This document summarizes a presentation about using games and puzzles to teach math concepts. It encourages teachers to have students play games that involve spatial reasoning and problem solving strategies. The presentation discusses analyzing different games, connecting math ideas to each other and the real world, and reflecting on how the games are played and which strategies are most effective. It promotes playing games with purpose to discover more about concepts through an engaging activity.

1. “How come we’re
playing games today?
I thought this
was math class.”

2. Chris Hunter
Numeracy Helping Teacher
School District No. 36 (Surrey)
BCAMT Fall Conference
October 21, 2011

3. “Play is the
highest form
of research.”
– Albert Einstein

4. Analyze puzzles
and games that
involve spacial
reasoning, using
problem-solving
strategies.
[CN, PS, R,V]

5. Grab a partner.

6. Count to

7. Strategy?

8. Strategy?

9. Connect…

10. …math ideas
to each other

11. …to the real-world

12. Questions
to Re flect

13. How would you play
the next game differently?

14. Which pieces do you try
and save for tricky situations?

15. Which game piece has the
most vertices to connect to?

16. to
Co
n s nn
st io ec
t
ue
Q

17. How many polyominoes can
be made from one to five squares?

18. What percent of the
game board is yellow?

19. If the 4-player game board is 20-by-20,
what should the dimensions
of the 2-player board be?

21. Play.
With purpose.

22. Topics Activities Questions

23. Ideas

24. “ You can discover more about
a person in an hour of play
than in a year of conversation.
– Plato ”

25. Thank-you!

26. References
Maida, M. & Maida, P. (2011). Problem solving around the corner.
Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 16(8), 466–472.
Photo Credits (flickr)
“El Juego del Go” andres_colmen
“10 - Pencil Vs Camera for Art Official Concept” Ben Heine
“Four Storms and a Twister” JD Hancock
“$20” Sh4rp_i
“Blokus - Very Fun!!!” live w mcs
“2011-01-19” bgottsab
“Rush Hours” yozz!
“Pocket” various visual stuff
“Miniature Pool Ball 1” Leo Reynolds
“Miniature Pool Ball 2” Leo Reynolds
“Miniature Pool Ball 3” Leo Reynolds
“Bright Ideas” purplemattfish
“Die, Stormtrooper, Die” JD Hancock
Original Art
“Portrait of Daddy” G. Hunter

27. reflectionsinthewhy.wordpress.com
hunter_c@sd36.bc.ca
@ChrisHunter36