One of the best ways I have found to motivate young boys (and many girls) to learn math is through teaching math with their favorite superheroes. Here are some fun and engaging free ideas for super hero themed math for preschool all the way to middle school (and even some high school ideas in the last resource, Math Shed.)
I have put most of the ideas into categories with each starting at activities for young learners and going up. However, I wanted to feature this amazingly versatile resource for multiple ages that didn’t quite fit into the other categories. This 90 page download is one of those gems you run across and can’t quite believe it is free. It can be done independently by one child or as a group activity and can be printable or use google docs.
This free math mystery for grades K-6 The Case of the Superbad Superhero is one of the best I have seen for differentiation- you can customize the mystery by mixing and matching the grade levels of the different clue numbers to customize the mystery for your students. (For example, swap clue 1 from the Grade 2 version to clue 1 from the Grade 3 version to make that part more challenging for some students.)
Hands On Games
Catch a Villain for young learners to practice counting, number recognition, and basic addition.
Batman vs. Superman LEGO math games
Superhero Number Vaults game using Legos for young learners to practice addition/subtraction within 10
Avengers inspired math games (both printable and for active outdoor play)
Superhero Coding (no computer required)
Superhero Flash– free template to make your own superhero themed Kaboom/Boom style game cards to practice any math concept you want (any age or grade level)
If you’re willing to buy a game, a great option is Numbers League card game from Bent Castle for ages 8-12. Read an explanation/review of the game at Boardgamegeek
You can also buy Uno Avengers cards and use them for Uno fact practice as explained in this post.
Superhero Math Crafts
Skip Counting to 1000. This clothespin craft not only practices math skills but develops those important fine motor skills!
Super Hero Pattern Stones for patterning and sequencing
Secret Code Generators for practicing any kind of math problem (in this post the mom/teacher made the code generators, but older kids would have fun making their own)
Superhero STEM
Design and build Lego rubber band Batman cars and then use your math skills to measure and graph how far they travel.
Big Hero 6 Engineering Challenge
Engineering Superpowers: Superheroes and Their Nemeses. This resource pack from The Bioengineering Unit at the University of Strathclyde was developed using a grant from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. It’s designed to be a small group project where students are taken through the stages of the engineering design process: identifying a need (new superhero or villain with scientific powers,) conducting research, brainstorming designs, selecting the best design, making a prototype, and communicating and selling the product.
Free Printables
Free Superhero printable set for preK-1st grade from Embark On the Journey
Super Hero printable for addition inequalities
I Spy super hero printables from dyslexia.me
Avengers math puzzles for grades 3-9 on Mash Up Math
Superhero multiplication and division on Coloring Squared
Online Games and Apps
Color Pattern Superhero Race on Toy Theater
Superhero Subtraction on Math Playground
Free Factor Man app for Ipad
Superhero Math Books
Preschool
Elementary School
Need even more superhero resources? See the Superhero Maths Shed for many free downloads and challenges for all ages.
