Games

Games and Assessment: Exploring Possibilities

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I have long been exploring the ways that games can be used to help students work on needed goals, long after the “material has been covered.” For example, if you get to the end of your multiplication unit and you have a bunch of students that are still not fluent and confident with multiplication skills and strategies, playing games can help. So long as you have a routine for supporting game play, intentionally use games for growth, and have a good set of games to choose from, students will play them and get not only better at their skills, but also at their creative and strategic use of those skills. It works.

Now, you could assess students using measures other than the games themselves–small check in quizzes or activities–but why not use the games themselves? Plus, if you have reluctant and/or highly anxious math learners, games can be a friendly way to get important information for targeted planning or a sense of how things are progressing. Unlike tests or other paper-based activities, assessing through games seems to benefit from engaging directly with students through conversation and being a game participant. This form of assessment also works incredibly well with self-assessment, so long as students know what they are aiming for and can name/identify strategies.

At this point in my exploration, I have tested 3 games as potential assessment tools:

We tested Mathzee with vulnerable grade 10 students from one our district’s alternate secondary schools as well as with one Math Foundations 10 students at a local high school. We are set to try it with grades 6 to 8 as well.

We tested Slideline and Fill the Stairs with multiple classes of grade 6-8 students at local middle schools.

Capture the Square is commonly played at the Elementary level. Levels of the game are chosen either by teachers or students.

 

Conquer the Pyramid

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This is a game with multiple levels for practicing division. You will need:

  • a partner (can also be played in a group of 3)
  • approximately 15 coloured markers for each player
  • a twenty-sided dice or a twenty-deck: 20 Deck
  • a game board of your choice

Game Boards:

Divisor of 2:Conquer the Pyramid 1 (pdf) Conquer the Pyramid 1 (Word)

Divisor of 3: Conquer the Pyramid 2 (pdf) Conquer the Pyramid 2 (Word)

More levels coming soon!

 

Manipulatives in the Intermediate Classroom

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Featured Activities:

Cover UP–Choose your challenge level and set your own game board up using this simple, adaptable game. Cover up solutions using coins and see if you can recall those solutions! Count up your coins at the end to see who wins.

Money Count–printouts for student thinking and coins (if you don’t have them)

Fill the Chart–Create your own strategic game using numbers and concepts you need to practice.

Keep 5–A simple whole class game for practicing adding and multiplication using bingo chips

Starting Routines for Square Tiles

algebra cards

Beat the Tax Man

Zero integer game

Hexaflexagons

Pattern Block Count: Students start with a target number. How many ways can you collect pattern blocks such that the number of sides equals your target number?

Featured Links:

Counting Explained

Number Talks Images

Geogebra (general)

Geogebra (fractions)

Mathigon’s Polypad

Didax Virtual Manipulatives

Nat Banting’s Fraction Talks

Manipulative List (with prices):

Manipulative Kit List

King of the Castle

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king of the castle level 1–practice bridging to ten by capturing castles. Level one is a good starter to see whether or not your students know their “making ten” facts.

King of the castle level 2–practice bridging to twenty. Extends a child’s application of “making ten” facts.

King of the castle level 3 page 1–practice bridging to the friendly tens (multiples of ten). Continues to extend a child’s application of “making ten” facts.

King of the castle level 3 page 2–extra page if a group chooses the challenge extension.

King of the castle level 3 page 3–extra page for challenge extension (if working in a group of 3)

Fast Match and Concentration

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These are two games that can be played if you have sets of partner cards.

Fast Match: You will need a timer, a buddy (or play solo), and a set of partner cards.

  1. Flip all the cards over and mix them up.
  2. Start a timer.
  3. Flip all the cards over so you can see them.
  4. Match up partner cards as quickly as possible.
  5. Stop the timer and record your time. Try to beat your time next time or try to beat a partner’s time.

Partner card options (so far):

Concentration: You will need a buddy and a set of partner cards.

  1. Lay your cards face down in a grid pattern.
  2. Partner 1 flips any two cards over to start. If they match, collect them. If not, make mental note of what and where they are and flip them back over.
  3. Partner 2 takes a turn, attempting to find a match.
  4. Keep going until all cards are collected.

Pig: Whole Class Version

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This is a fun version of the classic adding game that is played at a safe social distance: Pig (whole class version)

Here is a partner version for students who would like to play at home: Pig (partner version)

Probability Extension: Simply use the language of probability that is suggested in the curriculum while playing the game: certain, uncertain, likely, less likely, more likely. You can also compare certainty of outcomes using a deck of cards vs dice. A deck of cards, for example, has a set number of aces in a deck. How does this change game play?

Multiplication Extension: For each round, multiply preserved totals by the number of the round. For example, round 2 is worth double what is rolled. Round 3 is worth triple (etc.). Play until 200 points (or more!) are reached.

