“Number Before Race (10 to 30)”
KNPIG ID #Nb 1112.4
What's this activity about?
The classic game board that kids and parents are so familiar with is incorporated in this engaging game. The game board is a pathway where each space contains a number. During game play, on a student's turn the student will roll a cube to get a number then determine the number before. The first person to reach the “winner” space wins the game!
What materials do we need?
Number Before Race (10 to 16) Game Board with cube* labeled {11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16} OR Number Before Race (15 to 30) Game Board with cube labeled {15, 19, 20, 21, 25, 30}, Game tokens
*Use this virtual die in place of the number cubes in the directions. You can then choose to customize your die to match your gameboard.*
How do we play?
Place tokens on the Start space. You and your child or children will take turns rolling the dice. On a player’s turn determine the number before the number on the cube. For example, if you roll a 19, move your token to the next eighteen. First player to the winner space wins!
Where’s the Math?
This game has a lot to do with what your child is learning in school. They are learning how to sequence (order numbers) forward and backward. It is important to learn and master this skill before they start adding and subtracting larger numbers. Kids will also become better at counting from any number instead of always having to start at one and will become more familiar with the patterns that make up our base-10 number system.
Things to Think About:
You can help your child by using a number line from one through 30. (A yard stick or tape measure would be a convenient substitute for a number line). Your child may want to count forward to figure out the number before and this is OK at first. Your child needs to come up with quicker ways to figure out how to get the number before. Encourage them to count backward starting with thirty. This will increase their comfort level when counting backward from any number in that range.
You can also practice counting backwards in other areas in real life. Walk backwards at the park or yard within thirty steps and count the steps as you go. When removing groceries from bags, start with thirty and see how far you can get. All these are great ways to reinforce this skill.
**If you and your child enjoy this game try Number After Race**
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