Tug of War

5897 /www/nrich/html/content/id/5897/ 1 2011-02-01T00:00:01 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"><div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:image src="tug%20of%20war%20pic%20EzDR.jpg"></mdo:image></div> <br></br> <div style="text-align: center;">Here is a game for <strong>two</strong> players - <strong>OR</strong> you could play here on the computer;</div> <br></br> <a href="/content/id/5897/TugWar.swf">Full screen version</a> <div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:flash height="400" id="/content/id/5897/TugWar.swf" width="550"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param> <param name="movie" value="/content/id/5897/TugWar.swf"></param> <param name="flashplayerversion" value="8"></param> </mdo:flash></div> <br></br> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><u><strong>OR</strong></u></h3> <br></br> <div style="text-align: center;">you could use a counter and draw a number line on paper like this,</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:image src="umber%20line%20around14.jpg"></mdo:image><br></br> </div> <div class="framework"><strong>Notes for adults</strong><br></br> HOW TO PLAY<br></br> <br></br> One player is called "PLUS"<br></br> The other is called "MINUS" so decide who is who.<br></br> Plus moves from left to right and Minus moves from right to left. (The children may be encouraged to think about why that might be.)<br></br> Take it in turns to throw the two dice and add up the numbers on the two dice.<br></br> Move that number of places in your direction.<br></br> If the counter reaches $1$, Minus has won and so, of course if the counter reaches $27$, Plus has won.<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> TO THINK ABOUT<br></br> <br></br> You might think about whether you have to land exactly at $1$ or $27$ or allowed to end up beyond those points. I wonder what difference it will make if you are allowed to go beyond rather than landing exactly on the end numbers?Once you have got used to the game, you might like to make some changes. You can decide.<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> NOW<br></br> <br></br> (Perhaps you might have one counter each and see who gets to their end first, perhaps you might find the difference between the two numbers on the dice, perhaps you might use three dice, perhaps you might use one die and a shorter line.)<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> When you've changed the rules you can talk about whether your change makes the game better to play.</div></mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br> We haven't heard from anyone yet but do get in touch.<br></br> <br></br> Did you decide whether it is better to play a game where you have to reach the end exactly or play where you can "overshoot" the end?<br></br> <br></br> What did you think of the second version of the game when you can add or subtract?<br></br> <br></br> Perhaps you have some rules of your own to share with us?<br></br></mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"><div class="embed"> <h2>Tug of War</h2> <div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:image src="tug%20of%20war%20pic%20EzDR.jpg"></mdo:image></div> <br></br> <div style="text-align: center;">Here is a game for <strong>two</strong> players - <strong>OR</strong> you could play here on the computer;</div> <br></br> <a href="/content/id/5897/TugWar.swf">Full screen version</a> <div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:flash height="400" id="/content/id/5897/TugWar.swf" width="550"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param> <param name="movie" value="/content/id/5897/TugWar.swf"></param> <param name="flashplayerversion" value="8"></param> </mdo:flash></div> <br></br> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><u><strong>OR</strong></u></h3> <br></br> <div style="text-align: center;">you could use a counter and draw a number line on paper like this,</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:image src="umber%20line%20around14.jpg"></mdo:image><br></br> </div> <div class="framework"><strong>Notes for adults</strong><br></br> HOW TO PLAY<br></br> <br></br> One player is called "PLUS"<br></br> The other is called "MINUS" so decide who is who.<br></br> Plus moves from left to right and Minus moves from right to left. (The children may be encouraged to think about why that might be.)<br></br> Take it in turns to throw the two dice and add up the numbers on the two dice.<br></br> Move that number of places in your direction.<br></br> If the counter reaches $1$, Minus has won and so, of course if the counter reaches $27$, Plus has won.<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> TO THINK ABOUT<br></br> <br></br> You might think about whether you have to land exactly at $1$ or $27$ or allowed to end up beyond those points. I wonder what difference it will make if you are allowed to go beyond rather than landing exactly on the end numbers?Once you have got used to the game, you might like to make some changes. You can decide.<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> NOW<br></br> <br></br> (Perhaps you might have one counter each and see who gets to their end first, perhaps you might find the difference between the two numbers on the dice, perhaps you might use three dice, perhaps you might use one die and a shorter line.)<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> When you've changed the rules you can talk about whether your change makes the game better to play.