Choose Math Operation is a fun
little game for all kids (and adults), but it also can be a useful tool for
developing number sense, practicing the role of one and zero within different
math operations, understanding the order of operations, practicing the basic operations with negative
numbers - and just to develop logical thinking.
Before you know it your child will turn into a great little accountant, calculating your budget and choosing the most advantageous home loans and insurance for your family! Have fun playing, and please get in touch if you have any questions or comments. We welcome your feedback.
Note: Though all care has been taken to test the script, if you notice errors, please let us know and we'll fix them!
First you need to choose
between two modes of the game:
Choose one operation
In this game you are presented a mathematical sentence that
lacks the operation:
4 ? 10 = 40
The goal is to get the fish flop up the ten steps of the stairs. If
you answer right, the fish flops one step up, and if you answer wrong, the
fish flops one step down (unless you're already on the bottom step)!
The operation is always one of the four basic operations:
addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. All the numbers
involved are integers within the range you specify.
Ideas to use this game in teaching:
For preschoolers and first/second graders to practice the difference between
addition and subtraction: Use range from zero to fifty and tick the
box "Use only addition/subtraction".
For third/fourth graders to practice the role of zero and
one in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division: Choose a small
range from 0 to 30 for example. This will force the game to use zero and
one more often than if you choose a wider range.
For elementary grades: develop number sense, logical
thinking, and good understanding of basic operations by choosing a wider range.
For middle school students or when first studying negative numbers: choose a range involving some negative numbers, for example from -20 to 100.
Choose two operations
In this game you are presented a mathematical sentence that
lacks the two operations:
100 ? 5 ? 2 = 40
The goal is to get the fish flop up the ten steps of the stairs. If
you answer right, the fish flops one step up, and if you answer wrong, the
fish flops one step down (unless you're already on the bottom step)!
The operations are always one of the four basic operations:
addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. All the numbers
involved are integers within the range you specify.
You need to take into account the proper order of operations. In this
game there will never be parentheses used, so multiplication/division is done
before addition/subtraction. For example,
5 __ 4 __ 7 = 33
is solved by 5 + 4 �7 = 33.
Ideas to use this game in teaching:
For elementary grades: choose addition/subtraction and a range without
negative numbers but fairly large maximum to develop number sense within
large numbers.
From elementary grades till high school: develop number sense, logical
thinking, and good understanding of basic operations.
For middle & high school: choose a range involving some negative
numbers to check how well you understand the basic operations with negative
numbers!
February 2010 newsletter
Choose Math Operation Game 
