Thumb Ball (grades 3-5)
Author: Kristen Rentmeester
Subject: Math
Objective: Addition, subtraction, or multiplication review.
Materials and Preparation: Divide a rubber ball into sections using a permanent marker. Put a number in each section. You will also need a chalkboard and chalk to keep score.
Student Grouping: Divide the class into two teams or more.
The Play:
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Line the teams up. The teacher tosses the ball to the first student/team.
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The student catches the ball, looks at the numbers his thumbs landed on, says them out loud and performse the selected operation.
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If the student calculates correctly, his team earns a point (or you can use the total as the number of points earned.)
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If the student calculates an incorrect answer, no points are given.
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The ball is then passed to the next team's player.
Scoring: The game continues until time is up or a preset total is reached (50-100). The highest score wins.
Diagram:
