Touchdown

This is a simple, yet fun, grid game that gives children plenty of practice in adding positive and negative integers. The game is designed to be played outside, or in a large area - however, a desktop version could easily be adapted.

The download consists of the following 19 (A4 sized) cards:

-9, -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Ask the children to mix the cards and to deal 16 of them out on the floor in a 4 by 4 grid. Divide the group into teams. Each team nominates a 'thrower', this child throws three bean bags at the target grid. His team work together to calculate his score - this is the total of the numbered squares on which the bean bags have landed. (insist that the children use mental methods to calculate, but ask that they record the total on a white board.) It is possible to have a negative score.

For example:

In the image here the 'Red Team' have scored 2 + 8 + -5 = 5

The 'Green Team' scored -7 + 4 + 9 = 6.

After each game, the team selects another 'thrower' and play continues until everyone has had a go. The winning team will be the one with the greater score at the end.

Alternative play:

• Have the team aim for the lowest possible score;
• Let the teams continue to play until one team achieves a total greater than 20 (or less than -20);
• Play a 'speed version' with a stop watch - play continuously until an agreed amount of time has elapsed;
• Include a 'sudden death' move - a team's score is void if two beanbags land in the same space on the grid;
• Using just two beanbags the players could multiply the target numbers together.
• ... share your own alternative ideas by commenting below. (Thanks).

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