© BECTa
The Role of Calculators in Primary mathematics
Happy Families
Intention:
This is a game for small groups approximately 4 players at a time.
Outcomes
The children will develop their skills of converting between fraction, decimals and percentages and recognise equivalent numbers.
NNS references
Year 6
Numbers and the number system
Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion
- recognise relationships between fractions
- recognise the equivalence between the decimal and fraction forms of one
half, one quarter, three quarters, one eighth... and tenths, hundredths, and
thousandths
- express simple fractions as percentages
Calculations
Using a calculator
- develop calculator skills and use a calculator effectively
Resources
24 cards with equivalent fractions, percentages and decimals
A calculator for each player
Activity:
The aim of the game is to collect decimal, fraction and percentage families.
Each family contains 3 family members. The winner is the person who collects most families.
Rules
1.Deal out the cards equally between the 4 players. Don’t show anyone else your cards!
2.Check you cards to see if you have any families, if you have put them aside, ready for the final count.
3.Take it in turns to ask each other for a card. You can only ask for a card if you already have at least one other in the family. You have to be very specific in your questions, other players will only give you a card if you have asked for it exactly, for example asking for ½ is not the same as asking for 2/4!
4.You can use a calculator to check your equivalents!
5.The winner is the player who has collected the most families at the end.
Observation, intervention and questions to ask
Watch how the children go about deciding how to work out equivalents and see which ones the children have recall of.
Encourage the children to use the calculator to work out what they want or to check what they think.
Why did you ask for that one?
Are there any other equivalent fractions that might match that decimal?
How did you work the fraction/decimal/percentage out?
What learning took place
The children were able to develop their understanding of
- equivalent decimals, fractions and
- the language involved and the different formats they may be expressed in
Extension activities
Change the cards to include simple fractions, decimals and percentages for less able, or make it a snap game for pairs of children.
Use more complex fractions.
Happy Families