Math Intervention 3–5 Grade

108 Addition and Subtraction Concepts

All Strung Out

A game designed to build the concept

of equal difference

Materials:

Q^ Number Cards (50–98)

Q (^) One Subtrahend Spinner (+2 or +1 or –1)
Q^ Paper clip and pencil
Q^ Number line (1–100) Note: If number line is not available, cut apart
the rows of a hundred chart and tape the ends together.
Q^ String (or ribbon or strips of paper), scissors
Directions:

1. Shuffl e the number cards and place face-down in a pile. The
   fi rst player draws a card. This number will be the minuend.


2. The fi rst player spins the spinner to fi nd the subtrahend for the
   subtraction expression. This player cuts a piece of string that
   shows the difference (distance between the minuend and the
   subtrahend). The player moves the string two numbers to the
   right (when using the +2 spinner) and describes the equal
   difference equation using the term “is the same as.” For
   example, 86 – 28 is the same as 88 – 30.


3. If the player accurately models and describes the equal
   difference equation, the player keeps the string.


4. Players take turns drawing number cards, spinning, modeling,
   and describing the equal difference expressions.


5. After each player has fi ve turns, all players line up their pieces
   of string, and compare their total lengths. The winner is the
   player with the most string.

Content Differentiation:

Moving Back: Use the +1 spinner (move string one number to the

right).

Moving Ahead: Use the –1 spinner (move string one number to the

left) or make your own spinner.

PLAYERS:

2 OR MORE