5898
/www/nrich/html/content/id/5898/
1
2011-02-01T00:00:01
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br>
You might like to try <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5897&part=index">
Tug of War</a> before trying this.<br></br>
<br></br>
This game is for two players - you can use the interactivity below,
or you could draw a number line on a piece of paper and find a
counter to use. In both cases, you will need two dice.<br></br>
<br></br>
Decide who is Positive and who is Negative.<br></br>
Positive moves from left to right and Negative moves from right to
left. (Why do you think we have suggested this way round?)<br></br>
Take it in turns to throw the two dice and add the scores then move
that number of places in your direction.<br></br>
If the counter reaches -$13$, Negative has won. If the counter
reaches $13$, Positive has won.<br></br>
<br></br>
Is it better to play a game where you have to reach the end
exactly, or where you can go over the end? What do you think and
why?<br></br>
<br></br>
Now change the game. This time, when you throw the dice, you can
decide whether to add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers on
the dice. You must reach -$13$ or $13$ exactly to win.<br></br>
<br></br>
Does this make a better game? What do you think? Why or why
not?<br></br>
<br></br>
How else could you change the game?<br></br>
Please send us your ideas!<br></br>
<br></br>
<a href="/content/id/5898/TugWar2.swf">Full screen
version</a><br></br>
<mdo:flash height="400" width="550"><param value="/content/id/5898/TugWar2.swf" name="movie" ></param><param value="8" name="flashplayerversion" ></param></mdo:flash><br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0">We haven't received any responses to this game - please send some
in.<br></br>
<br></br>
We'd also love to hear about your own rules. <br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><div class="embed">
<h2>Tug Harder!</h2>
<br></br>
You might like to try <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5897&part=index">Tug of War</a> before trying this.<br></br>
<br></br>
This game is for two players - you can use the interactivity below, or you could draw a number line on a piece of paper and find a counter to use. In both cases, you will need two dice.<br></br>
<br></br>
Decide who is Positive and who is Negative.<br></br>
Positive moves from left to right and Negative moves from right to left. (Why do you think we have suggested this way round?)<br></br>
Take it in turns to throw the two dice and add the scores then move that number of places in your direction.<br></br>
If the counter reaches -$13$, Negative has won. If the counter reaches $13$, Positive has won.<br></br>
<br></br>
Is it better to play a game where you have to reach the end exactly, or where you can go over the end? What do you think and why?<br></br>
<br></br>
Now change the game. This time, when you throw the dice, you can decide whether to add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers on the dice. You must reach -$13$ or $13$ exactly to win.<br></br>
<br></br>
Does this make a better game? What do you think? Why or why not?<br></br>
<br></br>
How else could you change the game?<br></br>
Please send us your ideas!<br></br>
<br></br>
<a href="/content/id/5898/TugWar2.swf">Full screen version</a><br></br>
<mdo:flash height="400" id="/content/id/5898/TugWar2.swf" width="550"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><param name="movie" value="/content/id/5898/TugWar2.swf"></param>
<param name="flashplayerversion" value="8"></param>
</mdo:flash></div>
<br></br>
<h3><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do this problem?</span></h3>
<div><a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5898&part=index">This game</a> reinforces negative numbers and their relationship to positive numbers. The second version takes the game to a higher level as pupils will be making decisions as to which calculation to perform and why.</div>
<br></br>
<h3>Possible approach</h3>
<div>Start by dividing the class into two teams, one Positive and one Negative, 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. It is a valuable activity in itself for them to draw out their own number line.</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, subtract, multiply or divide 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 possibilities are and 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 operation 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>
<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>Shall we add, subtract, multiply or divide the two numbers? Why?</div>
<div>Is it better to play a game where you can choose the operation you apply to the numbers on the dice? 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>You could take the mathematics in the game further still by explicitly discussing addition and subtraction using negative numbers.</div>
<br></br>
<h3>Possible support</h3>
<div>Learners could play <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5897&part=index">Tug of War</a> before they try this version of the game. You may want to have multiplication squares available so that children do not worry about the calculations as such but concentrate on the strategy.</div>
<br></br>
<br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br>
How many do you need to get to your end of the number line?<br></br>
What do you get if you add the two dice numbers?<br></br>
What do you get if you take away one of the dice numbers from the
other one? <br></br>
What do you get if you multiply the two dice numbers? <br></br>
What do you get if you divide one of the dice numbers
by the other one? <br></br>
Do any of these answers give you the right number? If not, which is
closest?<br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br>
You may want to have multiplication squares available so that some
children do not worry about the calculations as such but
concentrate on the strategy. You could take the mathematics in the
game further still by explicitly discussing addition and
subtraction using negative numbers.<br></br></mdoxml>
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Tug Harder!
In this game, you can add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers
on the dice. Which will you do so that you get to the end of the
number line first?
Mathematics Tools
Dice
Calculations and Numerical Methods
Multiplication & division
Calculations and Numerical Methods
Addition & subtraction
Numbers and the Number System
Counting
Numbers and the Number System
Positive-negative numbers
Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics
Games
Admin
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