Teach Through Games: Math Magic Mixer

Age level: Upper Elementary, Middle School

Description: Originally designed as a travel game, this is a teaching game that I always keep in my teacher-bag now (along with a traditional deck of playing cards.) As pictured below, the Magic Mixer has one black dice in the center, then six dice surrounding it. To play the game as described in the instructions, the player rolls the Magic Mixer between his/her palms, then places it on a flat surface. Then the player adds up the numbers on the two black dice to find the “target sum.” Finally, the player uses the numbers on the other dice to create an equation (using addition, subtraction, multiplication and/or division) to reach the target sum. The game can also be played with multiple players trying to reach the target sum simultaneously, and the first player to reach it calling out “stop!”

Skills & Modifications: While I have played the game as directed, I have also found that it is incredibly easy to make simple modifications to meet the skill level of your student. For each skill listed below, there are descriptions of how to modify the rules for different skill levels.

• Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication/Division – The game is designed to practice all of these skills. Each turn may require the learner to use the skills in different combinations. For learners who have not mastered all of these skills, I may give an instruction such as “add the green number and the orange number” before they roll the Magic Mixer. This type of instruction can be used for all types of number sentences, though you may have to wait until after the learner has rolled the Magic Mixer to give an instruction for subtraction or division.
• Long Division – This is also a great tool for practicing long division. For this activity, I will instruction the learner to divide the center black dice by one of the other colored dice. For example, I might say, “Divide by the yellow dice.” The learner then rolls the Magic Mixer. If the center dice says “50” and the yellow dice says “4,” then the learner will complete long division for 50 divided by 4.
• Comparing Numbers – This looks similar to the long division modification described above, except for this activity I will tell the learner to compare two outer dice, such as “compare the blue dice and the pink dice.” After the learner rolls the Magic Mixer, then he/she will write a number sentence using < or >.
• Simplifying Fractions – I have also used this with one student to practice simplifying fractions. The center dice is the denominator and then I choose a color and verbally instruct the learner to use it as the numerator, or I use a worksheet such as the one shown below. The learner fills in the numerator and denominator based on what he/she rolled on the Magic Mixer.

Pros: This is a great item if you have students that throw dice or if you’re in a location where dice easily roll under furniture. It’s also very easy to modify the game to meet the specific needs of your learner. This is also a great tool for learners who are motivated by sensory activities because they may be reinforced by rolling the Magic Mixer between their palms on each turn.

Cons: The plastic casing for the dice has not held up well between traveling in the bottom of my teacher-bag and being handled my multiple students. I have had to do some repair work with super glue.

Cost: $9.99 You should invest in this game if: you are looking for motivating ways to practice math skills, you are a parent searching for fun ways to practice math skills over vacations or breaks from school, or you are a classroom teacher looking for a math center activity.

ABLLS: R9, R10

VB-MAPP: N/A

Teach Through Apps: Motion Math Zoom

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary, Upper Elementary

Description: First I should say that Motion Math puts out great apps, and it should be added to my list of app developers you can trust. This particular app is one I have used with a variety of students since I first got my iPad. It takes number lines to a whole new level in that it uses the interactive potential of the iPad in a way that increases a child’s understanding of the number line while also being a lot of fun to engage with. Students use the pinch gesture on the iPad to navigate through animals that represent numbers in relation to one another, from dinosaurs in the thousands to amoebas in the thousandths.

Skills & Modifications: The app is structured in such a way that you don’t really need to make modifications. There is a range of levels you can choose from, so this is a great tool for teaching students who are just being introduced to the number line, as well as for students who are working with comparing very large numbers or decimals. If a student is not responding, the app provides a visual prompt. If the student still does not respond, the app provides the same visual prompt paired with an auditory prompt. If you choose the appropriate level, the student should be able to interact with the game independently because it is intuitive AND uses these prompts when necessary.

• Number Order – This is a number line game, so number order is really the main focus.
• Comparing Numbers – While this is not an app for practicing comparing numbers in terms of greater than or less than, I love the way it uses the animals to provide concrete representations of numbers in relation to one another. It’s not a direct skill you might teach, but helps a child make more sense of abstract concepts.

Pros: It’s very easy to use to meet your students’ needs. Students are engaged with the design of the product. It is one of those rare instances where I think the interactive digital number line is actually much better than teaching it with paper and pencil. Finally, in discussing apps here at TeachThrough, a common theme has been that teachers are frequently happier with an app that does one thing very well instead of an app that does many things adequately.

