The exchange office

Introduction

Alter the children have played the Tetradice with different bases, they face getting the bet quantity doubled, tripled, etc. On this experience the children will understand Pythagoras CHART and the multiplication algorithm.

First level

Preparation

Prepare the game board with a yellow triangle and a green one, as shown in the diagram.

Procedure

    Tell the child: You are the dealer. I have won 4 blue chips and you are to pay me triple, three times four.

    The child should answer: 12 yellow chips or 1 green one and 4 yellow ones.

    Ask the child to put it on its place. Later they can join them on the superior part.

    Ask the child to “read” out loud the chips that has delivered.

This level should be played using different numbers of chips to rise up the challenge.

Second level

This game can be amplified using as a factor the green chips that represent the tens.

Preparation

The game board is prepared again. There are three lanes: a yellow lane, a green lane and a blue lane.

Procedure

  1. Challenge the child saying: But now look what I have won, you’d have to pay me triple.
  2. Explain by saying: first pay me the yellow chips and then the green ones.

    The first step has been already played; the second step implies that the dealer should pay three times three green chips, which is nine green ones.

  3. Say: Ok, now let’s put together what I won above.
  4. Make it obvious: Look I have won 10 green ones, what can I do? Wait the child’s answer.
  5. Ask the dealer child to change the 10 green ones for a blue one.
  6. Ask the child to “read” the chips.

The child should play in this level using different number of chips in two colors and until they master it.

Third level

We’ll strengthen he game introducing green chips, this is, using factors up to tens.

Preparation

Prepare the table forming a square with four lanes: yellow, green blue and red slightly divided in inner squares as it can be seen on the image.

Procedure

  1. Challenge the child saying: Now as the dealer you will pay too using green chips.
  2. Point out: We’ll place the won chips on this lane, on the square where they cross.

    The first steps of the process have already been played by the children.

  3. Insist about how is the payment using green chips to be done, by saying: If you are going to pay 4 green chips for each yellow chip, and I got for, how many green chips will I get?
  4. The child should answer 16 green chips. Remember that this game has been played for years.
  5. Reinforce the process by saying: Ok, with 16 green chips I can get a blue chip and still keep 6 green ones.
  6. Ask now: How many chips will you pay for my green chips?. Let the child solve it.
  7. Say: Now I’ll put together all the chips you have paid me.
  8. Run through the chips upwards to the left as shown, beginning on the yellow lane.
  9. Say, on each specific case, if some chips could be changed for other ones. For example: I have 16 green chips, what could I do? Where shall I put the blue chip I got in exchange of my 10 green chips?.

When playing with school children, ask the child to “read” her chips. In the case of pre-school children, focus on the intuitive knowledge of the notion of quantity.