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Students pick a given number of digit cards and then choose a subset of cards to make an expression that yields a number as close as possible to a target number.
Students should remove from their deck the cards that show 10.
How Close? Stage 1 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks five digit cards and chooses three of them to make an addition equation that has three addends and a value as close to 20 as possible. The student with a sum closest to 20 gets a point for the round. Before beginning a new round, students pick three new cards each so that they always begin with five cards.
How Close? Stage 2 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show the number 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks four digit cards and chooses two or three of them to subtract from 20 to get as close to 0 as possible. Students then write their subtraction equations, and the student with a difference closest to 0 wins a point for the round. Before beginning a new round, students pick new cards so that they always begin with four cards each.
How Close? Stage 3 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show the number 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks seven digit cards and chooses four of them to make two 2-digit numbers that when added together, have a value as close to 100 as possible. Students then write their addition equations, and the student with a sum closest to 100 wins a point for the round. Before beginning a new round, students pick four new cards each so that they always begin with seven cards.
How Close? Stage 4 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks eight digit cards and chooses six of them to make two 3-digit numbers. Students then add the numbers and write their addition equations. The score for the round is the difference between each student’s sum and 1,000. Before beginning a new round, students pick six new cards each so that they always begin with eight cards. The player with the lower score wins.
In this center stage, students use Number Cards 0–10 for the first time. Students will continue to use these cards throughout the year. Consider copying them on cardstock or laminating them and keeping them organized to be used repeatedly.
How Close? Stage 5 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks four digit cards and chooses two or three of them to make a multiplication expression. Students then multiply the numbers and write their multiplication equations. The score for the round is the difference between each student’s product and 100. Before beginning a new round, students pick new cards so that they always begin with four cards each. The player with the lower score wins.
Variation:
Students can write the related division equation for each multiplication equation they record.
How Close? Stage 6 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks six digit cards and chooses four of them to make a one-digit by three-digit or two-digit by two-digit multiplication expression. Students then multiply the numbers and write their multiplication equations. The score for the round is the difference between each student's product and 3,000. Before beginning a new round, students pick four new cards each so that they always begin with six cards. The player with the lower score wins.
Variation:
Students can choose a different number as the goal.
How Close? Stage 7 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks six digit cards and chooses three of them to make a multiplication expression with a fraction and a whole number. Students then multiply the numbers and write their multiplication equations. The score for the round is the difference between each student's product and 5. Before beginning a new round, students pick three new cards each so that they always begin with six cards. The player with the lower score wins.
Variation:
Students can choose a different number as the goal.
How Close? Stage 8 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks six digit cards and chooses three or four of them to make two decimal numbers that when added together, have a value as close to 1 as possible. Students add the numbers and write their addition equations. The score for the round is the difference between each student's sum and 1. Before beginning a new round, students pick new cards so that they always begin with six cards each. The player with the lower score wins.
Variation:
Students can choose a different number as the goal and decide on a different place for the decimal point.
How Close? Stage 9 Recording Sheet
Number Cards 0–10
Before playing, students remove the cards that show 10 and set them aside.
Each student picks six digit cards and chooses four of them to make two fractions that when added together, have a value as close to 5 as possible. Students add the numbers and write their addition equations. The score for the round is the difference between each student's sum and 5. Before beginning a new round, students pick four new cards each so that they always begin with six cards. The player with the lower score wins.
Variation:
Students can choose a different number as the goal.