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What began as a straightforward effort to help students properly write equations evolved into an unexpected journey of innovation, creativity, and joy. After teaching for twelve years, I noticed a recurring challenge: students struggled to articulate their equations or construct equations to match a given answer. It was a fundamental skill, yet one that often left students frustrated and disengaged.
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In my quest to find an engaging solution, I initially turned to tools like card decks and dice games. While these were functional, they were cumbersome to set up and rarely sparked enthusiasm in the classroom. I knew there had to be a better way.
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At the time, I was teaching a Math Elevated class to Middle School students, a program designed to bridge the learning gaps caused by the school closures during COVID-19. I created a project where students designed their own games, an approach I plan to expand upon in a future book (stay tuned for this valuable addition to your math activity toolkit!). During this period, I stumbled upon the classic game Shut the Boxâa pub favoriteâand saw its untapped potential for math education.Â
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Starting with a basic adaptation of the game, I gradually refined the concept, developing seven unique versions, each with its own set of rules and challenges. The transformation was remarkable. Students who had previously been reluctant to engage with math were now eagerly participating, strategizing, and competing with one another. The classroom buzzed with excitement.
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Then came the Mystery Cards. Born from a spark of inspiration and brought to life by my students, these cards introduced an element of surprise and strategy that elevated the game even further. They became a favorite feature, seamlessly integrating with versions âDâoubles, âEâveryone Rolls the Same, âXâtra Fun, and âKâards.Â
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The best part of this adventure, however, was the constant stream of ideas from my students. They were always eager to share suggestions for new twists and additions to make the game better. Their feedback was invaluable, and I couldnât have done it without them. One of the most rewarding moments of this journey was seeing version K, an entirely student-designed variation, take shape under the creativity of Bentlee.
Of course, they werenât exactly thrilled about writing down the objective for each game every time they played. However, I knew how important it was for them to understand what they should know and be able to do by the end of the task. To ease this process, I designed scoresheet pages to help them record their equations and keep track of their progress and record what they learned and what strategies they used to create an equation. These pages also made it easy for them to reset the game the next time if they werenât able to finish and start where they left off.
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The excitement wasnât just limited to the students. The administrators of the school were incredibly impressed with the level of engagement, excitement, and critical thinking skills the students demonstrated during the game. In fact, many of them were so intrigued that they wanted to sit down and play the game with the students themselves!
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But what truly makes this game special is its universal appeal. Iâve played it with my mom and her friends, who are in their 70s, as well as with children ranging from kindergarteners to freshmen. The beauty of this game is that when playing with your family, everyone can enjoy a version that suits or challenges their math skills, all at the same time! Itâs a game for all ages and levels, bringing people together through fun and learning.
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Math Flip Flap Frenzy is the culmination of these effortsâa vibrant blend of strategy, creativity, and math mastery. This book is more than just a guide to playing; itâs a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration in education. Itâs my hope that you find as much joy in using these games as my students and I had in creating them. Let the frenzy begin!