Negative Arithmetic - Kaboom Game

Negative arithmetic can be a really difficult concept to understand. One of my host teachers introduced me to this basic game which is really fun and easy to set up.

Kaboom! is great! stick each question to a lollipop stick either large or small (comes in two sizes) and that’s it you’re done! alternatively you could just keep them as slips of paper, it doesn’t matter :)

How to Play:

Each students takes it in turns to pick a stick

If they answer the question on it currently they keep the stick

Otherwise they put it back in the set

The person with the most sticks at the end wins!

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But there’s a twist

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If they get a stick that says ‘Kaboom!’ they lose all their sticks and they all go back in the set.

These sticks can be easily stored in an old coffee can or jar for the perfect self running maths centre.

Also if you have coloured lollipop sticks you could use them to differentiate.