Percent Estimation {Math Lab Game}

This is something NEW I tried this year and it was a big hit with my students. I usually don't teach % estimation through a math lab, but this year I decided to incorporate the lab into my instruction since we changed text books and it fell on a Friday in the middle of a chapter they were strong in.

Objective:
To teach students to evaluate percent of a number by using estimation.

Materials:

• 10 index cards for each group
• 2 spinners with 0 - 9 on them. One marked "Ones" and the other "Tens"
• Math Lab Booklet

Procedure:
Before class starts: Gather two spinners for each group and label one "Ones" and the other "Tens". If your school doesn't have spinners, they are easily googled for pre-made templates. These will make the PERCENT the students will be using. Have the math lab booklets run off and the index cards made. I used random numbers like "28", "33", "78", etc. These will be the NUMBERS the students will be rounding.

During class: I spent a quick 15 minutes reinforcing this concept. We had already covered it with fractions, and my 6th graders take 7th grade level math, so it's not new to them. Explain the game by playing a practice round with one of your students. Then split students up into teams of two or four, depending on class size. If you have an odd number, then you can choose to play with that student, or create a group of three.

Game Play:
Each student will take a turn spinning EACH spinner. This will make the percent. Let's say you spin a "24". Then the player draws a card. Let's say, "62". The other player writes down "24% of 62". Then both work to find a good estimation. The correct answer would be "25% of 60". The player that spun then computes 25% of 60 and the answer is that persons score for the round. So in our example, this player would have scored "15" for their turn. Players take turns until every card has been used. (You can create more or less cards depending on time). At the end of the game, students add up their scores and the player with the highest score is the winner!!!

**I also turn this into a "Class Competition" by seeing who got the highest score out of the class. That person gets a "small, but fabulous prize" from the prize box ;)

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I hope you enjoy this game with your class!!!

"Number Cruncher" {game}

Friday was our first "Math Lab". It's a time where the kids and I get to have a lot of fun with math and the concepts we've learned that week. Since it was the first week of school, we had reviewed exponents and squares/square roots. So, following their brief notes for the day, we played the Number Crucher game, from Glencoe. It's easy to spin off on your own topic and the kids LOVE it! It's a combination of Bingo and a dice game....

Time Allotment: 30 + mins. 

1. Pass out 2 nets of a cube - one with the numbers 1 - 6, the other with various math operations on it (i.e. - square, cube, times three). One set per two students. Have students cut these out and fold them into a cube, taping them shut.

ex: six squared minus six = 36 - 6 = 30

     2.  Create a grid with many possible answers. I used the one that was from Glencoe for           Course 2, but plan on using this idea again and creating my own. Print on bright colored cardstock and have it laminated for continued use. Give ONE card per group of two students.

     3.  Cut up post-its to create "markers" or use other objects - one color for each person. I gave each person 16 pieces each.

     4.  Have students take turns rolling the dice and computing the answer. The answer is on the card and the student that rolled, places his/her marker on the board. Students alternate turns until three in a row is achieved (across, up-and-down, or diagonal).

     5.  Give a "small, but fabulous prize" each time a student wins. :)

     6.  Keep each dice set and post-it pieces in a snack size ziplock for easy storage.

My sixth graders LOVE this game (they take 7th grade level math), but I've adapted it for 5th - Pre-Algebra. Students have fun and you can walk around an help those that need it. Also works good pairing students up according to strengths/leadership abilities.

Until next time!