Cons: NONE

Cost: Free for 3 levels, $4.99 for all 24 levels. Should I buy this? Yes!

ABLLS: coming soon

VB-MAPP: coming soon

Teach Through Games: Monkey Math

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary

Description: This game is designed to teach early learners basic math skills using a scale, but instead of your regular old boring scale, this scale is a monkey. And instead of placing any old items on the scale, learners are able to place bananas on the monkey’s outstretched arms. If the arms are out of balance, not only does one arm raise higher than the other, but the monkey’s eyes cross. When I initially got this I had a student who was highly motivated by animals, so I thought it’d be a nice way to practice number skills. I have been continuously surprised by how almost all of my students have found the monkey to be humorous. It is one of my most-used games. The game includes the monkey scale, as well as 15 “banana-tokens” ranging from one to ten bananas. Each banana token has a big red number showing up how many bananas are on the token.

Skills & Modifications: The game comes with a set of instructions for four different activities which are detailed below. I have not modified the game in any other ways than described in the instructions, but have chosen the appropriate game for my student’s skill level. I appreciate that this toy company (LearningMates) considered the materials provided in the game and provided such a wide array of games to play with those materials.

• Number recognition, counting, and number order – In the game Banana Line-Up, the monkey scale is not used. In this game the banana tokens are placed in a messy array in front of the learner, and the learner has to place them in order. I may request them to place them in order from biggest to smallest or smallest to biggest. After students have placed them we will count them forward and backward, then I frequently let them play with the banana tokens on the monkey scale. While early learners who are still practicing counting and number recognition may not fully understand the concept of the scale, it’s an excellent activity for exploration, and you may be pleasantly surprised by some of the conclusions the child comes to independently through such exploration.
• Matching, Sorting, Number and Shape Identification – The games comes with 15 banana tokens. There are two of each of the tokens with 1-5 bananas. You can place these tokens upside down and have the students try to match them based on shape. When they flip over the token, they will see the number written on it. Just as described above, after this activity I frequently let students explore with the scale for a couple of minutes.
• Greater Than-Less Than – This game is what I originally bought Monkey Math for. In the instructions included with the game, it suggests that you “hold up two different tokens and ask your child which number is greater and which number is less. Let your child check the answer by puttting the tokens on the scale to see which one ‘sinks’ and which one ‘rises.’” I vary this sometimes by placing one token on the scale, then having the student search an array of tokens to find one that is “greater than” or “less than.” For students who have started to use the math symbols < and >, I will have them write out their responses. I have found that my students do enjoy taking the banana tokens off the monkey scale, placing the tokens on a dry erase board, then writing the correct symbol (< or >) between the tokens.
• Addition, Basic Algebra – In this game, you set out two banana tokens to show an equation (such as 6 = 4 + ?). The student has to find the correct banana token to complete the equation. They can check their work by placing the banana tokens on the monkey scale to see if the monkey balances. For some students I would place the 6 on one arm of the monkey and the 4 on the other, then ask him/her to find the banana token to balance the monkey. However, I have found that some students with autism spectrum disorders are more motivated to answer incorrectly to see the monkey’s arms swing the other way. Another consideration when using the monkey scale with students with autism spectrum disorders is to make sure that you are varying which side is higher or lower, as well as varying which side the student has to add bananas to.

Pros: This is a great visual activity for teaching a variety of math skills. Students are almost always motivated by the monkey scale. Something about it appeals to childhood humor and silliness.

Cons: Students with autism spectrum disorders will sometimes interact with this game inappropriately or will answer incorrectly on purpose so they can see the monkeys arms rise and fall. It is important to address this in instruction, be clear with expectations, and only use this if is an appropriate tool for introducing, maintaining, or generalizing a skill.

Cost: $13.99 Should I buy this?  I would recommend this to any teacher for preschool and early elementary students.  For parents, you have to use your judgment about whether or not this is a good fit for your particular child’s needs.

