Math Intervention 3–5 Grade

Addition and Subtraction Concepts 87

Race to the Top

A game designed to build the concept of partial sums

Materials :

Q^ Race to the Top Game Board

Q^ Four sets of 0–9 Number Cards

Q^ Two Pawns

Directions :

1. Players shuffl e each set of number cards and place
   cards face down in a pile near each of the template
   boxes on the game board.


2. Players decide the ladder each person will use and
   place a pawn at the bottom of this ladder.


3. The player on the left fl ips over the top card in the fi rst
   pile and places it in the fi rst box. He fl ips over the top
   card in the second pile and places it in the second box.


4. The player on the right does the same with the third
   and fourth piles of cards and boxes.


5. Players read the equation. The goal is not to name the
   sum. Rather, the goal is to name the partial sums. For
   example, 36 + 27 = 50 + 13.


6. The fi rst player to name the correct partial sums moves
   his pawn one step up the ladder. Used cards are placed
   under each pile of cards.


7. Play continues until the winning player reaches the
   top of the ladder.

Content Differentiation :

Moving Back: Use base ten blocks or other manipulatives

to show the partial sums.

Moving Ahead: Try this game with 3-digit numbers.

PLAYERS:

2