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Math Games
With Jane and Joanne

Baseball "Three"

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LEVELS

Grades 4 and up

SKILLS

  • multiplying 2-digit numbers

PLAYERS

  • 2

EQUIPMENT

  • playing cards Ace (=1) through 9
  • paper and pencil

GETTING STARTED

Each player begins the game by drawing four cards from the deck. Players arrange their cards to make a 2-digit multiplication sentence. The object is to make the largest product possible.

    Example
  • Player 1 draws the cards 9, 6, 4, and 2. He forms the sentence 94 x 62, which results in a product of 5,828.
  • Player 2 draws the cards 8, 7, 4, and 2. She forms the sentence 84 x 72, which results in a product of 6,048.
Player 2 has the largest product in that round. She scores 1 point.

Play continues. Each player draws four new cards and calculates the product of the multiplication problem they create.

The first player to score 9 points (for nine innings) is the winner.

Players should write out all problems and check each other's work.

VARIATIONS

  • Change the game's rules so that the smallest product wins.
  • Let students use calculators to check their answers.
Joanne Currah and Jane Felling have created two best-selling math game books -- Shuffling Into Math (for teachers of grades K-3) and All Hands on Deck (grades 1-9). Each book includes simple instructions for more than 100 math games that help children discover math concepts and reinforce math skills. Education World is pleased to present a selection of those activities in this series.

Click to learn more about these books and other exciting products and service from Joanne and Jane's Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks.

More About Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks

Joanne Currah and Jane Felling created their company, BOX CARS & ONE-EYED JACKS, for the sole purpose of making math fun -- not threatening or frustrating -- for children. Joanne and Jane spend many days each year on the road as they train teachers to make math fun for kids and run Family Math Nights at schools. To learn more about the authors, their books, and the services they provide, visit them at www.boxcarsandoneeyedjacks.com or email them at [email protected].

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