How it works

Number Hive is a strategic mathematics game designed to help students develop a deep understanding of mathematics concepts through play. Students engage in tactical gameplay, reinforcing essential skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division while building critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Set up Your Hive
Begin by creating a teacher account and setting up your class Hive. Number Hive allows you to group students into different hives for easy management. You can customise game modes and monitor student progress through the platform’s user-friendly dashboard.

Game Modes to Choose From

• Player vs Player (PvP): Students can challenge their peers in class or from home. PvP encourages competition, helping students stay motivated and engaged while improving their skills.

• Player vs AI: Ideal for independent practice, this mode allows students to play against an AI opponent. The difficulty adjusts to match their level, ensuring they’re always appropriately challenged.

• Group Mode: Students can collaborate in teams, discussing strategies and solving problems together. This promotes teamwork, communication, and deeper understanding.

Understanding the Gameplay
The objective of Number Hive is to block your opponent from completing a row of four hexagonal tiles. This strategic game is designed to build students’ mathematical fluency by practicing key skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division—depending on the level chosen by the teacher.

Students take turns to answer mathematical questions, and when they answer correctly, they claim a hexagonal tile. The challenge is to out-think the opponent, preventing them from creating a connected line of four hexagons while working to complete their own. The game encourages students to think critically, develop strategies, and apply their number skills in an engaging way. This combination of strategy and mathematics creates a powerful learning experience that enhances both factual fluency and problem-solving.

• Independent Practice for Reinforcement
  Use Number Hive as a tool for students to practise mathematics individually. It’s perfect for early finishers or as part of your station rotation during mathematics lessons. Students can challenge each other or the AI, ensuring they’re continuously honing their skills in a fun and engaging environment.

• Small Group Work for Collaboration
  Group students into teams to work together on developing strategies. Number Hive’s group mode encourages discussion and teamwork, making it a great option for collaborative learning. As students share ideas and solve problems together, they deepen their understanding of key concepts.

• Whole-Class Competitions to Motivate
  Bring excitement to your mathematics lessons by organising class-wide tournaments. Let students compete against each other to capture the queen bee, fostering a sense of competition while reinforcing their mathematical skills. You can also track the number of games played and points earned, recognising top performers and encouraging participation.

• Homework or Home Practice for Extra Support
  Number Hive isn’t just for the classroom—it’s also an excellent tool for home practice. Students can continue improving their skills by playing against classmates from home or practicing against the AI. The game is accessible anywhere, making it easy for students to engage in meaningful learning outside school hours. Encourage parents to join the hive and play along with their children for a shared learning experience.

• Monitor Progress Easily with Data Tracking
  One of the standout features of Number Hive is its ability to track student activity. Teachers can monitor how often students play, the number of games completed, and points earned. This data provides insights into student progress, helping you identify strengths and areas for improvement. Use this information to guide instruction and offer targeted support where needed.

• Safe Practice with AI for Skill Development
  Students can play in a safe, non-competitive environment using the AI practice mode. This is especially useful for building confidence in students who may feel apprehensive about playing against others. They can take their time to master the concepts, boosting both their skills and self-assurance.

• Align with Curriculum Goals
  Number Hive is designed to align with global mathematics standards, focusing on essential skills such as number relationships, operations, and multiplication facts. As the game expands, so will its curriculum coverage, offering support for students from basic number facts to more advanced algebraic concepts.

• Integrate into Lesson Plans
  Incorporate Number Hive into your daily lessons as a warm-up activity or part of your station rotations. It’s a great tool to reinforce lessons and provide students with hands-on practice that’s engaging and enjoyable. You can also use it as an assessment tool to measure student progress in real time.

• Encourage Growth Mindset
  One of the key strengths of Number Hive is its ability to help students overcome a fixed mindset about mathematics. By making learning fun and accessible, the game empowers students to believe they can succeed in mathematics, no matter their starting point.

• Celebrate Achievements
  Recognise and celebrate student progress by tracking points earned and games played. Set up a reward system where students can earn badges, certificates, or other prizes for reaching certain milestones. This encourages participation and helps keep students motivated to keep learning.

• Set Clear Objectives:
  Before using Number Hive, set specific learning goals for your students. Whether it’s mastering multiplication tables or improving problem-solving skills, clear objectives help students stay focused.

• Rotate Group Roles:
  In group mode, rotate roles so that all students get a chance to lead discussions, solve problems, and develop strategies. This ensures equal participation and helps build leadership and communication skills.

• Create Learning Challenges:
  Set up class-wide or grade-wide challenges to foster a competitive yet supportive learning environment. Students can challenge each other in friendly competitions, motivating them to improve their skills through regular gameplay.

• Do I need to supervise students during gameplay?
  No, Number Hive is designed for independent or peer-led learning. However, you can easily monitor student activity through the teacher dashboard.

• How much time should students spend playing?
  The average time a student plays Number Hive is 12 minutes – that is huge engagement. We recommend 10-15 minutes for individual sessions and 20-30 minutes for group work. You can adjust this based on your lesson structure and students’ needs.

• Can I customise the game for different levels?
  Yes! You can adjust difficulty levels and set specific mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) depending on your class’s current focus.