Mathematics Lesson The Big Z
Lesson Seeds: The lesson seeds are ideas for the domain/standard that can be used to build a lesson.
Focus Standard(s): 3.NBT.A.2 Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of
operations, and/or the relationship between addition andsubtraction.
Mathematical Practices:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
Purpose/Big Idea:
Understanding place value.
This activity provides opportunities to use strategies to create the largest sum.
Materials:
Game board for each pair of students
Dice – one per pair of students
Marker for each student
Activity:
1. Students work in groups of 2. They will need 1 game board, 1 die, and 1 marker for each player.
2. Player one will roll the die and move one space, in turn, in any direction (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally) to a space that contains the
digit on the die.
3. Points are determined by the place value of that number. For example: If a player’s marker is on 134 and he or she rolls a “6”, the player
may move to the 516. The score would be 6 points, since the 6 is in the one’s place. If the move is to 613, the score is 600 points.
4. Players take turns until each player has 5 turns.
5. Students total their scores at the end of the game.
6. High score wins.
Guiding Questions:
How does place value understanding help to determine your move?
What strategy would you use to better your choices for a future move?
Wicomico County Public Schools
The Big “Z”
364
132
Directions:
Each pair of students needs a game
board, a die, and one marker for each
player. To begin, each player puts a
marker on any number on the board
and then rolls a die. The player can
move one space, in turn, in any direction
(vertically, horizontally, or diagonally) to
a space that contains the digit on the
die. Points are determined by the place
value of that number. For example: If a
player’s marker is on 134 and he or she
rolls a “6”, the player may move to the
516. The score would be 6 points, since
the 6 is in the one’s place. If the move is
to 613, the score is 600 points. Players
take turns until each player has 5 turns.
Students total their scores at the end of
the game. High score wins.
Wicomico County Public Schools
453
361
613
425
421
516
4
431
264
362
534
241
352
134
465
324
132
245
613
653
351
413
624