Learning Targets taught in this game:
This game was created to help students to learn the meaning of the equal sign and practice determining whether or not an equation is true or false. This game addresses two of the first grade learning standards of the Common Core:
1.OA.1- Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
1.OA.7- Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false. For example, which of the following equations are true and which are false? 6 = 6, 7 = 8 – 1, 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, 4 + 1 = 5 + 2.
Preparation for the Game:
The teacher should copy the card pages (Pages 3-6) on cardstock. I recommend printing the equations with sums of 1,2,3, 4 and 5 on one color and with the sums 6, 7, and 8 on another color to use for differentiation. The cards on pages 3 and 4 should be used together and the cards on pages 5 and 6 should be used together. If students aren’t ready to for subtraction problems, two copies of page 3 can be used for one game and two copies of page 5 for another game. Once the cards have been copied onto cardstock, cut on the lines to separate the cards. If it is possible to laminate them, it would help them to last longer. (For best results, laminate after cutting the cards out and then leave a small border around them when cutting them out. The work mat (page 7) should also be copied onto cardstock and laminated or placed in a plastic page protector. The student work pages (page 8) should be copied for individual students.
Uses for the game:
This game could be used in a math workshop setting, as a math center, or it could be used as a game to be sent home and practiced at home.
This game was created by first grade teacher Jennifer Keddie de Cojon.
Please note that this version is in Spanish. There is also an English version available.