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Target Numbers (1–5)

Stage 1: Add Ones

Narrative

Before playing, students remove the cards that show 0 and 10 and set them aside.

Students add a one-digit number to a two-digit number with composing a ten in order to get as close to 95 as possible. Students start their first equation with 55 and turn over a number card and add it to their starting number for the round. The sum becomes the first addend in the next round. The player who gets closest to 95 in 6 rounds, without going over, is the winner.

Stage 2: Add Tens or Ones

Narrative

Before playing, students remove the cards that show 0 and 10 and set them aside.

Students add tens or ones to get as close to 95 as possible. Students start their first equation with 25. Students take turns flipping a number card and choosing whether to add that number of tens or ones and write an equation. The sum becomes the first addend in the next round. The player who gets closest to 95 in 6 rounds, without going over, is the winner.

Stage 3: Add Two-digit Numbers

Narrative

Students add two-digit numbers to get as close to 95 as possible. Students start by rolling two number cubes to get a starting number. Then, they take turns rolling the three cubes to get a number to add. They choose one of the numbers on the cubes to represent the tens and a different number to represent the ones. Students add their tens and ones to the starting number. The sum becomes the first addend in the next round. The player who gets closest to 95 in 6 rounds, without going over, is the winner.

Additional Information

Each group of 2 needs three number cubes.

Stage 4: Subtract Tens or Ones

Narrative

Before playing, students remove the cards that show 0 and 10 and set them aside.

Students subtract tens or ones to get as close to 0 as possible. Students start their first equation with 100 and then take turns flipping a number card and choosing whether to subtract that number of tens or ones and write an equation. The difference becomes the first number in the next equation. The player who gets closest to 0 in 6 rounds, without going below 0, is the winner.

Stage 5: Subtract Two-digit Numbers

Narrative

Students subtract two-digit numbers to get as close to 0 as possible. Students start their first equation with 100. Then, they take turns rolling the three cubes to get a number to subtract. They choose one of the numbers on the cubes to represent the tens and the other number to represent the ones. Students subtract their tens and ones from the starting number. The difference becomes the first number in the next equation. The player who gets closest to 0 in 6 rounds, without going below 0, is the winner.

Additional Information

Each group of 2 needs 3 number cubes.

Stage 6: Add Hundreds, Tens, or Ones

Narrative

Students add hundreds, tens, and ones to get as close to 1,000 as possible. Students start by rolling three number cubes to get a starting number. Then, they take turns rolling the three cubes to create a number to add. For each number they roll, they choose whether they want it to represent hundreds, tens, or ones. Students add their hundreds, tens, and ones to the starting number. The sum becomes the first addend in the next round. The player who gets closest to 1,000 in 6 rounds, without going over, is the winner.

Additional Information

Each group of 2 needs three number cubes.

Stage 7: Subtract Hundreds, Tens, or Ones

Narrative

Students subtract hundreds, tens, and ones to get as close to 0 as possible. Students start their first equation with 1,000 and take turns rolling three cubes to get a number to subtract. For each number they roll, they choose whether they want it to represent hundreds, tens, or ones. Students subtract their hundreds, tens, and ones from the starting number. The difference becomes the first number in the next equation. The player who gets closest to 0 in 6 rounds, without going below 0, is the winner.

Additional Information

Each group of 2 needs three number cubes.

Stage 8: Add Tenths or Hundredths

Narrative

Students add hundredths and tenths to get as close to 1 as possible. Students start their first equation with 0 and take turns rolling a number cube and choosing whether to add that number of hundredths or tenths and write an equation. The sum becomes the first number in the next equation. The player who gets closest to 1 in 6 rounds, without going over 1, is the winner.

Additional Information

Each group of 2 needs one number cube.

Stage 9: Subtract Tenths or Hundredths

Narrative

Students subtract hundredths and tenths to get as close to 1 as possible. Students start their first equation with 2 and take turns rolling a number cube and choosing whether to subtract that number of hundredths or tenths and write an equation. The difference becomes the first number in the next equation. The player who gets closest to 1 in 6 rounds, without going below 1, is the winner.

Additional Information

Each group of 2 needs one number cube.