I’ve been teaching basic math facts to primary students for 18 years. Today’s child is just not interested in memorizing facts like we used to. So it’s always an ongoing challenge to find math activities that engage students and help commit the facts to memory.

In the past several years my class has been lucky enough to try out various games produced by Plato Games Inc. to help develop basic skills such as addition, subtraction and multiplication. To say that these games are a hit is to put it mildly. The kids absolutely loved these games and use them on a regular basis. Not only are the games totally engaging and captivate the kids attention, but they are constantly using and reinforcing their math facts throughout the game. The kids are memorizing their facts without knowing it!

One of the most popular games of choice is the dual-sided Countin’ Mountain. My students love the themes of mountain biking and snowboarding and they think the graphics are totally cool! They also love how the game is played vertically which is a very unique playing format. Two sides can be played at once in the classroom – so four students can play at a time. They also have the choice between easier or more challenging facts – thus meeting all the learning needs. I can’t say enough about the game and would recommend it for both classrooms and homes.

~ Grade 2 teacher, Maple Ridge, BC


As a support teacher working with small groups of students that have learning challenges, I’m always on the lookout to find new and exciting ways of creating student enthusiasm in learning and practising sight words, phonemic principles, math facts, or review for tests in socials or science. Often this learning can be mundane because these students need more repetition than their average peers. Games are great motivators because students become so excited about playing the game that they don’t realize that they are also practising and learning a variety of skills or facts. I like to use games that are active, appealing to kids’ interests, and are quick to play in a short period of time. When I was introduced to the game “Countin Mountain” I thought this would be a great addition to my collection of games. Although “Countin Mountain” is a math game, I do not use it as such. What I do with all of my games is I determine what skill or information needs to be reviewed and I have many sets of flashcards that cover anything from letters, sight words, math facts, and/ or facts related to a specific unit in socials or science. When I play the game, the students need to answer a skill testing question from the set of flashcards before they are able to complete their turn. This way I can personalize the review for each of the groups I work with. The students have fun playing the game and at the same time get practise or review. As you can see I do not follow the game directions as instructed. I use the game to meet the needs of my students. “Countin Mountain” is great for this for many reasons. The students love the graphics and the topics of mountain biking and snowboarding. They love the fact that it stands like a “mountain” and the game pieces are magnetic. I love the game because I get two games in one, it is portable with very few game pieces that could get lost, and it only takes a few minutes to complete a game. I know my students can hardly wait to play the game. It is a fun way to either open or conclude a lesson. I know I can hardly wait for the “game time” because my students are engaged and learning at the same time.

~ Aboriginal Support Teacher, Maple Ridge, BC

I had the game standing up on the library check-out counter as I was waiting for a small group of grade two’s to come in so I could teach them to play the game. While I was waiting, a group of grade six students arrived with an assignment from their teacher. They saw the game on the counter and said, “Cool! When we’re finished our work can we play?”

When the grade two group came in, they spotted them the game and couldn’t wait to get started. The instructions were straight forward so the game started almost immediately. The kids loved it, especially the boys, and had a great time. They found it exciting. It was great to be with a group who were obviously having such a good time doing math. Comments like, “This is cool” were interspersed by sounds of laughter and ooh’s and ahh’s as they rode up the lifts or slid down the slopes. They tried the games both ways, for addition and subtraction, and they loved it either way. As the teacher, I smiled knowing that the kids were doing math without even realizing it.

~ Teacher-librarian and Learning Assistance Teacher, Vancouver, BC

My favourite game is the new Countin’ Mountain because it is two-sided and the graphics are very cool. I also like Sk88 a lot. Please come back soon.

~ Age 8, Grade 2 Student

I like Countin’ Mountain because I like biking and snowboarding, and the board is magnetic.

~ Age 9, Grade 3 Student

I like Countin’ Mountain because you can do jumps and the snowboarders are cool – especially the guy on top. It’s really cool.

~ Age 8, Grade 3 Student