Family game night: Sneak learning in without the kids noticing!

🌟 Centers / Workboxes: Assign a specific game to reinforce skills.