Addition & Subtraction Game
Addition Facts Below 20 – Strategy Game Think & Cover
The Essence of the Addition Game:
Subtraction Facts Below 20
Think & Cover is a strategic thinking game used to practice Addition and Subtraction number facts below 20.
What You Need:
2 players
1 Think and Cover game board
1 red transparent counter
20 blue transparent counters
1 red transparent counter
20 blue transparent counters
How to Play this Addition Game:
1. Player 1 chooses 2 uncovered numbers and either ADDs these numbers together or SUBTRACTs the smallest from the largest. Player 1 then places a blue counter on the numbers they chose and a red counter on the answer to the algorithm.
Teaching Points:
– Have students say the full algorithm as they cover the numbers to add an extra layer of learning.
– Have opponents mentally check the algorithm to ensure accuracy.
2. Player 2 removes the red counter & places their own blue counter on that number and a blue counter on another uncovered number. They then either add or subtract the numbers and place a red counter on the sum or the difference.
3. Play continues in this fashion until no numbers can be covered.
Subtraction Game – Teaching Notes
How to Win:
The player who leaves the other player no options to cover is declared the winner.
Professional Reading:
– If you are not aware of the work of Stanford professor Jo Boaler take the time to read her thoughts.
– Do some research on Number Talks.
Before the Game:
– Number Talks
– Introduce the word ‘thwart’.
– In this type of game one of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to plan ahead in order to thwart your opponent.
During the Game:
Have you found any ways to ‘plan ahead’ to help you win the game? Tell me about it.
Possible Journal Reflections:
Subtraction Game – How to Play
– What strategies did you experiment with to win this game?
– What do you know now you didn’t know before you played the game?
– What do you think the quote on the game board, ‘Effort is the road to mastery’ means?
– A person is either born a ‘Math’ person or not. True or False? Explain your answer.
– Many Math professors now believe intelligence and ability in Math grow with thinking and effort. What is your opinion on this?
– What does ‘growth mindset’ mean to you?
– If ‘Math is the science of patterns’, what number patterns did you use today?
– Have one student dictate their answer while the other player records their answer.
Where to From Here?
– You can check out more of our Math Games
– Perhaps you would prefer to check out this game on Teachers Pay Teachers.
– Perhaps you would prefer to check out this game on Teachers Pay Teachers.
