Semester 2 Topic 2 Level G

Task Name : Straights Game with rules. Task Level : G (Grade 6)
Semester : 1 Topic : Algebra Patterns VC Strand : Patterns and Algebra
Web Address : http://maths.crusoecollege.vic.edu.au/paG
Equipment Needed : Set of “Straights” cards per pair
Victorian Curriculum outcome : Continue and create sequences involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Describe the rule used to create the sequence
Task description : Students play in pairs, or at most threes, the “Straights” game. Each student receives ten cards, and the object is to lay down patterns of cards that have the same difference between each card (minimum of three cards). A pattern of three is awarded ten points – for each additional card the number of points is doubled. If the pattern has two colours, a bonus of 50 points is awarded. If the pattern has three colours, 250 bonus points are awarded. Students record ten runs they create while they are playing, and the rule used to create the pattern (eg multiply by 0.15 and add 1.05).
Assessment options : Photographs of cards. Handwritten or digital records of the runs.
Teacher notes : Seeing patterns that involve adding more than 0.1 is a struggle for many students, as their grasp on decimal place value can be weak. Try talking in terms of money – the two decimal places and increments of 0.05 may help this connection. Finding the rule can be very challenging: it may be worth showing them the “shortcut” of the gap being the multiplier, and then using this to find the added or subtracted term.
Downloads : straights cards