Teacher guide for using Ocean Raiders in classrooms

2 TheGameBookCopyrightLogicRoots

Introduction

WelcometotheworldofLogicRootsMathGameswherestudentspracticewhileplaying.Thegamesaredesignedsothatineachsession,studentsgettopracticeupto20timesmoreMathproblemsthaninclassandthattoowithalotmorefunandengagement.

ThisGameBookwillhelpyou,theteachers,getmostMathpracticeoutofLogicRootsMathGames.Ithasbeendividedintothefollowing5sections.

Sessionname Details When1. Beforethe

gameplayThissectiondescribesalltheactivitiesthattheteacherhastodobeforeyougetthestudentstoplaythegame

1. Groupformation2. Arrangingthegameroom3. Getacquaintedwiththegame4. Purposeofthegamesession

Onceayear

2. Settingupthegamesession

Thissectionisaboutintroducingthestudentstoplaythegameinafunandorganizedmanner.Itincludesgamerulestoo

1. Takingkidstothegameroom2. Teachingthemthegamerules

Onceforeachgame

3. Duringthegameplay

Here,weexplainallthethingsyouneedtotakecareof,whilethegameisinprogress

1. Gettingthemintodesiredgroups2. Gettingthegameopeninfrontofeachgroup3. Initiateplay4. Observingandmanagingissues

Everytime

4. Windingupthegamesession

Correctlywindingupthegameisasimportantasstartingthegame.

1. Findingwinners2. Announcingtheendofgamesession3. Wrappingupthegame4. Takingfeedbackfromkids5. Gettingbacktotheclass

Everytime

5. Afterthegameplay

Yourobservationsafterthegameplaywillhelpmakethenextsessionsbetter

1. Reviewingnotes2. Discussingwithotherteachers3. Recordingchangesforthenextgamesession

Everytime

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1. SayCheeseTheideaisthateachchildislearningbyobserving.Sowearenotgoingtogiveoutthegamerulesyet.Wewillmakethemplayandleteveryonelearnaswegoalong.

1.1 BeforethegameplayBelowarethestepsyouneedtotakebeforeplayingSayCheese.Oftenthishastobedone1weekpriortothegamesession.

1) GroupFormationSayCheeseisagroupgamewhere4studentsplayoneacharena.Hereyouwillfigureouthowmanygroupswillbemadeforyourclass.Youwilldeterminewhowillsitinwhichgroupandwherewilleachgroupsitandwhatwilleachgroupbecalled.

a) Findouthowmanygroupswillbeformed.Sincethisisa4playergameandsupposeyouhave30studentsintheclassthenyouwillhave8groupswith2groupsof3membersandtheother6groupsof4memberseach.

b) SkillbasedgroupingisagoodideaforSayCheese.Thismeansthatforeachgroup,youhaveonechildwhoisgoodinMathandalreadytakesaninterestinwhatyouareteaching.Theother3studentscanbechosenatrandom.

• Choose8leaderstudents• Allocaterestoftheclasstothese8groups• Givecreativeandyeteasytoremembernamestoeachofthesegroups.

InsteadofsimplycallingthemA,B,C,D,E,F,G,HyoucouldcallthemAustralia,Belgium,China,Denmark,England,Finland,Germany,andHungaryetc.Thiswillmakeitfunandbuildacompetitivespirit.

• Preparethislistinyourdiaryandsaveitforfuturereference• Announcethisgroupingandgroupnamestostudentsinclassandtellthem

thattheyhavetoremembertheircountrymatesfortherestoftheyearbecauseweareallgoingtousethisformationtoplayagame.

c) Visitthegameroomandmakeamentalmapofwherewilleachgroupsit.YoucanstartwithFirstblockforAustraliaseatingBelgiumbehindthemandsoon.

d) Thisisonceinayearactivity

2) ArrangingthegameroomBeforeyouconductthegamesession,youmustgetthelogisticsinplace.Beforeeachgamesession,teachersmustmakesurethat

a) Gameroomhasdesirednumberofgameboxes–Arethe8SayCheeseboardgamesthere?Aretheyingoodconditionanddotheyhaveallthecomponents?Youcantakethehelpof2studentstodothistask.

