Order! Order! 2

Watch the video to learn how to play

(From Mike Askew, A practical guide to transforming primary mathematics, 2016)

Transcript

Transcript coming soon.

Collect resources

You will need:

  • sticky notes (or blank number cards)

  • markers

  • 4 x 0-9 dice (you could also use playing cards, a spinner or numeral cards).

How to play

  • Roll the dice and create and record a 4-digit number.

  • Repeat until you have 4 numbers.

  • Order them from smallest to largest, and largest to smallest in the fewest moves possible, moving adjacent cards only.

Instructions

Can you help Michelle and Barbara? Is it possible to order these numbers from smallest to largest in less than 5 moves?

  • Record how many moves it takes to order them.

  • Remember you are aiming to use the fewest moves possible!

4 post it notes, each one has a different number written on it. numbers in order are 6475, 7512, 7019, 9941

Another way to play

  • You can make bigger or much smaller numbers (like decimals and fractions).

  • Use only a few playing cards to form numbers (for example, use Ace-4 only). Does that increase the challenge of working out the order?