Math Game Monday: Double Digit

This game pushes students to think more deeply about the meaning of place value.

Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math!

Double Digit

Math Concepts: place value, addition.

Players: any number.

Equipment: six-sided die, pencil and paper for keeping score.

How to Play

Take turns rolling a die. Add that number to your score as either “ones” or “tens.” For example, if you roll 3, you can choose to add 3 or 30.

After everyone has seven turns, the player whose score is closest to 100 wins.

Optional challenge: Anyone who goes past 100 loses.

Variations

Use the game as a journaling prompt. Here are some sample questions:

• What is your strategy for winning?

• Do you think this is a fair game, or does one player have an advantage?

• How would you count score, so you could compare your performance from one game to the next?

• How would you modify the game rules? Is your version easier or harder than the original game?

• Do you prefer logical strategy games or games of chance? Or do the best games have a bit of both? Explain.