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b) Gameroomhasaplacewherestudentscansitingroups,preferablyontheground.Soithasamatbutnotablesandchairs.

c) Ensureavailabilityofthegameroom–Checkwiththeheadmistress/principalthatthegameroomisavailablethatdayi.e.nootherteacherisplanningtouseitonthesameday.

d) Ensureyouhavedoubleperiod–Playingthegamewithyoungkidstakestimetoexplainandhavethemtopracticeitagain.Sohavingadoubleperiod(2periodsbacktoback)helpsinbetterconductingthegamesession.

3) GetacquaintedwiththegameBeforeyouactuallyplaythegamewiththestudents,itisimperativethatyouarefullyaquatintedwiththegame.a) Checkallthegamecomponentstoknowwhatallisthereinthebox.b) Readthegamerulebookthoroughly.Youshouldbeabletoexplaintherulestoallthe

studentswithouttheneedofthisrulebook.Beawareoftheskillsthatthisgamewillrequireandgetthemtopracticeanditwillrevealhowthepracticewillbegenerated.Theskillsthatwillbepractisedthroughthisgameare–o Multiplicationtablesupto10o Useofdivisibilityruleso Identifyingfactorsandmultipleso Speedycalculation

c) Youmustknowhowtheboxlooks,howitisopenedandclosedandwhereeachcomponentgoes.

d) Youmustanticipatethekindofdifficultiesthestudentsmayfacewhileplaying.

4) PurposeofthegamesessionForSayCheese,youwillhave3suchsessions.Butyoumustplanatwhatstageinthecourseyouplantousethegameandwhy.Aclearunderstandingoftheobjectiveofthegamewillgiveyoumorebenefit.Wesuggestthefollowing3stagesa) Tobuildinterest–Whenyouhaveexposedstudentstobasicmultiplicationtablesbut

theydonothaveanyproficiencyyet.b) Tobuildaccuracy–Whenyouhavenearlycompletedthechapteronmultiplication,now

usethisgametobuildaccuracy.c) Tobuildspeed–Whenyouhavemovedtoothertopicsbutyouwanttousethisgame

forrevisionandtobuildspeed.

1.2 SettingupthegamesessionThissectionisaboutintroducingstudentstoplaythegameinafunandorganizedmanneritalsoincludesfamiliarisingthemwiththegamerules.

1) TakingthekidstothegameroomThismeansgettingthemintothegroups,formingaqueueandtakingtothegamerooma) CometotheclassandgetthestudentstoassembleintheirgroupsofAustralia,Belgium,

Chinaandsoon.b) Letthemnowformaqueueandtakethemtothegameroom.c) Asktherespectivegroupstoreachtheirpre-assignedplacesandstandthere.

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d) Takeaquickhead-counte) Redistributethegroupsifrequired.Ifanygrouphas2orlessstudentsthenmergethat

groupintoothergroups.Forexample,ifAustraliahasjust2peoplewhileChinaandHungaryhave3peopleeach,thenallocate1memberofAustraliatoChinaand1toHungary.

f) Nowaskthemtositdownattheirrespectiveplacesinacircle.Asofnow,theydonothaveanygameboxwiththem.

2) GettingthemindemogroupsThereareseveralwaystoteachthemtoplaythegame,wewillusethe1sessionobservationmethod.a) Formationofdemogroups

• Choose8studentssuchthatyouhave1personfromeachgroup.MakesuretheseareNOTthegroupleaders.Choosestudentswhoareverysincereandwillfollowyourinstructionswordforword.

• Askthese8tocometothecentreoftheroomandform2groupsof4.Wearegettingthemreadytoplaythegame.Soonegroupsitsontherightsideoftheteacherandtheothergroupsitsontheleftsidewithsomeplaceinthemiddlefortheteachertostandandcoordinateeasily.Wewillcallthese8studentsasthedemo-group.

b) Gettingeveryoneinobserverposition• Nowtelleveryoneelsetostandattheirplaces.Groupbygroup,askthemtocome

andstandneareitherofthese2demogroupssuchthattheyareableseethegameplay.

