Number Addition Race

Janice Schaults                Randolph Magnet School
                               7316 S. Hoyne
                               Chicago IL 60636
                               (773) 535-9015

Objective:

This lesson is designed to help students with addition. 
Students will solve word problems relevant to their experiences that involve 
addition.
Students will participate in a game involving addition using 
the phenomenological approach. 

Materials:

Dry wall tape  (available at hardware stores) 
Paper and pencil - scissors
Metric ruler - meter stick
Random number generator - dice or spinners 

Strategy:


Divide students into groups of four.  Each group will need the materials listed 
above.  Long tables or six to eight desks arranged into a rectangle make the 
play area.  Two students on one side of the table compete with two students on 
the opposite side of the table.  The first pair of students generate the first 
number for an addition problem.  Write the addend on paper.  The second pair of 
students will use a meter stick to measure the addend in centimeters on the 
drywall tape.  Write the measurement on the drywall tape.  The first pair of 
students will generate a second addend and write the number under the previous 
addend.  The second pair of students will measure this amount on the same strip 
of drywall tape adjacent to the first measurement.  Write the measurement on the 
drywall tape.  The first pair of students adds the addends to find the sum while 
the second pair cuts the drywall tape and measures the total length of the 
strip.  THE MEASURE OF THE DRYWALL TAPE SHOULD EQUAL THE SUM OF THE ADDENDS.  If 
the drywall strip is measured correctly and the addition problem is correct, 
then the first pair of students receives the strip (tape drywall strip to the 
table starting at the edge of the table).  Play continues with the second pair 
of students generating the addends for the addition problem and the other 
students measuring the addends on the drywall tape.  The first pair of students 
to line the length of the table with the drywall tape is the winner.  This 
activity can be adapted to practice fractions and decimals. 
    
Performance Assessment:

Students verify the addition problem by measuring the addends on the drywall 
tape and matching the total length of the drywall with the sum of the addition 
problem.  If the students made a mistake in addition the other side will keep 
the drywall measurement and tape it to their side of the table.  Students will 
lose a turn if they incorrectly measure the drywall tape.

Acknowledgement:

David Drymiller, a member of the SMILE staff has been very helpful with his 
expertise and sharing his own personal materials.