Number Line Games: Tug Of WarThis is perhaps the simplest of number line games to play and requires only the ability to count. This game also teaches directed numbers, introduces the concept of negative solutions to sums and also touches on the concept of rearranging elements of sums with their appropriate signs. Setting Up The Game A number line from -5 to +5 is drawn up, as shown below. This is available in PDF form. Note that the - and + ends of the line are very clearly marked; this will greatly help your child grasp the concepts being used in the game.
Place a marker on the start point. One player is aiming to get the marker to -5, the other to +5. With the printable number line for the game are a collection of tokens between +1 to +5 and -1 to -5, as seen to the right. These are cut out and jumbled together so that each player will randomly select one from the total pool of tokens during her turn. Glueing the token printout onto a piece of card before cutting will make them last longer.How To Play With the marker on zero, the positive player draws a token first. The marker is moved the direction and number of steps shown on the marker. The marker is then placed face up under or beside the playing field as a record of what has happened. Then the second player has a turn, following the same directions as the first player. Play alternates until one the marker lands on or crosses either the +5 or -5 mark. The counters that have built up during a single game may look like this:
Clearly this is a quick game that has limited replay value in a single sitting, but it could be reused on occasions as a starter for a math session or as a reward for completion of some set work. Number Line Games: What Is This Teaching? Directed numbers are effectively instructions for movement on a number line. Understanding this leads to the skill of being able to add negative numbers and to rearrange sums and equations using sign and number units. If you wish to play on a different size field, you can use a free printable number line. The playing field and counters for this game can be downloaded for free in PDF form: just CLICK HERE. If you found this information useful, please share this site with others on your blog or website. Return from Number Line Games to Math Puzzles and Games or return to the Green Planet home page for Solar Power Facts.
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