• Makesurethatthedemogroupsareseatedonthefloor,theteacherisinthemiddleandeveryoneissurroundingthemwithoutpushing.

c) Gettingthegamebox• Pointout1childineachdemogroup(lethimbethedemogroupleader)tostand

up.Askdemogroup-1leadertogetdesiredgameboxwithamarkof“1”onthebox.Askdemogroup-2leadertogettheboxwithamarkof“2”onit.

• Theybothmustgoandgetthebox,putitinthecentreofthegroupwithoutopeningitandsitdownattheirpreviousplaces.Nowaskthedemogroupleaderstoopentheirrespectiveboxes.Nooneelsemusttouchanything.Everyone,includingthedemogroupplayersarejustobserving.

• Itisimportanttomaintaindecorumanddisciplineatthispointforsmoothfunctionofthegamelater.

d) Settingupthegame• Askthe2demogroupleaderstotakeoutoneitematatimesothateveryonecan

seethem.• Theymusttakeoutoneitematatime,openitandplaceitneatlyonthefloorsuch

thatitisinthemiddleofallthe4players.Youmustaskeveryonewhatthisisandtheentireclasscanrespondthatthisisagameboardorsketchpensetc.

• Leavetherule-bookinthebox,closetheboxlidandputitasidesothatitisneartheteacherandawayfromtheotherstudents,elsetheywillloseattentionandfocuswhileyouareexplainingthegameplay.Nowtheleaderwoulddistribute1sketch

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pen,1slatetoeachplayerandtheteachermustallocatethecheesecakestotheplayers.

1.3 Gamerules

1) Narratethegamestory• Askeveryonetopayattentiontoyouasyouaregoingtonarrateastoryforthis

game.• Narratethislittlestory-Therewasasmalltownfulloflittlemice.Theylovedeating

cheese.Everyyear,thesemicehaveICCtournament.ItistheInternationalCheeseClashtournamentwherethetopmicefromallovertheworldfighttowinmostcheesecakes.Areyoureadytowin?Allyouneedtodotowinisknowyourtableswell.Ok.Sowewillwatchthedemoboards.AndeveryplayeronthedemoboardMUSTwaitfortheteacher’scommandbeforeproceedingahead.

2) Openthebox• Herewehave4pouchesand50greenand50orangecheesecakes.Askthegroup

leadertomixallthegreenandorangecheesecakes.Nowdistributetheminto4nearlyequalpiles.Nowputeachpileinapouchandgiveonepouchtoeachplayer.

• Puttheplayarenainthemiddleofthe4students.• Decidethetableforwhichyouaregoingtoplay.Let’ssayyouareplayingforthe

tableof7.Announcethistoalltheplayers.

3) Makethefirstmove• Wewillmoveclockwise.Thefirstturnwillbeofthegroupleader.Theteachersmust

focustheirattentiononlyonthedemogroups.• Nowaskthefirstplayertopickoutonecheesecakewithoutlooking.Readthe

numberonthecheesecakeoutloudforallthe4playerstohear.Andnowthrowitintheplayarena.

• Nowitistheturnofthesecondplayerandthen3rdandthen4th

4) Multipleof7• Ifaplayerpicksoutanumberfromhisbagthatisinthetableof7thenhemustsay

“CHEESE”andthensaythemultiplicationfactclearlyforalltohear.Thenhecancollectallthecheesecakesfromtheplayarenaandputtheminhisbag.

• Forexample,saythenumberpulledoutwas56.Thentheplayerwhodrawsout56mustfirstcalloutthenumberhehas,inthiscase“56”thenheshouldsay“CHEESE”andthensay“7X8=56”.Hemustthenshowthischeesecaketoallotherplayersandthenhecancollectallthecheesecakesfromtheplayarena.Hewillthenputthesecheesecakesinhisbagandshuffle.Nowitisnextplayer’sturn.

• Iftheplayerdoesnotrememberthemultiplicationfactorsimplythrowsthecoininthearenawithoutsayinganythingorgivesincorrectfactthenthenextplayercansay“CHEESE”giveoutthecorrectmultiplicationfactandcollectallcoinsinthearena.

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5) Thesecondmove• Nowtheteachermustobserveandguidethestudentsfornext2turnsjusttomake

surethattheyallhaveunderstoodtherules.

6) Useofslatesandsketchpens• Tellthestudentsthattheycanusetheslatesandsketchpenstowritethetableof7.• Whenevertheyforget,theycanlookhereandmakesuretheyaregivingthecorrect

answer.

