This is a level 3 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It relates to Stage 6 of the Number Framework.
A PDF of the student activity is included.
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arrange numbers and operations to make a target number
A timer or stopwatch
FIO, Link, Number Sense, Book One, Hit the Target, page 7
1-3 classmates
This game is an ideal context to introduce the correct use of brackets to control the order of operations when forming equations that combine addition or subtraction with multiplication or division. The game also encourages flexible thinking with numbers and operations while applying number facts.
Demonstrate the game with two students while the others observe. Deal the cards face up and ask the students to come up with ways of getting close to the target number. Show them how to record each suggestion. Make a point of finding a way to make an equation using brackets. For example, if the cards were worth
3, 4, 1, and 5, the target of 10 could be made with 3 x (4 + 1) – 5 = 10.
Note that the rules say all four cards must be used. If some students need an easier version of the game, you could allow them to use just some of the card values.
Make the game more difficult by allowing a decimal point to be placed in front of a card value. This will encourage the students to start working with fractional amounts and to include the square root symbol as an operation to be used. For example, if the cards were 9, 5, 4, and 5, the target of 10 could be made with √9 + 5 + 0.5 x 4 = 10.
Control the time taken to play the game by adjusting the range of target numbers to suit the time available. Alternatively, reduce the set of cards given to each group to about 18 cards.
Answers to Activity
game
This game is an ideal context to introduce the correct use of brackets to control the order of operations when
forming equations that combine addition or subtraction with multiplication or division. The game also
encourages flexible thinking with numbers and operations while applying number facts.
Demonstrate the game with two students while the others observe. Deal the cards face up and ask the
students to come up with ways of getting close to the target number. Show them how to record each suggestion.
Make a point of finding a way to make an equation using brackets. For example, if the cards were worth
3, 4, 1, and 5, the target of 10 could be made with 3 x (4 + 1) – 5 = 10.
Note that the rules say all four cards must be used. If some students need an easier version of the game,
you could allow them to use just some of the card values.
Make the game more difficult by allowing a decimal point to be placed in front of a card value. This will
encourage the students to start working with fractional amounts and to include the square root symbol as
an operation to be used. For example, if the cards were 9, 5, 4, and 5, the target of 10 could be made with
9 + 5 + 0.5 x 4 = 10.
Control the time taken to play the game by adjusting the range of target numbers to suit the time available.
Alternatively, reduce the set of cards given to each group to about 18 cards.
Answers to Activity
A game using whole-number operations