Addictive New Math Game

NCTM's Calculation Nation has a new game, neXtu, that can only be considered addictive! My 8yo and I took turns playing it yesterday. We're still learning all the strategies involved. You can play directly from the link below:

Play neXtu »

ThinkFun: Block by Block (Holiday Deal!)

I'm still watching for last-minute Christmas deals. Here's one that I just noticed...again, the cheapest I've ever seen it. My 8yo son got ThinkFun: Block by Block for his birthday. It's a 3-D puzzle with small groups of cubes stuck together in a variety of shapes. You receive a deck of cards with puzzles to make using the cube formations. It's a challenging activity to work on spatial relationships. My 8yo found it too difficult. We've set it aside for the time being, but I am looking forward to using it in a couple years when it will be a good next step up from geoblocks and some of the other geometric puzzles we own. With it's own little carrying bag for the pieces and the deck of card puzzles, it would make an excellent math workbox for older kids...say 10- or 12- and up...or younger kids who are spatially gifted. One Amazon reviewer noted that it's also a good activity to try to solve as a group.

P.S. I also just noticed that Zeus on the Loose is really cheap today. We play that game with my 8yo a lot...good for simple addition/subtraction practice.

Disclaimer: to date, I have no affiliation with anything listed on this page. If you order from Amazon, all commissions go toward foster care through Grace and Hope at no additional cost to you. THANK YOU!

Math Toys, Gifts & Games--Lots of Discounts!

I'm more-or-less done with Christmas shopping for my youngest two. But I just made several math toys/games purchases for their birthdays, friends' birthday parties, emergency travel distractions, etc. when I found some products with major markdowns. For example, Chocolate Fix is the lowest that I've seen it. (Also check out Inchimals, ThinkFun Hoppers, Zeus on the Loose, Kanoodle and SET.) I've noticed that they're severely lowering prices on different products each day, so it's worth keeping an eye on anything you're interested in. I'm watching my own Math Toys, Gifts & Games list! ;) The math calendars are discounted, too.

Disclaimer: to date, I have no affiliation with anything listed on this page.  If you order from Amazon, all commissions go toward foster care in China through Grace and Hope at no additional cost to you. THANK YOU!

Advent Calendar of Math Games

First, found NRICH, a very cool website with "thousands of free mathematics enrichment materials (problems, articles and games) for teachers and learners from ages 5 to 19 years."

Second, noticed that it contains an Advent Calendar with a "mathematical game for each day during the build-up to Christmas." You just click on the date to see a new game. Most of them are on-line, interactive. Fun stuff!

Milk Cap Math: MADS Elimination

Here is another milk cap math game for basic +/-/x/division practice. My 15yo daughter thought of the name, MADS Elimination. (Thanks!)

The object?

M: multiply
A: add
D: divide
S: subtract

...in order to eliminate all milk caps on the playing field. (Before you go completely MADs!)

You'll need:

• two sets of 10 milk caps (any color), numbered 1-10
• two, 1-6 dice

To play the game, each player forms a line of milk caps, 1-10. Players take turns rolling the dice. When dice are rolled, the player may choose to multiply, add, divide, or subtract. So, for example:

Dice rolled: 3 and 5

I can:

M: 3 x 5 (won't work since my caps are 1-10)
A: 3 + 5 = 8
D: 5 / 3 = 2.5 (won't work)
S: 5 - 3 = 2

So I could eliminate either the 2 or the 8 cap. If the cap(s) has already been eliminated, I lose my turn. The first player to eliminate all caps, wins.

You can make this a little easier (preschool) by using 6 caps (1-6) and one die (1-6) and removing caps from the table as you roll each number.

You can make this a little harder by using bigger numbers (on the caps) or having the option of rolling multiple dice. For example, you could roll three, 1-6 dice, and make a number sentence using all three numbers. (You could also use dice with different numbers: 0-5, 4-9, etc.)

Example using 3 dice:

I roll: 1,3,4

I could do any number of combinations...I won't list them all, but for example:

3 - 1 + 4

1 x 4 - 3   (You could even talk about order of operations here.)

