TITLE: I AM THE GREATEST
AUTHOR: Katherine Beal; Kit Carson SGC, Las Vegas, NV
GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 2-6
OVERVIEW: This activity's blend of skill and chance becomes a highly
motivating vehicle to enhance students' understanding of the concept of
place value. Time required can be as little as five minutes thereby
providing instruction during those lost minutes throughout the day.
PURPOSE: To provide students highly motivating drill and practice with
place value via application.
OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to explain that the value of a number
increases when digits farthest to the left have greatest value.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
1. Teacher made number cards, one for each digit, 0 - 9.
2. Scratch paper and crayons for each student. (If you use pencil, some
students may not be able to resist the urge to change number positions
during the game.)
3. Reward for winners.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1. Predetermine the number of digits in the mystery number. Begin with
three digit numbers and increase number of digits as student skill increases.
2. On scratch paper, have students draw lines so that there are the same
number of lines as digits:
_______ _______ _______
3. Shuffle "deck" of number cards.
4. Select first card, students must write this digit on any one of the lines.
5. Continue this process until all lines have been filled in.
6. Select a student to arrange all the selected number cards from
greatest to least.
7. All students having this number declare, I AM THE GREATEST"
8. Award all the GREATEST students with reward.
9. Reshuffle the number cards and repeat the game.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: As students become more proficient add digits to
the mystery number. Eventually older students could use a double deck of
number cards. Because of the element of chance, even your lower math
students will sometimes have the opportunity to declare, "I AM THE
GREATEST!"
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org