</div> </div> <h3><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why play this game?</span></h3> <div><a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5897&part=index">This game</a> is designed to get children used to moving along a number line either side of a central point. It can be help to introduce the idea of negative numbers.</div> <br></br> <div>The second version of the game is at a higher level as decisions have to made rather than relying solely on chance. In this case, children are practising addition and subtraction, and looking at all possibilities, so that they can move the number of spaces that suits them best.</div> <h3><br></br> What children need to know to play this game</h3> To play this game independently children need to be able to use a die and count their move using the number thrown. They need to be able to distinguish moves to the left from moves to the right.<br></br> <br></br> <h3>Possible approach</h3> <div>Start by dividing the class into two teams, one Plus and one Minus, to play against each other on the interactive whiteboard. Throw two dice and call out the numbers for each team's turn, inviting a child to come up and move the counter each time. Having played a few times, ask the children whether they think it would be a better game if the counter has to reach the end exactly. Decide on some new rules to test this out and ask the children to play in pairs again.</div> <br></br> <div>Bring the class together and ask which version of the game they thought was better and why. Listen out for children who back up their opinion with a clear reason. Next, introduce a new version whereby children can add or subtract the dice numbers. Play in two teams using the interactive whiteboard again to get a feel for this new game. Each time you throw the dice, ask the children what the two possibilities are i.e. the result of adding the two numbers and the result of subtracting the smaller from the larger. Discuss which would be best in terms of the move to be made and why. Then invite pairs to play on paper (they can decide whether the counter needs to reach the end of the board exactly or not).</div> <br></br> <div>In the plenary, ask the class which version of the game they thought was best and why. In this case, draw out responses which indicate that the choice of adding or subtracting means players are more in control. You could suggest that children invent their own rules to make better games, perhaps over a longer period of time, and you could dedicate an area of your wall to their ideas.</div> <br></br> <h3>Key questions</h3> These questions have been phrased in ways that will help the teacher to identify the children's prior knowledge about both the number concepts involved in playing the game and the strategies and mathematical thinking needed to win.<br></br> <h4>Number concepts</h4> Shall we add or subtract the two numbers? Why?<br></br> Is it better to play a game where you can add or subtract the numbers on the dice? Why?<br></br> <h4>Problem solving, mathematical reasoning and strategies to win.</h4> <div>Is it better to play a game where you have to reach the end exactly, or where you can go over the end? Why?</div> <div>Can you think of some different rules of your own?</div> <div>What makes your game better than the other versions?</div> <br></br> <h3>Possible extension</h3> <div>In addition to analysing the rules of this game as suggested, the game <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5898&part=INDEX">Tug Harder</a> could be played which explicitly introduces a number line including negative numbers.</div> <br></br> <h3>Possible support</h3> <div>The game can be simplified by using one die and moving the number of thrown instead of adding the numbers on two dice. In this case having a shorter number line to 15 and starting at 8 would be better.<br></br> Children could try the <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5896&part=index">Incey Wincey Spider</a> game as a precursor to this one.</div></mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0">How many spaces are there between the counter and your end of the number line? <br></br> Can you make that number using the two dice? <br></br> What CAN you make using the two dice?<br></br></mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0">Like the Incey Wincey Spider game, this game is designed to get children used to moving along a number line either side of a central point, which makes it a great precursor to negative numbers. The second version of the game is at a higher level as decisions have to made rather than relying solely on chance. In this case, children are practising addition and subtraction, and looking at all possibilities, so that they can move the number of spaces that suits them best. Tug Harder take this game a little further by explicitly introducing a number line which includes negative numbers.<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> Pics at http://www.heligirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Tug-O-War.gif<br></br></mdoxml> 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 Tug of War Can you use the numbers on the dice to reach your end of the number line before your partner beats you? Numbers and the Number System Counting Admin Lower primary mapping document Calculations and Numerical Methods Addition & subtraction Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics Games Mathematics Tools Dice Information and Communications Technology Interactivities