Game Tuesday

Every Tuesday, we play a math-related game in my class.  Sometimes my kids like the game, sometimes they don't.  The last two weeks were pretty successful!

Cube Game:
I have a bunch of number cubes in my room, and a little book with some games to play with them.  Mostly to help kids learn their math facts.

I altered the rules of one of them to add some strategy.  To play you need 4 number cubes numbered 0-5.  (or you can use dice and just pretend the 6 is a 0.  Ta-da! 0-5 number cube.)

On your turn, roll all 4 cubes.  Use 1 or 2 or 3 (but not all 4) of the digits to create a 1 or 2 or 3 (but not 4) digit number.  That is your score.

On your next turn, roll the 4 cubes again.  Make a 1 or 2 or 3 digit number, and then add, or subtract or multiply or divide it (if it works out evenly) with your score.

Continue until someone gets exactly 1000.  Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Sounds so simple, but seriously, this game was a huge hit!  I even enjoyed playing it.

Here's an example:

Roll:  2, 3, 3, 4 --> 24
Score: 24

Roll: 0, 1, 3, 4 --> 40
Score 24 x 40 = 960

Roll: 1, 1, 2, 5 --> 51
Score 960 + 51 = 1011

Roll: 0, 1, 1, 3 --> 11
Score: 1011 - 11 = 1000


The Product Game:
Totally fun game that I played with my students today.  It seems simple, as it was invented to help kids with basic multiplication facts.  But it turns out there is quite a lot of strategy to this game...

Here's a link to an online version of the game.  Grab someone to play with and try it!

We made our own game boards and mixed up the numbers to make the game even more interesting.



Play both and let me know what you think!