I Have, Who Has

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I have been wracking my brains for games that can be played while social distancing. I have, who has is a nice little game that is played the following way:

  1. Seat students at a social distance (either on the floor or at desks). Distribute cards (place cards in front of each student; look but don’t touch). Use all cards in the set. It is okay for some students to receive more than one.
  2. Pick one student to start. Doesn’t matter who or what card they have. They read out their card (for example: I have 4, who has 3 x 3?).
  3. Kids listen carefully and check their cards to see if they have the answer listed at the top. If so, they call out their card: I have 9, who has 5 x 5?
  4. Keep going until everyone has called out their card. The last person will have the first player’s question.

Variations:

  • Get a timer and keep track of how long it takes to complete the first round. The class plays to beat the class score each time.
  • Divide the class into 2 and play competitively! Group 1 races to complete a round as quickly as possible while group 2 listens and watches. Record time, then switch.

Here are the printouts for you to use:

Multiplication:

Smaller set (on the way!)

I have who has 1 (28 cards in this set)

Addition:

On the way!

 

Puzzles and Challenges

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Just in case a challenge is in order!

Open Middle: Computation practice in puzzle form.

NIM Puzzles (by SD43’s Rob Heinrichs). Great for computational thinking.

Mancala: Have an egg carton? If so, you can create and play this ancient strategy game!

The Fold and Cut Challenge (by Games for Young Minds): Excellent challenges that require no more than scrap paper, scissors, visualization and a willingness to persevere! Clear, detailed scaffolds for both primary and intermediate.

Don’t Connect the Dots! (by Games for Young Minds) Another excellent strategy game that requires no more than pencil, paper and lots of thinking.

Factors and Multiples (by Nrich Maths). Play alone, cooperatively or competitively. Make a string of multiples and factors using the numbers 1-100. Try to constantly beat your record!

Intermediate and Middle Years Games

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Games for Adding and Subtracting :

Pig (an adding practice/probability game from Games for Young Minds) and my own whole-class adaptation of Pig (see video here).

Sum Dice (from Games for Young Minds)

Magic Square (from Games for Young Minds)

Advanced Doubles Game–for grade 3 and up

The 100 Game (from Games for Young Minds)

Capture the Square-subtracting–No 20-sided dice? No problem.  Print this 20 deck onto card stock and you’re good to go: 20 Deck

Top Dog Finds the Difference (20)–No 20-sided dice? No problem.  Print this 20 deck onto card stock and you’re good to go: 20 Deck  This game is best used with younger students.

Trash–adaptable and allows for practice of the adding and subtracting of larger numbers.

Games for Multiplication Concepts and Fact Fluency:

Keep 5–A simple whole class game for practicing adding and multiplication using bingo chips

Multiplication War–The classic game adapted for multiplication practice!  The link takes you to a film and a written explanation if you are not sure how to play (from IXL Learning)

top dog multiplies! (2 to 10)–a set of multiplication games for targeted multiplication practice. A simple, yet engaging format for younger students.

Money in the Bank–a set of multiplication games for targeted multiplication practice and money counting!

Cover UP–Choose your challenge level and set your own game board up using this simple, adaptable game. Cover up solutions using coins and see if you can recall those solutions! Count up your coins at the end to see who wins.

Multiplication Capture the Square 1–an engaging game that targets specific times tables.

Multiplication Capture the Square 2–an engaging game that not only targets specific tables, but also the multiples of 10 and 100 that relate!  For example game one is about the multiplies of 2, 20 and 200.  Very handy for developing needed fluency for flexible computation

Multiplication Fast Match–A great game if your students like a bit of competition. You can compete against yourself or others. You just need a timer and the printouts.

Multiplication Table Battle–Simple to set up and great multiplication practice! Students only need a printout, a coloured pencil, and a partner. Groups of three are ok too.

The Product Game (from Games for Young Minds)–an excellent strategy game once you are being to develop fluency with those times tables! You can also extend this game by having students fill in and play using their own game board: Product game extensions printout

Multiplication array game and Multiplication array game 2–a game for strengthening the concept of arrays in multiplication.  Our own twist!

The Remainders Games (from Carol Fullerton’s Mathematical Thinking)

The Longest Chain–a factors and multiples game

Games for Division Concepts and Fact Fluency:

Bridges: Be the first to conquer the mountain! Use division facts and remainders to make your way up the mountain and over treacherous crevices.

Conquer the Pyramid: Be the first to make a path from the bottom to the top of the pyramid. Different levels featured.

Cover UP: Divide and capture the greatest amount of money!

Games for Mixed/Order of Operations:

Fill the Chart

15 Scratch

Target Number

Capture 5 Games!

Games for Number Sense:

Large and Small Numbers (from Manitoba Education and Youth)

What’s My Number? – A place value game (from Games for Young Minds)

The Rounding Game

Place value game: Can I have all your…?

Triple Digit Dare (can easily be adjusted to different sized numbers and even decimal numbers)

Games for Decimals and Fractions:

Fraction Fill-In (from Games for Young Minds)

Games for Integers:

Zero integer game

Fun Strategy Games:

Dots and Boxes (from Games for Young Minds)

Liar’s Dice (from Games for Young Minds)

Don’t Connect the Dots! (from Games for Young Minds)

Diffy: a versatile math puzzle for individual or partner practice.  View how to play using this video.

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