Math Games Online

I have been working on assembling links to some good online math games to put on the computers that the students use at Centers time. We already have KidPix, Logo, and a couple of installed math games on the computers. The links will expand the choices.

As I evaluate which games to use, I found an online article that has been helpful. It was posted by NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and discusses math games and how to evaluate the many online games to finds ones that support students’ learning of math concepts in an interactive way. Here is a link to the article, which includes links to some games that they recommend:  http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=27612

I follow the Free Technology for Teachers blog which features a wealth of resources for teachers available online. Richard Byrne, who writes the blog, periodically includes math resources, including games, in his post.

Fraction Games

We have several board games in our classroom that focus on fractions: Frog Pond Fractions (by Trend Enterprises, Inc.,) Auntie Pasta's Fraction Game (by Learning Resources,) and Pie in the Sky (by Learning Resources.) Now that we are working on fractions in math group, the games are on our math group shelves and are one of the choices that students may make at "math choice" time, when they have finished their group work for the day.

More Fractions

One fraction activity that I particularly love with this age is one I take from Marilyn Burn's About Teaching Mathematics: A K-8 Resource. In the activity, the students make fraction kits, cutting identically sized and multi-colored strips of paper up different ways. First they cut one in half and label each piece 1/2. The next strip is cut in 4 equal pieces and labeled appropriately. By the time we get to the fifth piece, the children have cut and written a lot. They are worried that they will need to cut this piece into 32 pieces, so they are relieved that this piece stays intact to represent 1 or 1/1.

Last week we made our fraction kits and learned the game Cover Up, in which they roll a fraction cube to get pieces to cover the whole piece. Later this week we will learn the game Uncover. We will also use the kits to explore how fractions add together and equivalent fractions. It is a great hands on activity.

World Math Day

Wednesday, March 4, was World Math Day. Although we did not participate in any of the online competitions associated with Math Day, we found a fun way to celebrate the day. Lower School head teacher, Lisa, came to Sky Class and taught the students a math game based on some traditional Native American math games. After playing the game with a partner, students got to take the materials home so that they could play the game some more.

Countdown!

We usually begin math group with a whole group activity. After that we often work with partners or individually. Children often finish the work/project for the day at different times. If there is time left before snacktime at 10:00, they may have Math Choice. Choice time usually includes Job Cards (individual math task cards from Creative Publications and Marcy Cook), math workbooks, and math games from our math shelves. Currently the games on the shelf are Race for a Dollar and COUNTDOWN!.

COUNTDOWN! (by Cadaco) is a current favorite. In this game each player has wooden pegs numbered 1-10. In turn, players roll two dice. Each takes the two numbers generated and adds, subtracts, multiplies, or divides the two numbers. He/she turns over one peg representing the result of the operation chosen. For example, if 2 and 6 are rolled, the player can flip over 8 (2+6), 4 (6-2), or 3 (6 divided by 2). Multiplication does not work here as 2 X 6 is more than 10. The goal is to flip over all 10 number pegs. Some of the children are quicker at mental math and easily come up with the options. Others are helped by their fellow players to consider what numbers they can use. Over time they develop strategies, recognizing which numbers are harder to get and turning those over as soon as they can. It is a great game for strengthening students' understanding of number operations and their quick recall of math facts.