4 - 1 + 3

Lots and lots of possibilities for this game!

Running out of math caps yet?? ;)

This is another great math workbox game! ;)

Milk Cap Math: Magic Square Game

Here's another idea for Milk Cap Math...

[As a side note, when I went to find my milk caps, they were gone. I finally located them under the piano in my 4yo's "house." Apparently, they are good for a lot more than MATH!]

Milk Cap Math Magic Square Game

You'll need:
*9 milk caps, any colors, numbered 1-9.

To play:
Place numbers in a 3 cap by 3 cap square as shown. Rearrange numbers so that the sum of any 3 caps (diagonal, column and row) equals 15.

You can play this Magic Square Game online to get the idea, but I recommend using milk caps (or something similar) to manipulate the numbers. When you manually move the numbers, you are able to experiment with different combinations in a way that just isn't possible with the online game.

Thank you SO MUCH to reader, musicalmary, for alerting me to the connection to the book, Ben Franklin and His Magic Squares! We just happen to be studying Ben Franklin right now in history, so this is perfect!!!

This would be another great math workbox!

Sleeping Queens Game (Gift Idea #2)

My 8yo son received an inexpensive card game, Sleeping Queens, for his birthday. He'd play it every day if we would. (His 4yo brother is also able to play with adult supervision.)

The object of the game is to collect queen cards or points. Various character cards--king, knight, dragon, sleeping potion, wand, jester--cause a variety of actions. Although the game feels like pure entertainment, it includes a mathematical component; you can discard (a good thing!) three or more number cards that make an addition equation. For example, if you have cards numbered 2, 3, and 5, you can discard them if you notice that 2+3=5.

As a fascinating side note, the game was invented by a 6yo girl who lay awake one night, dreaming up the rules for the game.

The box says for ages 8 and up, 2-5 players, about 20 minutes/game.

LilDude says he highly recommends it! It would make a great math workbox.

Math App Saturday (#9 iCut)

Saturday series on using free educational apps for iTouch/iPhone/iPad continues with...

iCut
"Discover a brand-new puzzle to get your brain skills to a new level! Cut different shapes into congruent parts."

Math App Saturday (#3, Rush Hour & Think Fun products)

Saturday series on using educational apps for iTouch/iPhone/iPad continues with Rush Hour, a game that delves into puzzles and problem solving.

Rush Hour
An electronic version of the popular sliding block logic puzzle, Rush Hour "tracks your moves and compares them to the shortest, most efficient path possible.  When you solve the challenge in more than the minimum, you get challenged to do better… to keep playing until you get a PERFECT SCORE."

The free game has four levels: easy, medium, hard, expert... with 10 games on each of the first three levels and 5 games on the last.

Rush Hour is particularly good for spatial awareness and encourages players to look for patterns, a key "ingredient" to building mathematical thinking skills.

This game impressed me enough that I spent some time perusing the company website, Think Fun. On the website you can access a page on "How we use Rush Hour in Schools to Teach Thinking Skills." Downloadable teaching resources for Rush Hour are also available. You can print game boards and cut out vehicles for additional challenges.

The Think Fun website offers additional games and teaching resources. In my opinion, they live up to their "Think FUN" name:

Chocolate Fix
Players must place candies on a tray, deducing which chocolate (with which attribute) goes in which location. It is an "exercise in deductive reasoning, and players become more effective as they acquire strategies that support their reasoning process."  An on-line version of the game is posted here. Many lesson plans are also available, free.

Math Dice are games using a particular selection of dice (that I suppose you could independently purchase if you don't own the product...or, if you're like me, you already have a variety of numbered dice in your math cupboard.) Instructions are available in pdf form for games at several levels of challenge.

ThinkFun also has its own educational forum. Educators talk about innovative ways they've used the games.

Have FUN trying it all out! ;)

Disclaimer: I've only tried the free apps and the on-line games. ThinkFun has a lot of educational games/products available, but I haven't tried any but the free ones so far. I have no company ties. Bummer. 'Cause they're pretty cool! ;)

Math Game Review: Othello

We bought Othello last week and have played it every day since, usually multiple times a day. It's a game that my 7-year-old is asking to play -AND- a game that I enjoy because I find it every bit as challenging as he does. (A rare combination!)

