Math Hunger Games & Integer War

Suggested Activity Duration:

Integer War: 10-15 min.
Math Hunger Games: 15-30 min.
OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES
General Learning Outcomes:
Develop number sense (Number)
Specific Learning Outcomes:
N7. Demonstrate an understanding of multiplication and division of integers, concretely,
pictorially and symbolically. [C, CN, PS, R, V]
MATERIALS AND SETUP
Big playing cards
Whiteboards and gloves
PROCEDURE
1. Integer War
Play integer multiplication war with two teams
o Divide into two teams
o Use a whiteboard to keep score
o Have one student from each team come up at a time
o Flip over two cards and have the students multiply the integers
Black is negative, and red is positive
o The first student to answer gets the point if the student is correct
o The first answer counts (after saying one answer, the other team has the chance to
steal the point)

2. Review for Math Hunger Games

Teach/review multiple representations of division and multiplication
o Have the students write this in their books
Review BEDMAS, including integers and multiple representations of division and
multiplication
o Include square brackets and fractions (brackets on the top and bottom)
Go over a couple examples and then have the students do some practice questions in their
notebooks with their elbow buddies
o I will walk around and observe then call on students to share their work

3. Math Hunger Games

Tell the students that we are going to play math Hunger Games
o I am going to write questions on the board
 o I want them to figure out the answers on whiteboards and then hold up their answers
o I will count how many got the question right
I will select a student who is going to be the tribute
If more than half of the class gets the question right, I will do something
physically active (5 pushups, 5 jumping jacks, 5 burpees, etc.)
If they do not reach the requirement, the tribute will need to do the
consequence
For every question, I will adjust the requirements and the consequences
depending on the class performance and the level of difficulty
Have the students grab whiteboards and get started
REFLECTION
For the most part, the students were excited about integer war and participating. A couple students
didnt want to participate. They sat at the side. I invited them to participate, but they didnt want to.
In the future, I should have a plan to involve them as well. For example, I could have one of them be
the score keeper and one of them flip the cards. That gets them involved and seeing the numbers.
When I divided the group into two, I noticed that they werent sure how to do it. I should have been
more specific about where I wanted them to go and how I wanted them to divide into groups. Next
time, I will take that into consideration. Also, not all the students would come up to the desk to
answer the questions. I will think of ways to structure it differently to get everyone up to answer
questions.

The class liked the Hunger Games activity, but they struggled with the math. Only a few students got
each question right, and I didnt have to do the consequences.

I made an adaptation to the activity. I chose the first tribute and then let the tributes choose the next
tribute.