Hobbies And Interests
Algebra Sequence
Available online for free download and printing, Algebra Sequence is a card game that enables students of different skill levels to learn and practice algebra. After you've successfully printed the game board, cards and marker chips, laminate all pieces if you'll use the game long-term. This game is intended for ages 8 years and up as well as for 2-3 individual players or 2-4 players per team. Students take turns moving pieces around their circle, playing cards out of the assortment in their hand and solving problems as they go. They can utilize a discard pile for problems that stump them and "wild cards" also apply. Players attempt to build a sequence by adding individual cards to previous ones offered at every new turn. The first person or team to successfully complete a full sequence wins.
Graphing Basics
Help children master the basics of algebra by offering them a fun and challenging graphing game to play. One such game, "Cross-town Coordinates," is designed and manufactured by the company Learning Resources. Intended for 2-4 players and ages 8-11 years, the board is colorfully decorated with a scene that resembles a small city. Players take turns going on a scavenger hunt while searching for various community places. They enjoy rolling dice, must read directions off of cards to proceed forward in game play and work with a checklist to accomplish goals and win. Both positive and negative coordinates are covered.
One Answer, Five Points
The website Game Boards provides an easy, quick way to create homemade board games that challenge kids to share their algebraic knowledge. Various cards are available for free downloading. Cards cover sloping and formula related questions, issues and problem solving. Once printed your cards, make at least four copies if you intend to have the entire class play simultaneously. Use colored card stock for vibrant visual appeal and laminate cards to preserve them for long-term use. Divide the class into groups of 5-7 people and hand one set of cards out to each group. Instruct each group to flip their cards text down. Take turns moving around the group with each player selecting a card and trying to answer it. Every right answer earns five points and the first person to reach 25 points wins.
Terminology Bingo
One game that most students will already know how to play before entering your classroom is bingo. Spend an hour prior to game play time and craft a homemade bingo game that draws on algebraic terminology. Playing this game will enable children to comfortably grasp the necessary language to successfully understand the basics of this type of math. Make this game by simply cutting various shades of colored card stock into size 5x7-inch rectangles. Using a ruler, draw three equally-distanced vertical lines across the rectangle, as well as four horizontal ones. Next, write a different algebra term in each space. Call out these various terms and instruct students to cover squares as their card's terms are announced. The first player to cover a single line of squares wins the game.