Topic 4

What are the skills that pupils will learn from games? Give examples to four of them. ( try to relate to your questions, teaching and learning of Mathematics) 1)

Counting skills

The most basic and important Mathematics skill is counting. It is so important that, it is not only taught in Mathematics class but also in other class such as English language class. Games such as Snake and Ladder, Ludo, Dominoes, Monopoly and “ Buzz”, require children to count. And so with the Scrabble which requires children to count their scores. Counting skill is widely used in almost every topic of Mathematics. However, teaching children to count by playing games is more appropriate with young children  2)

Matching and classifying skills (grouping, noticing properties, similarities)

These skills require children to: Match the properties of shapes, colours and numbers for example while playing Dominoes In Mathematics, students classify number according to their group. For example, in the odd and even numbers in UNO game, children are asked to classify the card according to the number and colour. Also they learn to classify the properties of 2D and 3D shapes.  In Dominoes, children learn numbers and image representations, as below: 5=  

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With that it helps the children to develop their matching and classifying skills. 3)

Fine motor skills

When playing board games such as Snake and Ladders, children are required to move playing pieces without knocking over other people’s playing pieces. Children can practice and refine their fine motor skills so that they are less clumsy. Learning Mathematics involve the manipulation of concrete materials such as beads, counters, pouring water into containers (volume), drawing circles, measuring angles and etc. Doing these mathematical tasks can be very awkward if the children’s fine motor skills are not well developed. While playing Jengga, children not only practice their fine motor skills, but they also learn balancing skills. They learn how to be very careful and keep the blocks balanced. In Mathematics the idea of ‘balance’ can be used to teach equations, left side of the equation must be balanced with the right side (abstract concept). The concept of

balancing can also be used in teaching weight. Other games that practice fine motor skills are Magnetic dart and Dominoes. 4)

Problem – solving skills / thinking skills / strategy

Young children often enter school with the ability to solve simple problems. Teachers should nurture this ability by building formal instruction on it. There are many heuristics of problem – solving: guess and check, working backwards, drawing etc There are many games that indirectly provide children with a lot of practice in problem – solving and thus will help to develop children’s thinking skills. For instance when playing chess game, children will need to think more logically to choose the best strategies in order to win the game. Also with Chinese Checkers – (How can I get my marble all the way across in one jump?), Monopoly, Mastermind and Sudoku. This automatically helps children to think more analytically whenever they come across with Mathematical problems.

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Mental computation and estimation skills

The importance of strengthening these skills have been emphasized in Brunei Mathematics Curriculum. Children are encouraged to use these skills to save time in doing calculations. Games that involve the use of dice can help to teach number facts such as 6 + 6 = 12, 5 + 4 = 9, 6 + 5 = 11… examples of this kind of games are Ludo, Snake and Ladder, and Junior Monopoly. Number facts like these can be extended. For example, by knowing 6 + 6 = 12, children know that 6 x 2 = 12, whereas 5 + 4 = 9  50 + 40 = 90… Estimation skill is also used when children try to guess how many more moves they need to make in order to win the game. Examples of the game are Snake and Ladder, netball (estimating number of passes / steps to shoot the ball) and Chinese Checkers estimate the number of moves). Estimation skill can be very useful in making sure that the answer given is correct. For example: 4.9 x 2 = ?, by estimation, the children can round – off 4. 9 into 5.0. 5.0 x 2 = 10, so 4.9 x 2 is a little bit less than 10. 6)

Observation skills

A commonly used phrase “ watch and learn ” signifies the importance of observation skills. Observation skill is important in order to minimize errors and accidents. By watching other people (such as the teacher), children learn other skills such as problem – solving, mental computation, estimation etc. Games that require observation include Reversi/ Othello, Connect Four ( Try to build a row of four checkers in any direction while blocking opponents from doing the same!). Chess, Chinese Checkers and On – line Maths related games. Observation skills are important in Mathematics. For instance, watching the teachers draw pictures when solving word problems, noticing that the multiples of 5 always end with 5 or 0, noticing the properties of rectangles, noticing patterns and so on.