Choose Math Operation 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!