A very simple activity that can be very effective in supporting rapid calculation could be called race to or from the flat.
As long as you have Dienes base 10 materials and dice, this can be developed to cater for a variety of needs.
The rules of each game are simply described.
· Decide whether it’s a race to or from the flat (100 square). Decide whether, when the dice are thrown, the numbers are added together (any number of dice) or multiplied (two or three dice?).
· Dienes materials available to each group, plus dice appropriate to the needs of the group.
· Each child takes turns to throw the dice and calculate the sum or product.
· This amount is then taken from the general pile and placed in front of the child. The calculation can be recorded eg 3+4=7. This can provide a second layer of checking.
· If playing race from the flat, the child starts with ten ten rods, then takes an appropriate amount from these.
· Subsequent rounds see pieces added to the child’s collection; recorded as needed, eg round 2, 5+2=7 (7+7=14; the teacher should see one ten and four ones)
· The first child to or from the flat is the winner.
Altering the number of dice alters the challenge.
The rules of each game are simply described.
· Decide whether it’s a race to or from the flat (100 square). Decide whether, when the dice are thrown, the numbers are added together (any number of dice) or multiplied (two or three dice?).
· Dienes materials available to each group, plus dice appropriate to the needs of the group.
· Each child takes turns to throw the dice and calculate the sum or product.
· This amount is then taken from the general pile and placed in front of the child. The calculation can be recorded eg 3+4=7. This can provide a second layer of checking.
· If playing race from the flat, the child starts with ten ten rods, then takes an appropriate amount from these.
· Subsequent rounds see pieces added to the child’s collection; recorded as needed, eg round 2, 5+2=7 (7+7=14; the teacher should see one ten and four ones)
· The first child to or from the flat is the winner.
Altering the number of dice alters the challenge.
An extension could be a race to the block (1000 cube), or from the block, each child starts with ten 100 squares. If multi-sided dice are available, the challenge alters yet again.
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