~ Mathematics Games and Fillers ~
~ Addition With Hoops ~
KLA: Mathematics/ Addition
Stage: Early Stage One, One, Two and Three
Outcomes: The children will develop there addition skills in an active way. They will also develop their hand-eye coordination skills and cooperation skills.
Resources: Six Hoops, five points cards ranging for "ONE POINT" to "FIVE POINTS", five beanbags.
Procedure: For integration of mathematics into the PDHPE course, this game is perfect for all ages in the primary years. Six hoops are placed around the room. In the centre hoop, the leader of the group stands. There are five bean bags in that hoop, which must be left on the ground. Five children sit in the other five hoops, which are positioned around the centre hoop, according to the points value given to each hoop. So the closest hoop will be worth one point, and the furthest hoop from the centre will be worth five points. To help the children remember the points value for each hoop, draw up cards that state the points value allocated to each hoop.
The aim of this game is for the children to make the highest number possible by throwing the beanbags to the other children in the hoops. However, the leader can not throw to the same child twice in a row. If a child drops the bean bag when it is thrown to them, those points are not added to the total score. Once all the bean bags are thrown, the child in the centre adds up how many points they made with their five throws. The centre child then moves to the one point hoop and each child swaps hoops (the two point child moves to the three point hoop and so on) and the child in the five point hoop moves to the centre hoop and begins his/her turn at throwing. This activity not only assists children with with their catching, throwing and hand-eye co-ordination skills, but with their addition strategies.
Variations: Take away the points cards and whisper to each child their points value. At the end it will be a surprise to see how the child scored. The child in the centre does not know the value of each hoop. After they have made their five throws, the children write their secret point values on the board and the leader must add up the scores. This adds an element of surprise to the game. For stage three children, you may wish to have obstacles for them to throw over, for example a table may be in the way of a hoop, so the child must throw over that table to reach the hoop.
~ Hoop-La ~
KLA: Mathematics/ Problem Solving
Stage: Stage Three
Outcomes: This game is very much a teamwork and problem solving activity. There is also a need to encourage the children to communicate and so this skill will be developed.
Resources: Nine hoops
Procedure: Nine hoops are laided in a straight line across the ground. Eight children are selected and a child stands in each hoop. The centre hoop however is left empty and four children should be in the hoops either side of this. Children on the right of the spare hoop face towards the spare hoop and only face that direction. Children on the left of the spare hoop face the spare hoop and should be looking directly at the other team. The aim of this problem solving game is for the children to swap postions, so the team of children on the right will move to the left of the spare hoop and the team of children on the left will end up on the right side of the spare hoop.
Rules-
1) Each child can only move over one child at a time. They can not move from the end of the group to the beginning.
2) The children must stay in the same order, so all the children on the right must stay in that order, and the children on the left must stay in that exact order as they move.
3) The children must face the direction right or left and only that direction.
4) Children can not take a step back. They can only travel into hoops infront of them.
Tricks (Hints) to Solve this Game: The children should try to move as much as possible each turn. If there is a free hoop infront of one child, that child should move into that hoop. Each side should also take turns in moving. When one child from the right team has moved, a child from the left side moves, then a child from the right, then a child from the left and so on until the teams of swapped positions in the hoops.
Considerations: Children are bound to become somewhat frustrated so this may be done as a whole class activity or a group activity. If it is whole class, allow the other children who are not participating to tell the group some ideas and possible moves to make. It may also be necessary to give away from clues of how to achieve success. Ensure communication and teamwork is happening within the groups.
~ 21 ~
KLA: Mathematics/ Counting Filler
Time: Seven to Ten minutes
Stage: Two and Three
Outcomes: The children will be able to formulate strategies to achieve
success. They will develop skills of patience, listening skills and cooperation.
Procedure: The class sits in a circle and aims to count to 21. However, they
must count as a class, by simply calling out the next number, until they reach 21. One student
will call out one, then another two, then another three, until, as a class, the group has reached 21.
If two children call out the same number, then the group starts again. At first, the children will
have difficulty reaching five, so ask them to develop ways to help achieve the aim of reaching
21. Let the class discuss and continue to try until they have reached 21. If the class is upto
sixteen for example and you are running over time, inform the students that they will have
another turn later and that their goal is to count upto seventeen, and beat their previous record.
Considerations: If frustration occurs, lead the students in the right direction
but helping to verbalise their strategies to the class.
~ Ladder Adder
~
KLA: Mathematics
Stage: Stage One, Two and Three
Outcome: Children develop their mathematics skills and concepts in a fun
and creative way.
Resources: Masking tape
Procedure: Mark out four lines horizontally across the carpet with masking
tape. Select five students to stand at the first line. The teacher will then give the children a sum
to mentally answer. This sum can be simple addition or subtraction, as well as multiplication and
division. The child, once they have found an answer calls it out. The first child to call out the
correct answer moves upto the next line. By answering correctly, they have moved up the ladder
and closer to the finish line. This continues, with the teacher presenting more sums to the group
of five children. With right answers, the children move up the ladder until one child steps over
the final line and is declared the winner. You can continue this activity until all children have
made it over the line, or until the first child wins. This game is a simple challenge, but a
different way to assess the children’s mental skills in terms of answering a problem.
Recommended By: Vanessa Sims
