Decimal Race

by easylocum @ Flickr

This is a game that I got to play with the fifth graders, and it was pretty fun.  The game is nothing revolutionary, just moving along in 5 hundredths increments.  What made it more interesting is the kids designed their own spinners.  It actually raises some really nice probability questions.  While the expected value is made manageable for 5th graders by being done as a sum, with higher grades you could do a first day on expected value, which raises good decimal multiplication questions.  I also let them have the option of designing their own board, but all but one just used my sample.  If you want to force board design, don't let them have it!  Their boards didn't have to be with a money context, but did have to increment by .05 to 2.00.

There was quite a bit of content value to students adding their move to their position, and a few that struggle with decimal operations really took to the idea of nickels, dimes and quarters.  When demonstrating or playing with students, I encourage you to show different ways to figure out how far your move takes you.




DecimalRace-MakeSpinners

I modeled for them a couple ways to design.  Put in 9 values, then figure out the last to make 2.00; adjusting from a previous spinner design by moving around tenths or 5 hundredths; or thinking of having $2, and spreading it out among the slots.  Many students were enthralled by the 9 zeroes spinner, but no one chose the 10 times .2 spinner.  One team asked if it was okay to design multiple spinners and switch during the game.  I said if it was okay with their opponents, since it was mathematically okay, if they were all fair spinners.



DecimalRace-BlankSpinners

If you don't have clear overlay spinners, you can get by just as easily with a bobby pin.  Hold the pin at the center with a pen or pencil and spin away.  (The fifth graders found bobby pins to be an interesting subject... go figure.) 

The squares along the bottom are for making game pieces to move around the board.  Some students really got into it because they could decorate their spinner and game piece.  That makes me think of the whole player psychographic thing that game designers think of, and wonder why I have never applied it to teaching before.  (First guess: many unengaged students are Vorthos, and many teachers design lessons for Melvins.)



Decimal Race Board

It does occur to me that different spinners are better or worse depending on the game's special squares or conditions.  Of course, if students are thinking about this, more power to them.  They deserve to get to Candyland.

Feedback always appreciated! (Seldom received.  Sigh.)