Ask fourth, fifth, and sixth grade teachers about decimals and the question is followed by groans of dissatisfaction. Basically, the groans stem from the lack of success that teachers have in teaching this concept. As one student put it, a decimal is “a thing that makes numbers even more confusing”.
Teachers can get some help in this area by playing decimal math games with their students. A math game has advantages over the traditional approach. Playing a game increases the excitement of any mathematics lesson, and games are engaging and give students the chance to cooperate and communicate with their peers. The following decimal games are two student favorites:
Decimal Dice
What you need:
2 players
two dice
paper and pencil.
Player #1 rolls the dice one at a time. The first number rolled is the whole number and the second number rolled is the decimal.
Example: Player #1 rolls a two and then a 6 – the score is 2.6
Player #1 records this decimal at the top of his/her paper.
Player #2 rolls the dice, one at a time, and records his/her score.
Players continue to alternate turns until each player has 10 decimals.
Player #1 adds his/her 10 decimals together. Player #2 does the same. Players exchange papers and check each other’s addition.
For each double rolled (2.2, 3.3, 6.6, etc.) you add 10 bonus points to your final score.
The player with the highest sum wins the game.
Variation: This game can also be played with subtraction. Begin with a score of 100. Roll the dice in the same manner and subtract your decimal from your score. If you roll doubles, subtract 10 bonus points. The person with the LOWEST score wins!
Decimal Dice 2
What you need:
2 players
two dice
paper and pencils
In this game, each player will roll the two dice exactly three times. At the end of three rounds, the player closest to 10 wins the game.
Player #1 rolls both dice. Player #1 must decide which of the numbers is the whole number and which is the decimal.
Example: Player #1 rolls a two and a 6 – he/she decides whether to
make 2.6 or 6.2
Player #1 records this decimal on his/her recording sheet.
Player #2 rolls both dice. Player #2 must decide which of the numbers is the whole number and which is the decimal and record this on his/her recording sheet.
Players continue to alternate turns until each player has thrown the dice three times.
Players add their decimals. Players exchange papers and check each other’s addition.
The player with the sum closest to 10 wins the game.
Tags: benefits of math games, decimal games, decimals games, elementary math games, energizing the math classroom, fifth grade math games, fourth grade math games, kids' math games, math games, math games and activities, math games and teachers, math games for kids, sixth grade math games, third grade math games, using math games to teach math