7) Thedisciplinerules• Bynow,theplayersaregettingcomfortablewiththegameplay.Letthemplay1

moveontheirownunderyoursupervision.Inthemeantime,keepbuildingexcitementforthegameamongtheobservers.

• Oncetheyarecomfortablewiththeplayandrules,tellthemthe2disciplinerules.TellthemthattohelptheICCrunsmoothly,themicehaveformed2ruleswhichareveryimportantandmustbefollowedatalltimes.Ifanyoneiscaughtbreakingthem,thentheteachermustimmediatelybecalledtotheboard.Therulesare-o Ifanyplayergivesincorrectanswer<e.g.says“CHEESE”forthewrongcheese

cakeorgivesoutincorrectmultiplicationfact>,hemustgiveout3cheesecakesaspenaltyandputtheminthearena.

o Ifanyplayerspeaksinsomeoneelse’sturn,hewillmissaturn.• Letthemplay2morerounds.Duringthistime,ifpossible,demonstratethese2rules

andfollowthemwithutmostrigidityandstrictness,nomatterwhat.

8) WindingupthegameNowitistimetodemonstratethewindingupofthegamewhichistobedonebytheleader

• Askeveryonetostopthegameplayandputcheesebagsinthemiddleoftheplayarena.

• Havethemcounttheircheesecakes,theplayerwiththemostcheesecakeswinsthegame.Whoeverhasthemaximumnumberofcheesecakesattheendofthegameshouldbedeclaredthewinner.

• Nowasktheleadertogetallthecheesecakesout.Allotherplayersmustmoveslightlyawayfromtheboard.

• Asktheleadertomakepilesof10cheesecakessuchthatthereare10pilesof10cheesecakes.Askthemtocountthemoutaloud.Ifyoudonothave10pileswitheachpilehaving10cheesecakesthencalltheteacher.

• Nowput5pilesofcheesecakesin1bagandanother5inotherbag.Nowputallthe4bagsintheplayarena.Nowlifttheplayarenaandputinthegamebox.

• Asktheleadertocollecttheslates.Countthemandmakesurethereare4ofthem.Ifyouhavedonothave4slatesthencalltheteacher.

• Asktheleadertocollectsketchpens,makesuretheyhavetheircapsonandnowcount.Ifyoudonothave4sketchpenswiththeircapson,calltheteacher.

• Nowputtheslatesintheboxinthefirstslot.Putthesketchpenontop.

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• Theteachermustasknowiftheleaderhasputthesketchpens,slates,cheesecoins,4pouchesandplayarenainthebox.Nowaskthemiftherule-bookisalreadythereinthebox.

• Nowputthisboardbackintheboxontopandclosethelidofthebox.• Nowtheleadermustgetupfromhisplace,taketheboxandputitbackintherack

whereitwas.Oncethisisdone,makesureeveryoneclapsfortheleaderandthegroup.Hemustthencomebackandsitinhisoriginalpositionwiththegroup.

• Theteachermusttellthemthatitisthejobofthegroupleadertomakesureallthecomponentsgointheboxandtheboxhastobekeptbackproperly.

1.4 DuringthegameplayYoualreadyhavesetthemupingroups,eachgrouphasagroupleader,theyhaveallseenthegameplayonceandtheynowhavethegameinfrontofthem.Nowletuscometothepartabouthowtogettheentireclasstoplaythegame.

1) InitiateplayThesectionisaboutgettingthegrouptostartplaying.Thestudentswilltakesometimetogetfamiliarwiththecomponentsofthegameandwillneedsomehelpwiththegamerules.Sothisshouldbeastepbystepprocess.

o Justasyouworkedwiththedemogroupleaderearlier,asktheleaderofallthegroupstogettheboards.Openthegameboxstepbystepandthensetupthegametoplay.

o Askthegroupleadertostartthegame.Randomlyask2-3groupstoannouncetheirfirstmovesandcheckiftheyaremovingcorrectly.

o Thenthenextplayer’sturncomes.Againdothesamethingwith2-3groupsandsoontillall4playershavehadonechancetoplay.

o Nowit’sthefirstplayer’sturnagain.Againleadthemthroughthenextturnexactlylikeyouleadthegroupleadersatthedemostage.

o Letthegroupsstarttoplayontheirowno Announcethatifanygrouphasanyproblem,theyshouldcalltheteacher.Also

announcethatitisthegroupleader’sroletokeeptheboardsafeandgameplaygoingsmoothly.

