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"...you get surreal numbers by playing games. I used to feel guilty in Cambridge that I spent all day playing games, while I was supposed to be doing mathematics. Then, when I discovered surreal numbers, I realized that playing games IS math."
"...you get surreal numbers by playing games. I used to feel guilty in Cambridge that I spent all day playing games, while I was supposed to be doing mathematics. Then, when I discovered surreal numbers, I realized that playing games IS math."
Playing mathematical games is an engaging way for participants to practice skills such as number sense as well as providing opportunities for them to practice logic and strategy. Participants are also engaged in mathematical discussions when playing these sorts of games.
Playing mathematical games is an engaging way for participants to practice skills such as number sense as well as providing opportunities for them to practice logic and strategy. Participants are also engaged in mathematical discussions when playing these sorts of games.
Play enough mathematical games and you will start to create your own games to play.
Play enough mathematical games and you will start to create your own games to play.
When you do, please share them!
When you do, please share them!
Tips for Using Google Slides for Games:
Tips for Using Google Slides for Games:
Some of the games shown below have a set of Google Slides prepared for class/group use. If teaching online:
Duplicate the game board slides so there are the same number of game board slides as you have groups of students.
Share the slides with your class.
Assign groups of students to a particular slide.
All students can be playing the game while the teacher can look at any slide and probe with questions.
Use the grid view so you can see where all the students are at one time (thanks to Kelly Spoon @KellyMSpoon for tweeting the idea on August 17, 2020).
If teaching in person:
Print a slide and use it as a paper and pencil game board.
Print a slide and laminate it so the game board can be reused.
Here are some of our favourite pen(cil) and paper games:
Here are some of our favourite pen(cil) and paper games:
Factors and Multiples (Factor and Multiples as Google Slides, created by Carole Bilyk)
This is a great game for developing multiplicative thinking. By Junior/Middle School, students have been working with multiplication and have been introduced to the vocabulary of factors and multiples. This game is also a good starter when beginning a study of algebraic factoring.
How Close to 100? (How Close to 100 as Google slides, created by Carole Bilyk)
This is a great game for students working with multiplication/area, approximately at the Grades 3 to 8 levels.
Triangle Targets (Triangle Targets as Google Slides, created by Carole Bilyk)
This is a great game for students working on identifying points on the coordinate plane while using vocabulary associated with triangles, approximately at the Grades 6 - 8 levels.
Ultimate Tic Tac Toe is a favourite for ALL ages. Check out Ben Orlin’s post on Ultimate Tic Tac Toe for a description of the game. Ultimate Tic Tac Toe as Google Slides are shared out by Mike Flynn, Check out his Tweet on how to play the game "Ultimate Tic Tac Toe".
Make a Black Hole is an addition game for younger folk, although figuring out strategy is good for all ages. Check out Ben Orlin’s post on Six Strategic Pen-and-Paper Games (from a Strange and Bottomless Mind) for a description of the game. Google Slides are shared out by Mike Flynn. Check out his Tweet on how to play the game "Make a Black Hole".
Checker Board Math is a variation of checkers that requires students to identify mathematical objects or make mathematical expressions in order to move around the board. Inspired by the game posted at Manitoba Educations' Mathematics Learning Resources, the Google Slides were created by Carole Bilyk along with a Google Doc for making new gameboards.
Nim is a VERY old game. There are many variations of this strategy game.
Sprouts, invented by John Conway with his graduate student Mike Paterson, became the subject of a Scientific American column published in July 1967.
Dots and Boxes is a great strategy game for beginners.
Obstruction is another great strategy game for beginners.
Looking for more pen(cil) and paper type games? Try these links:
Looking for more pen(cil) and paper type games? Try these links:
P.S.
Ben Orlin is working on a third book right now about pen and paper games. We can't wait!
Links to games we enjoy playing online:
Links to games we enjoy playing online:
Play enough mathematical games and you will start to create your own games to play! When you do, please share them!
Also, if you have a game to share that is not on our lists, please share it with us. Thanks!
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