Denis over at Let’s Play Math reminded me of a great site called Free Rice. Free Rice is a site developed in 2007 by John Breen which was later donated to the UN World Program.  They are also partnered with Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, who have a great mission statement to teach via the internet instead of just entertain. (though you can’t really say no to Hulu…)   Free Rice gives ten grains of rice per correct answer to someone who needs the rice more than you need to be procrastinating by playing.

FreeRice.com

When I first learned about this site they only asked vocabulary questions.  Now they have added arithmetic to the free rice earning!  You need only click on the “Subjects” tab on the top of the page to choose between basic math and multiplication table.  This is a fantastic way for young students to learn these calculations.  And, for those of mathematicians, it’s a great way to relax and feel confident that there is some part of math that you have mastered.  It’s in a free game format accessible right on the web, and it supports a good cause.   This is a great capitalization of our culture’s love of games and the internet to support another culture’s need for food.