1.5 ObservingandmanagingissuesAsthegamemoveson,theteachermustkeepeyesandearsopenfortheissues.Thekindofissuesthatmaycomeupare-

o Specificplayersinaboardhavenotunderstoodhowtoplaythegame–insuchacase,spend2-3minutesontheboardtohelpouttheplayer.Ifthegroupleaderandothershaveunderstoodthegameplayperfectly,thendelegatetheroleofhelpingtheplayertothem.

o Anentiregroupishavingissueswithplaying–Youmayhavetoidentifyallsuchgroups,getthemtogetherandrepeattheprocessthatyoudidwiththedemogroups.Itmighttakeupto10minutesofyourtime.

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o Thestudentsarenotfollowingtherules–Makethestudentleavetheboard.Hemaynotplaywhilerestoftheclassisplaying.Pleasebestrictwiththisruleandifrequired,youmaydisqualifyanentiregroup.

o ThestudentscannotdotheMaths–Forthetimebeing,askthemtofollowthedisciplinerulei.e.gobacktostartpositionormissaturnetc.ButthisisalsoafeedbacktotheteacherthatthestudentsarenotyetreadywiththeMathandareunabletoapplyitinreallife.Theywillbeexcitedbythisgamesession.Sointheimmediatenextclass,usethisexcitementtoyouradvantageandrevisethetopicinawaythattheycanprepareforthenextclass.

1.6 WindingupthegameplayWhenitisabout10minutestotheendoftheperiod,startpreparingforwrappingupthegame.

1) Oncompletingorwinningthegameo Gotothatgroupandverifyifeverythingwascorrect.Youcandosobycheckingwith

otherplayersandbasingitonyourknowledgeoftheclasstoo.o Announcethewinnerandmaketheclasstoclapforhim.o Askthewinnertonowobservetheprogressoftheboardwhiletheremaining3

playerscontinueplaying.Hemustensurethatthe2disciplinerulesarebeingfollowed.

2) Whenjust10minutesareleft,stop.

3) Wrappingupthegameo Asktheleadertotakeovero Askeveryonetostopthegameplayo Nowtakealltheleadersthroughtheclosingprocessexactlylikewedidwiththe

demogroup.o Nowtheleadermustgetupfromhisplace,taketheboxandputitbackintherack

whereitwas.Oncethisisdone,makesureeveryoneclapsfortheleaderandthegroup.Hemustthencomebackandsitinhisoriginalpositionwiththegroup.

o Theteachermusttellthemthatitisthejobofthegroupleadertomakesureallthecomponentsgointheboxandtheboxhastobekeptbackproperly.

4) TakingfeedbackfromkidsOncethegamehasbeenputbackinplaceandleadersareseated,thenaskstudentsiftheyenjoyedthegame.Askthemiftheyfacedanydifficultiesandaskthemiftheywouldliketoplayagain.Usethistimetocongratulatethewinnersagainandstatethatiftheyarefasterinmultiplication,theymightwinthisthenexttime.

5) Gettingbacktotheclasso Nowthatthesessioniscomplete,askthekidstostandattheirplacesandforma

queue.o Theywillnowhavetomovebacktotheclass

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1.7 AfterthegameplayOncethegameplayisover,itisimportantfortheteacherstothinkaboutthesessionandtakestepstoimprovethefuturesessionsforthisandothergames.

1) ReviewingtheobservationsReviewyourobservationsfromtoday.Itisagoodideatorecordtheminyourteacherdiary.Recordmajorissuesandmajorwins.

2) DiscusswithotherteachersIfotherteachersfromotherclassorothersectionshaveplayedthesamegame,discussyournoteswiththemfindoutwaystoimprove.

3) PlanningforthenextsessionsTherearesomethingsthatyoumaynothavetorepeatinthenextsessione.g.gametrainingfromscratchorgroupformation.Butyoumayhavetotakesomecorrectiveactions.Soplanthese.