Jeff Romanczuk MathEd 530 11/24/00

TIC MATH TOE GAME

for 2 players, or 4 players as partners

(intended for K -3 students, also middle grade learners with math problems)

The game is based on Hollywood Squares, with addition and subtraction flash cards used in place of the inane host and “celebrities.”

Equipment:

- Instead of the Xs or 0s commonly used, the two students or teams would use as tokens the minus signs or plus signs from sets of plastic magnetic numbers.

- A nine block grid, or one simply drawn on poster board, would also be needed.

- A set of addition and subtraction flash cards.

- A scoring pad for best of 3, 5, 7, etc. games.

Rules:

1. One players shuffles the flash cards and places them answer side down on a pile on the table. The other player cuts the deck and the first player begins as soon as the top problem is visible.

2. If the player who shuffled the cards correctly matches the top flash card’s solution, this student places his or her token anywhere on the grid. The flash card is placed, solution side up, on a discard pile.

3. The second player solves the next equation on the pile. If the student gets the answer correct, she or he places the opposing token on any open square on the grid.

4. Play continues in tic tac toe style, with each player trying to get three in a row (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally) while blocking the opponent from doing so.

5. If the player whose turn it is cannot solve the flash card, the opponent may “steal,” and place a token if she or he answers correctly. The player who didn’t get the answer would then attempt the next card on the stack.

6. If a player gives the wrong answer, the student does not get to place a token and play continues with the next player working the next flash card. As long as an answer is given, the opponent may not try to “correct” the answer in an attempt to steal before the card is turned over.

7. Play can continue for only one game, or for the “best of” any odd-numbered series of play. If necessary, the player who solves the last card on the play pile would shuffle the discard pile and turn over the cards. The other player would then cut the deck and continue play by trying to solve the top card.

8. For more advanced players, play may be complicated by requiring that each player gets two flash cards correct each turn to place a token on the playing grid.

9. Addition-only cards may be used for students in the earliest grades or those with math learning difficulties.

10. The player or team with the higher number of games won at the set stopping point is the winner.