Strategy+4+-+Games

Strategy 4 - Games

This chapter contained lots of great ideas for math games! Here are a few favorites from this chapter: (/kis)
 * Mental Math (This is a great way to fill a couple extra minutes before lining up for dismissal, etc.)
 * Reasonable Measurement game (How much does a person weigh?) (pp. 26)
 * I have . . . Who has? (pp. 26)
 * Bingo (pp. 27)

Carla: This is a strategy that I'm working hard to incorporate more...I know how engaging this is for my kids. Over the summer, I spent some time gathering all of the math game ideas I could find. I know that I'm not using them as much as I could - the games are one of the first things to do when I feel pressed for time and have to cut something out. I've been trying to use them as a filler, and in particular, to add in estimating and problem solving types of things - giving a story problem and having students make reasonable guesses, etc. Some of the games that I've introduced are things that the kids ask to play when we have indoor recess, so I know that they are motivating - I just need to USE THEM!

Jenn

I student taught with an amazing teacher; she had a game for every concept she taught! After a game had been taught, she put it in a tub. Then, when kids were done with their math, they could choose any of the games to play. It was a great way for them to retain information, especially if they were choosing a game from earlier in the year. I have yet to master the management of her system, but really want to implement more games. I think that for a long time the general rule in classrooms has been "if you get done with your assignment, read," but it's time for that to change. If you get done with math, you should DO MORE MATH! I think having kids who are consistently ahead of their classmates design math games to go w/ gameboards would be an awesome enrichment activity. The idea of adding more play is really appealing. I meant to have a little time every day for that this year, but it never worked out. I'm thinking that maybe next year I will introduce a new game on a specific day of the week, and then have it available for the rest of that week before putting it in the game bin!

I have made several new "games" this year. One uses a multiplication chart for the gameboard. Players role two dice, multiply the numbers together, and put a token on the product. The object is to get 4 in a row (5 in a row, depending on how long you want the game to last!) Note: If you use regular dice, the highest product will be 36, so use at least one die that has higher numbers!:)

Almost anything can turn into a game if you pair up two kids and give them two tokens! The one-inch graph paper cut into strips can be a quick and easy game board. If you call it a "game," motivation and engagement increase (at least for a while:)

I also liked the Measurement Team game on page 26. I had a Metric Team and a US Customary Team, and we switched for the second game. Very interesting to see their Measurement Reasoning in action! Janice