The game is for two players. The object is to have the most discs on the board with your color turned up (discs are black on one side, white on the other). When you flank the discs of the other player, all the discs in that row are captured and are flipped over to reveal your color. It takes minutes to learn but the strategies involved are complex. I'm only beginning to figure it out. So far, we've learned that capturing corners and edges seems to be particularly important.

We played an app (iTouch/iPad/iPhone) version of the game called Tournament Reversi before we bought the board game. I found it extremely challenging. (If it's easy for you, please don't tell me!) The app helped us learn how the game works; however, I've found the board game to be better for strategizing. The app turns the pieces over so fast that it's hard to fully understand the effects of your move. With Othello, you have to turn the pieces yourself and clearly see the results...whether you like it or not. ;)

You can also try Reversi on-line. 

Educational ties: problem solving, spatial skills, logic

Disclaimer: I bought my own game and have no contact with the company that produces it. If you use the Amazon link to buy your own, I will make a few cents (at no cost to you.) My blog policy, however, is that I don't blog about things that I don't like. Our whole family is enjoying this. :)

Equilibrio, Architecto, Cliko (Blocks for Big Kids)

Over at Joyful Learner, today's "Math Monday" topic is block play. Here's a block product for older kids (5 to adult) that develops mathematical skills.

The Equilibrio, Architecto, and Cliko line by FoxMind rank in my top ten for math education products. I began using them a year ago with my 7yo. The products vary in complexity even within a given book and can be used with children through adults. Here's a brief overview:


Equilibrio could, I suppose, be considered the first in the "series" as the recommended age is 5 and up.

 The boxed set comes with a set of 18 specialty blocks that are used to erect structures illustrated in the spiral-bound challenge book. The structures begin deceptively simple ("Oh, this is soooooo easy!") and become increasingly difficult as you progress through 60 different structures. Levels of difficulty are indicated at the bottom of the page, as are guides that tell exactly which blocks are used in the structure. My son can easily build the early structures on his own, but he needs help as the book progresses. A lot of balance is necessary for some of the more difficult buildings. [If you buy the Architecto set below, you get the blocks and need an Equilibrio: book only.]


Architecto, recommended for ages 7 & up, is slightly different, although it uses the same blocks.

This book illustrates 3-D models. At the bottom of each page you see which blocks are used, but you have to look at the 3-D model, using "fairly sophisticated logical analysis and spatial perception" in order to build it. 50 illustrations/building puzzles are included.







Finally, Cliko, the granddaddy of challenges, is recommended for 8 years and up for people who "enjoy sophisticated puzzles." [Link is just to the book and assumes you already own the blocks through one of the above sets.]

In this book you again see a photo of a structure along with a list of blocks needed to complete it. This book, however, shows certain viewpoints of the structure...and the player needs to consider all viewpoints in order to determine whether a structure is feasible or not; sometimes the structure is shown at 3 different camera angles. Tough stuff. My 7yo can do beginning levels. I'm not sure if I can do the most advanced.



Disclaimer: I bought my own set--one set of blocks and all 3 books--and have no contact with the company that produces it. If you use the Amazon link to buy your own, Grace and Hope (foster care for kids in China) will make a few cents (at no cost to you.) My blog policy, however, is that I don't blog about things that I don't like. I love this.

Happy Building! ;)

Math Game Review: Think and Jump

While I do play a lot of math strategy games with my child(ren), I can't do this all the time. It's nice to have some games that can be played independently...like Hi-Q, now called Think and Jump. A version of the classic "peg jump," the game allows a player to strategize as he tries to remove as many pegs from the board as possible. This is a great game for "quiet time" at our house as my son can play it independently. He enjoys the challenge of trying to eliminate more pegs than he did the previous day. The puzzle develops skills in logic, spatial thinking, and pattern recognition, among others. And more importantly? At rest time yesterday when I handed him the game, he responded, "Oh, cool!"

