What you need
- Game pieces (buttons or coins)
- Game Board (a circle with 12 x’s equally spaced on a circle)
What to do
- Play this game with two players or two teams of players.
- Place a game piece on each X.
- Decide who goes first and take turns.
- During a turn, the player must take away 1 or 2 pieces.
- If you take away 2, they must be next to each other.
- The winner takes away the last game piece.
What to ask
- What patterns did you find?
- Do you see a strategy?
- How can you be sure to always win?
Did you know?
Playing games involves many different kinds of skills including math skills. Patterns are every where in life. Recognizing those patterns and using them is a pre-algebra fundamental skill. The ability to predict possible events and consequences helps in making choices.
What’s next?
- Change the number of X’s.
- Find a winning strategy.
- Play Nim or find other games to play.
- Make up a game of your own.