math games for the classroom
free math puzzles and tools for teachers and students
Nerdle games are used in classrooms worldwide to make maths practice engaging. They work as warm-up activities, group challenges, homework alternatives, or just a fun way to end a lesson. Everything described below is free.
nerdle's classroom games
Daily puzzles on the big screen
The simplest way to use nerdle in the classroom: project a puzzle on the whiteboard and solve it together. The whole class discusses what to guess, debates strategy, and learns from the colour feedback. mini nerdle works well for younger students or shorter time slots; classic nerdle suits older groups.
Set your own challenges
super nerdle – generate a batch of nerdle game links that match your rules. Specify the game size and which numbers or symbols appear in the solution. Use this to create a set of puzzles targeting specific skills (e.g. multiplication only, or single-digit answers).
pro nerdle – design your own puzzle by entering the solution yourself. Make it as easy or difficult as you like, then share the link with your class. Good for differentiated challenges or homework.
ready-made challenges – pre-built sets of nerdle challenges at varying difficulty levels.
Competitions and multiplayer
- nerdle cup – set up a private cup for your class and run a competition over days or weeks. Students solve puzzles independently and are ranked by speed and accuracy.
- nerdDuel – head-to-head number puzzles. Pair students up for quick one-on-one challenges as a warm-up or reward activity.
- Weekly challenges – use super nerdle to generate a set of 5 puzzles each Monday and challenge students to complete them by Friday.
- nerdle on Discord – if your class uses Discord (common in secondary schools and after-school clubs), add the nerdle bot to play in-channel with automatic score tracking.
Printable resources
- classic nerdle worksheet (PDF) – printable grids for offline play.
- mini nerdle worksheet (PDF) – shorter grids for younger students.
- Nerdle puzzle books – printed puzzle books for classrooms or prizes.
Which games work best for which age group?
- Primary / elementary (ages 7–10): micro nerdle, mini nerdle, nanagram x6, targets level 1
- Secondary / middle school (ages 11–14): classic nerdle, cross nerdle (Monday–Wednesday), maffdoku level 1–2, nerdDuel
- Upper secondary / high school (ages 14+): maxi nerdle, cross nerdle (Thursday–Sunday), quad nerdle, maffdoku level 3
What skills do nerdle games develop?
Mental arithmetic, order of operations, logical deduction, systematic problem-solving, and comfort with mathematical notation. The competitive and game-based format keeps students engaged in a way that traditional worksheets often don’t.