ABLLS: B3, R3, R9, R21, R22

VB-MAPP: Tact 13, VP-MTS 12, Math 11, Math 12, Math 14

Teach Through Toys: Move & Learn Math Activity Mats

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description: This set of “activity mats” contains large circular mats that can be spread around a room. Each mat has a number 0-9, and there are two of each number. The set also contains rules for ten different games you can play with the mats. The games practice a broad range of skills including multiplication skills, place value, and subtraction.
Modifications: All of the games in this set are designed for grades 1-4. However, it is quite simple to modify the activities for lower level learners. For example, you can have your students order the mats from smallest to largest, jump to a number that is more or less than the one the student is currently standing on, have your student find a number you have just named, or give your students objects to count out and place on each number (placing four cars on the number four.) For higher level learners, you can practice algebraic thinking by responding to questions such as “5 x __ = 20″ or fractions by responding to questions such as “Jump to the denominator for the fraction 3/5.”
For students working on interacting with peers, I will have the student give directions to a peer (such as “Jump to a number that is bigger than four.” and respond to directions from the peer. Depending on the student’s skill level, I will have them generate their own directions or I will provide directions for them to engage in the interaction.
Skills: Number Identification, Sequencing, Comparing Numbers, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Algebraic Thinking, Gross Motor Skills, Listening Skills, Manding
Pros: The biggest pro is that you can easily modify the materials for any skill level. I also love that you can practice such a wide range of math skills with a gross motor activity. This is great for your learners who struggle with maintaining attention, remaining seated during instruction, or holding a pencil. You can also play with more than one student, but easily differentiate it based on each student’s goals. This is especially great when working with siblings.
Cons: It is somewhat limiting to only have mats that go up to 9.
Cost: My set it discontinued. Should I buy this? However, Lakeshore Learning has a set that does have the numbers 1-20 with game cards. It is $40, which is a bit steep but you can create this game on your own. If it is a tool you think you will use frequently, it may be worth it to make the purchase because the mats are motivating for students, they are durable, and they have a non-slip surface on the bottom. Lakeshore also now has this product which has a variety of materials for gross motor activities involving math skills.
ABLLS: R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R13, R14, R17, R18, R20, R29
VB-MAPP: Listener Responding 8, Social Behavior 9, Social Behavior 10, Math 11, Math 12, Math 14, Math 15

Teach Through Books: Learn to Count

Age Level: Preschool, Early Elementary
Description: This book comes with number and animal magnets that can be placed on different pages to complete math-related tasks.
Modifications: The book is designed so that the tasks get more difficult as you go. When I do use this with a student, I typically only do one page, so you can choose the page that best suits your student’s needs.
Skills: Counting, finding missing numbers, addition, subtraction, using math symbols
Pros: Great for students who love interactive books or enjoy magnets. It’s a good activity to bring out once in a while to help with generalization or reteaching. The magnets are great. I use them for multiple other activities without the book, and some of my students like to play with the magnets by themselves.
Cons: It’s not a book you can use over and over with the same student, since the page is exactly the same each time.
Cost: $18.00 (but frequently much cheaper on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble) Should I buy this? I do like this book. If you have a student who particularly enjoys magnets, interactive books, or math-related activities this will be a great purchase. As mentioned in the pros section, the magnets can be used for multiple other activities, including counting, comparing numbers, and sorting animals. However, the activities created in the books are relatively easy to reproduce.
ABLLS: R1, R3, R5, R6, R8, R9
VB-MAPP: VP-MTS 6M, VP-MTS 7M, Math 11M, Math 12M

Teach Through Games: Creatures

Age level: Upper elementary
Description: A card game in which players mix and match the fronts, middles, and backs of different creatures to create entirely new creatures. They then “attack” other player’s creatures. Each card is assigned a point value, and the creature with the most points wins each round.
Modifications: You can play this game without following any of the rules, just building the creatures and describing them. You can also use the cards to talk about why a creature is silly (for example, why would it be silly for a creature to have legs and have fins.) Finally, you can create an assortment of creatures to use as an activity for students to find items based on characteristics. For example, you can create multiple creatures (I created them, took pictures with my iphone, then printed them as individual cards,) lay them out in front of your student, and ask them to find the creature with fins and a beak.
Skills: Adding, comparing numbers (greater than and less than), taking turns, phonics, sequencing, higher-level tacting skills (labeling the different parts/adjectives describing the creature,) learning the concept of front, middle, and end.
Pros: The game is very attractive to kids who enjoy a little wordplay or silly pictures. For example, you may put three cards together and end up with a “Kanconha,” which would be the front of a kangaroo, the middle of an anaconda, and the end of a piranha. The image created by blending those three creatures is also entertaining for many kids I work with. It is cleverly designed.
Cons: While the rules are easy to follow, they may be a bit complex for children with difficulties following multiple steps.
Cost: $12 Should I buy this? This game is fantastic. I have yet to present it to a student who didn’t enjoy it. The game really appeals to the silly side of kids, but in an intelligent way.
ABLLS: C23, C38, C47, G5, G12, G13, G23
VB-MAPP: Tact 13M, Tact 14M, Intraverbal 15M, Math 14M