Disclaimer: I bought my own Hi-Q game (which I do not see available through Amazon, although the one mentioned here is just a newer version) and have no contact with the company that produces it. If you use the Amazon link to buy your own, I will make a few cents. My blog policy, however, is that I don't blog about things that I don't like. I like this. :)

Tri-Ominoes (Addition/Subtraction Game)

Tri-Ominoes, a game played similar to dominoes, provides addition and subtraction practice. When players lay a piece, they must add the three numbers on the triominoe as well as keep track of their total points. Since the game is played until someone reaches 400, it provides a lot of practice in adding and subtracting. (The subtracting comes in when a player must draw a triominoe...a loss of 5 points for each that must be drawn.) Bonus points are awarded for unique configurations of triangles, such as completing a hexagon.

We bought this game this weekend and kids ages 7-14 as well as adults have been playing and enjoying it ever since. :)

Polydrons: Math Manipulative for All Ages!

I had the privilege of teaching 4th-6th grade TAG (talented/gifted.)  If students finished the current activity, they were invited to "choice time." Many children chose the polydrons. They were quite fascinated by this math manipulative that can be used to create any number of geometric structures. Age-wise, they are quite versatile; when my son was in public school kindergarten, his class owned a set. So if you're looking for something new to "play" with (and get a little learnin' in on the side), this might be an option to explore. Here's a free user guide.

BTW, I don't make anything from mentioning Polydrons; I just like 'em. ;)

Math Snack (games and videos) FUN!!!

In researching iTouch/iPhone math game apps (blog post soon to come!), I ran across a gem. This site is SO COOL! Check it out...

Math Snacks are short animations and mini–games designed to help learners "get it". Each snack presents a mathematical concept, particularly those addressed in grades 6, 7 and 8. Ideal for use in a classroom or on your own, they can even be placed on mobile devices for "homework". The accompanying print materials can assist learners in applying their conceptual understanding to math problems.

If you visit the website, you'll find both learner and teacher guides to go with the apps.


Pearl Diver
I'm listing this one first because it's so nifty. In this game, available on the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch (FREE!) the "pearl diver" must swim to the bottom of the sea, while avoiding electronic eels. The "sea" is a number line with increasing levels of difficulty. I played with numberlines that included: 1-10, negative to positive numbers, fractions, etc. Very fun, interesting game for numberline skills practice and development of number sense. [play online or download for iPod]

Other Math Snacks that you can view online or download for iPod include:

Bad Date
This humorous animation visualizes the ratio of words spoken on a series of dates. [movie, view online or download for iPod, pdf learner/teacher guides]

Scale Ella
A crusading superhero clarifies and uses scale factor. [movie, view online or download for iPod]

Atlantean Dodgeball
Ratio errors confuse one of the coaches in an epic dodgeball tournament. [movie, view online or download for iPod, pdf learner/teacher guides]

Number Rights
A passionate activist clarifies equality on a number line. [movie, view online or download for iPod, pdf learner/teacher guides]

Overruled!
Rulers value proper units and proportional details. [movie, view online or download for iPod, pdf learner/teacher guides]

Visit again soon for a lengthy list of free math game apps for iTouch/iPhone.


Edited to add a note from Barbara at Math Snacks:

I'm so pleased you like Math Snacks! Over the next four years, we'll be adding more of them, so it is great knowing we've hit the right content and the right approach.

I love your blog. Thanks so much! I'm not sure how much you know about Math Snacks... currently available are 5 animations and one game. All are available to play and watch online on the website (mathsnacks.com), and on iTunes for download (for full screen video that could be downloaded, then would not require internet connection to play.) In addition, there are iPod/iPad versions of the game, Pearl Diver, as well as a video player which includes the available animations.

Math Snacks Video Player for iPad/iPod
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-snacks-video/id341673343?mt=8

Pearl Diver Game for iPhone
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pearl-diver/id337567843?mt=8

Pearl Diver Game for iPad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pearl-diver-hd/id364617763?mt=8

All animations (to download to iTunes)
http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/nmsu-public.1559973710.01559973717

We'll keep working, and hope to please you in the future, as well. Keep up the good work in identifying new learning approaches, and sharing them on your blog.

