Hey there, fellow math educators! In today’s blog post, I’ll be diving into a fun and interactive math activity that not only fosters a sense of community and teamwork within your classroom, but also challenges your students to apply their math skills creatively. This game is called “Let’s Write a Story”, and as the name suggests, it ingeniously intertwines the worlds of math and storytelling. Don’t worry about aligning with Common Core State Standards (CCSS), because we’ve got that covered too.
Game Objective and Setup
The aim of “Let’s Write a Story” is for student groups to write an intriguing story incorporating unique numbers divisible by a chosen number. The game begins with dividing your class into teams, ideally of four to five students each. Prepare a bowl containing at least four cards each for numbers 6 through 11, amounting to a total of twenty-four cards. Each team designates a member to pick a card blindly from the bowl, and the chosen number becomes their team’s ‘target number’.
Game Instructions
Once each team has their target number, they have to construct a story involving numbers divisible by their target. For instance, if a group draws the number 6, they must weave a narrative featuring six distinct numbers, each divisible by six. The story’s content is entirely up to the students’ imagination, adding an extra layer of creativity and engagement to the math activity.
The game demands that all students in a team contribute to their story, promoting a cooperative learning environment. Ensure they write at least two full pages of lined notebook paper. Depending on your class size and period length, you may allocate a complete class time for this activity or spread it across multiple sessions.
In the following class, each team gets an opportunity to present their story to their peers. After all the groups have presented, the class votes on the ‘Best Story’ and the ‘Funniest Story’. Remember, teams cannot vote for themselves, promoting fair play and objective judgement.
Accommodations and Modifications
Understanding the diverse learning needs in a classroom, “Let’s Write a Story” can be easily adjusted to meet individual student requirements.
For students with learning difficulties, you could provide them with a list of numbers divisible by their chosen number or offer extra time to construct their story.
For advanced learners, consider raising the bar by asking them to incorporate prime numbers, square numbers, or numbers within a particular range.
Students with physical impairments, such as visual challenges, could use adaptive technology like screen readers or magnifiers.
EAL (English as an Additional Language) learners might benefit from a bilingual dictionary or extra time to understand and construct their story.
Gameplay Scenarios
Imagine a group gets the number 7. They decide to craft a story about a superhero named “Lucky Seven”. This superhero, with his seven special powers, saves seven cities from calamity on the seventh day of every week.
On the other hand, a group with the number 9 might design a tale about a magical cat with nine lives, each life representing a different realm. These realms are located at mystical addresses like 18 Enchanting Lane or 81 Mystic Boulevard.
Such scenarios exemplify how “Let’s Write a Story” encourages students to apply their math skills creatively and explore the fascinating bridge between numbers and narratives.
Boosting Student Engagement with “Let’s Write a Story”
Undeniably, math can sometimes seem abstract and daunting to students. Activities like “Let’s Write a Story” make mathematical concepts tangible and relatable, promoting a better understanding and appreciation for the subject. Moreover, it cultivates key skills such as teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Alignment
This activity aligns with several CCSS, including but not limited to:
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.B.6: Understand division as an unknown-factor problem.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.OA.B.4: Find all factor pairs for a whole number in the range 1–100.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.B.4: Find the greatest common factor of two whole numbers less than or equal to 100.
“Let’s Write a Story” is an extraordinary math activity, a perfect blend of fun, learning, and creativity. It leverages students’ storytelling prowess to reinforce key mathematical concepts, making learning an exciting journey. Let’s empower our students to see math from a fresh, creative lens and cultivate a lifelong love for the subject. Happy teaching, fellow educators!
Level Up: Adding More Complexity to the Game
While our original “Let’s Write a Story” activity proved engaging and beneficial, it’s time to elevate it with more complex mathematical concepts. To do this, let’s introduce a new rule: alongside the primary number drawn from the bowl, each team now must select a secondary number. The task? Incorporate numbers in their story that are not only divisible by the primary number but also multiples of the secondary number.
Implementing the Rule
Suppose a team’s primary number is 7, and their secondary number is 3. They are now tasked with writing a story involving numbers that are both divisible by 7 and multiples of 3. This additional rule not only deepens the mathematical complexity but also boosts the level of creativity required to weave these specific numbers seamlessly into their narrative.
Inclusive and Adaptable Gameplay
It’s vital to remain conscious of the varying learning needs within your classroom. If you have students who find this new rule challenging, consider assisting them with a list of numbers that satisfy both conditions or providing extra time for the task.
For more advanced students, raise the bar even further by including additional mathematical conditions, such as using prime numbers, composite numbers, or numbers within a certain range.
Scenarios: Upping the Fun and Learning Quotient
For students with physical or learning difficulties, adapt the gameplay with assistive technologies, tactile learning materials, or additional guidance.
With this new rule in place, your students’ narratives could become even more exciting and creative. Consider a group with the numbers 6 and 4. They might weave a narrative about a 24-hour interstellar race where spacecrafts need to recharge every 12 hours at unique cosmic charging stations.
Such scenarios underline the objective of “Let’s Write a Story” – fostering a love for math and transforming it from an abstract subject to a tangible, relatable, and intriguing field of study.
Aligning With Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
This leveled-up version of the activity continues to adhere to various CCSS:
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.B.6: Understand division as an unknown-factor problem.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.OA.B.4: Find all factor pairs for a whole number in the range 1–100.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.B.4: Find the greatest common factor of two whole numbers less than or equal to 100.
In addition, it begins to touch on more complex standards:
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.B.5: Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number, and multiply two two-digit numbers.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.B.3: Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.
“Let’s Write a Story” isn’t just a game – it’s a math revolution. With this new rule, students are pushed to engage with numbers in a deeper, more thoughtful way, while simultaneously harnessing their creativity and teamwork skills. Let’s continue to reshape math education, making it an exciting, engaging journey of exploration and discovery. Happy teaching, fellow educators!
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