ADVANCED

There are three methods that are usually used when doing arithmetic, pencil, paper, calculator and mental arithmetic. Mental math is an important skill and is used frequently in our daily lives. When you figure out a tip in a restaurant, or how much the groceries in your shopping cart are going to cost, or what time to leave to get to the movies on time, you are using mental math.

The object of the "Game of Pig" is to develop the skill of adding numbers, mentally. It also provides an experience with probability. You may need to adjust this game to meet the needs of your child. Please read "Variations" in the last paragraph.

"THE GAME OF PIG"

Materials: You will need a pair of dice, paper and pencil.

This is a game for two or more players. The goal of the game is to be the first to reach 100. To start play, each player rolls the dice, the person with the greatest sum starts. On your turn, roll the dice as many times as you like, mentally keeping a running total of the sum. When you decide to stop rolling, record your total on a piece of paper and pass the dice to your opponent. On your second turn, again roll the dice as many times as you like, mentally keeping a running total of the sum. When you decide to stop rolling, add the new total to the old total from your previous turn. In this step, your child may use a calculator if necessry to add the larger numbers requiring "regrouping" or "carrying". Continue play until someone reaches 100 or passes 100.

* Important Rule: If a one comes up on one of the dice, the player's turn automatically ends and zero is scored for that round. If ones come up on both dice, not only does the turn end, the total accumulated so far returns to zero. That is why the game is called, "PIG". You try to get the greatest sum, but sometimes you are too "piggy" and you roll a one or a double one.

After playing the game several times, ask your child about his/her method for adding mentally, their strategies for deciding when to roll and when to stop, and what they noticed about the sums that came up. Use the following type of questioning: How did you decide when to keep rolling and when to stop and keep your score? How often did a one come up? How often did double ones come up? Suppose you had a 15 and rolled a sum of 9, what would your new total be? How did you figure that in your head? Suppose your score was 19 and you rolled 11, what would your score be now? What advice would you give to a new partner?

Variations: You might want to start with one dice if the game seems too difficult for your child. When you play with only one dice, you reduce the probability of rolling a one by 50%, but your child will still be practicing addition using mental math. You may also lower the goal from 100 to 50. If your child is having difficulty with the mental math part of the game, eliminate it for now and write the numbers down.

Remember to adjust the game to the needs of your child. It should be at a level that is comfortable and enjoyable so that the student is encouraged to play and develop his/her skills.