Barbara

Incan Quipu Math (place value, history)

During the Inca empire, a system of knots was used for adding numbers. We've been reading about it in a fascinating math/activity/history book,  The Secret Life of Math; discover how (and why) numbers have survived from the cave dwellers to us!

We did a little quipu activity and quickly figured out why this math method--though effective--didn't last to the present day. At least not if everyone was as bad at knot tying as we are! ;) It is, however, a fun activity to explore history and reinforce knowledge of place value.



Inca Quipu Math activity

Materials needed:

a thin dowel or chopstick
thin cord
colored markers
scissors
paper/pencil (optional)

Procedure:

1. Tie four long cords onto the dowel. If the cord is too short, you won't be able to tie many knots, so leave yourself plenty of room. The three cords to your right are the addends, the cord on the left is the summation.

2. Though the Incas didn't do this, we added colored marks on the cord so we could easily see the divisions between each place value grouping. As you tie knots the cords won't continue to line up evenly, but it will help you be able to see that the hundreds are between the orange and purple marks, etc.

3. Decide on three numbers you'd like to add. Tie knots on your cord to represent the numbers. For example, on the cord on the far right (below) we chose the number 2,133. This is represented by two knots in the very top section, one knot in the next section, three knots in the third section, and three knots in the bottom section. We made number cards just to help us remember what we were doing. (Later it was fun to mix and match the cards with the cords!)

4. Add the knots in all the ones sections on all three cords. Record the total number of ones on the summation cord. For us, the ones totaled 11; therefore, we put 1 knot in the ones section and 1 knot on the tens section on the summation cord. Continue through each subsequent place value section.

We did this activity during a study of Inca history. My student, age 7, found it difficult to tie the knots, so I did most of the tying. He did the adding and writing. When we finished he said, "That was FUN!"

Another place value game that my children enjoy from time to time...Learning Resources Dino Math Tracks Place Value Game. Here's the Amazon product description:

"Prehistoric pals make this award-winning math game a blast. Roll the dice and move the dinosaurs around a delightfully illustrated game board. Learn all about numbers - from counting, addition and subtraction to place value skills. Includes game board, 16 dinosaurs, cards, number die and instructions for various levels of play. For 2 to 4 players."

I also found a little online activity to practice identifying place value in a number.

Addition Fact Games--Make Ten

We've been working on materials from Bridges, Grade 3, of The Math Learning Center. I want to share some fun activities, designed to promote fluency with addition facts.

One card game, "Make the Sum," comes with the MLC materials. Prior to receiving the materials, we played "Make Ten," a variation based on the MLC game using a deck of regular cards.

Materials Needed:
deck of cards, A = 1, then 2-9 cards (remove all other face cards)

Object:
To collect combinations of cards that make 10. Player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

To play:
Shuffle the deck and lay face down on the table. Draw top card and lay face up on the playing field. Player #1 looks at the card and says which card he would like to draw in order to make 10. He draws a card. If he can make 10, he tells the other player which cards add up to 10 and takes those cards. If not, he adds his card to the field.

Player #2 then says which cards he would like to draw in order to make 10 using the cards already on the field. He draws and then either makes 10 or, if not, lays his card on the field and play goes back to Player #1. Combinations of more than two cards are desirable as the players with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

Here's a video demonstrating how to play the MLC game.



My student gained more skills practice in "Make 10" by using an on-line game (also recommended by MLC) called "Math Lines." This game is unbelievably addictive. It's embarrassing to admit, but I made my little student stand next to me and watch while I played because I wanted to see how many levels I could master. ;) He loves the game as well.

Farm addition is another game that provides practice in addition facts. We found it just as we finished My Little Farm.

Games That Emphasize Patterns (SET and Blink)

One of the parts of math I most enjoy? The search for patterns. Here are two games that make patterns especially fun:

SET is one of the best games out there. I recommend it when I lead teacher workshops and those who are familiar with it always sing it's praises. Basic concept? Lay out 12 cards and look for "sets"...a set comprises 3 cards in which all the characteristics are either completely the same or completely different. But there are many characteristics and therefore, many possible combinations. Some sets are very simple, others very complex. Kids as young as 6 can play...and sometimes beat!...adults. Any number of people can play. I've used it in homeschool co-ops before, spreading it out on a table so kids can look for sets as other kids are arriving. It works well in a classroom when used under a document camera. It's also an awesome family game.


