Lesson Plan: Creating a beanbag toss game

Curricular Competencies:

• Reasoning and analyzing: Estimate reasonably; develop mental math strategies and abilities to make sense of quantities

• Understanding and solving: Develop, demonstrate, and apply mathematical understanding through play, inquiry, and problem solving

• Communicating and representing: Communicate mathematical thinking in many ways; explain and justify mathematical ideas and decisions

• Connecting and reflecting: Reflecting on mathematical thinking

Content:

• Addition to 100

Learning Goals:

• uses math strategies to add points while playing a game

• explains reasons for the mathematical decisions made in the game design or total points scored

• identifies ways math was important in designing or playing the game

Lesson:

In this lesson students will create their own beanbag toss game. The suggested time frame is approximately 45 minutes. Materials used in this lesson include twigs (collected as part of the lesson), bean bags, planning and reflection sheets, clipboards and pencils.

Warm-Up Activities - Assigning Random Partners and Collecting Materials

• Send students to find one twig from the surrounding area.

• Have them compare the length of their twig and arrange themselves in a line from the shortest stick to longest stick.

• Assign partners based on who they are standing beside.

• Send partners to collect as many sticks as they could find in a set amount of time (2 minutes). Encourage students to choose sticks that are approximately the length of their forearm.

Beanbag Game - Designing and Playing

• Explain the parameters of the game design and how it can be played. These can be adjusted as needed:

  • Use 3 target shapes that have a points value between 0 and 100

  • Players take turns throwing a set of three bean bags and add up their score. The player with the highest score wins the round or players can record and total the score over several rounds.

• Partners design their game together and record it on their planning page.

• Students check in with the teacher and receive 3 beanbags to play the game.

  • Encourage mathematical thinking by asking questions like: Why did they chose specific point values? How will they know who wins the round? What strategies could they use to help them keep track of points?

• Give time to play their game for a few rounds.

  • To extend, encourage students to make adjustments to their game to make it easier or more challenging. ie include subtraction, use larger numbers

Beanbag Game - Explaining and Sharing

• Pair two groups that are close together. Have them teach their game to each other and allow them to play the new game.

Reflection

• Together with their partner, students record their answers to a set of reflection questions

Student Samples: