The purpose of the game is to understand the connection between dividing blocks and writing the equations for the dividing you did. To win the game you need to roll the die to produce division problems which will give you more leftovers than your partner. 

You will need:

15 to 24 small blocks, buttons, beans, etc.

1 die

1 piece of paper and pencil for each player

 1)   Roll the die to see who goes first. 

2)   Start with 15 blocks in one large group.  The first player rolls the die and divides the 15 blocks by the number shown on the die.  For example:If you roll a 4 make as many groups of 4 blocks as you can.  Do you have any leftovers which can’t make another group?  If you do you get to keep those and these are good points for you! 

3)   Every player then writes two equations showing what that player did:   

15÷4= 3 r 3  and  4)15 = 3 r 3

(I can't make the long division symbol with my computer, but that is the second way you write the problem in the game.)

4)   Make sure you keep your leftovers! 

5)   The second player now only has 12 blocks to divide.  She rolls the die and makes groups of that many blocks.  Are there any leftovers?  Everyone writes the two equations! 

12÷5= 2r2  and      5)12 = 2r2

6)   Sometimes after we divide there are no leftovers, we don’t get to keep anything, and don’t get any points.  If this happens make sure you still write the two equations. 

10÷2=5    and       2)10= 5

7)   The game ends when someone rolls a number larger than the number of blocks there are left to divide.   

4÷5= 0 r 4       and   5)4 = 0 r 4

If you have four blocks and you want to make groups of 5 you can’t make any groups (0) and you have four blocks leftover.  The person who rolled gets to keep the four leftover blocks.  Write your two equations! 

8)   Total the number of leftovers each player accumulated.  The person with the most leftovers won!  

Once you are familiar with the game you can add another step.  After writing the equations the player who rolled makes up a word problem to go with the equations she wrote.  Example: 15÷6= 2r3 There were 15 cookies to share equally among 6 children.  Each kid got 2 cookies and 3 cookies were leftover. 

You can also increase the number of blocks or beans you are dividing (18, 21, 24), or use a die with more sides!  

Looking for a math, reading, or writing

tutor in Santa Cruz, Capitola, or Scotts Valley?  

Please check my "current openings " page to see if I am accepting new students.