While scanning the game shelves at Goodwill last week, I came across a cardgame that I was unfamiliar with, Blink. I left it there, not seeing directions or knowing what it was. I should have bought it. I came home, looked it up on Amazon, and ended up buying a new set. 

Blink is a fast, much easier version of SET. My 7yo son is just beginning to understand some of the complex patterns that are possible with SET. In contrast, the patterns in Blink are easy, but it's a game that takes 2 minutes or less. As fast as you can, you're looking to match figure shape, color, or numbers. I backed off my pace to make it a fair match with my 7yo, but even my 4yo was able to place cards in patterns. We just slowed WAAAAYYYYY down. But the game is fun enough to play full-throttle with a big kid or adult. We'll likely take it on trips as it comes in a little tin box, making it easy to pack.


Both games do a great job of encouraging players to search for patterns. You can also play one game of SET each day, on-line.

Math and Poetry ("Smart" by Shel Silverstein, money lessons)

Have you ever considered combining math and poetry? You might join a friend and read Math Talk: Mathematical Ideas in Poems for Two Voices. You could read "Shapes," by Shel Silverstein in his book, A Light in the Attic. Or you might consider using the hilarious poem, "Smart," (also by Silverstein in Where the Sidewalk Ends) and combine math (money), poetry, and drama.

(Note: you can purchase just the MP3 of "Smart" on Amazon, cheap. I own the audio recording of the books, available on CD: Where the Sidewalk Ends CD, A Light in the Attic CD.)

Today, Little Student and I read "Smart" aloud. We then used real money to demonstrate each of the exchanges that take place in the poem. As we made each exchange, my student (in the role of the son) told me how much money he lost in that step. He cut out coins and a dollar bill from printouts to represent the money used in the poem and glued them onto a 5-flap book. He read the poem again, pointing to each visual representation of the money as he went. Finally, he wrote number sentences to demonstrate what happened in each exchange; he wrote subtraction problems with blanks to fill in (see photo) to show how much money was lost each time.



He also played some money games on-line, selected from the following...

On-line Money Games:

Cash Out--Player becomes the cashier at a store and must give change. Varying levels of difficult.

Making Change--Pet store worker must make change with fewest possible coins.

Moneyville--fun, on-line role plays from the Moneyville touring exhibit. Become a neighborhood lemonade tycoon!

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives--(look under "money" by grade level)--Count the money and enter the correct amount.

Practice Counting Money--Player has to click and drag coins to equal the total amount shown.

Scottie Nickel-- Change money into the smallest number of coins possible.


Additional Teaching Resources on Money
Mathwire also has some fabulous lessons on money.

Additional Math Poetry Resources
Math Poems--from Math Mama's Poetry Challenge. Thanks, Sue, for the link!
A blog: Intersections--Poetry with Mathematics. Thanks, Maria, at Natural Math.

Next week, a group of my students will be dramatizing "Smart." Check back here for results. This is going to be FUN! :)

Walking & Talking Math in Your Sleep

Remember how we love Mythmatical Battles? Well, I'd better love it a LOT because my 7yo student just discovered it and wants to play it ALL. THE. TIME.!!! How much does he love it? He's dreaming about it.

He is my sleepwalker. Last night, after playing a round of M.B. with Dad, I found him wandering down the hallway, fingers rubbing against his blankie as he murmured,

"Look how powerful our defense is!"

I cannot make these things up. If you want a chance to win a game and have children in your household sleepwalking and uttering things about "defense powers," join the Mythmatical Battles giveaway.


Disclaimer: I make no money off Mythmatical Battles (unless you buy a set off Amazon, in which case Grace and Hope gets a couple cents.) I just like them. Or I did until I was asked to play it 39,000 times a day. But 7yo student suddenly knows a bunch of multiplication. And we haven't even started studying that yet!