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Calculator Caller!

Hi All,



I had a colleague I taught with for years. She was a passionate second grade teacher with a lot of solid experience. A parent once asked her, "What is the most important thing you can teach a child?" I was thinking that's a tough question. Maybe, to treat others like you would treat yourself? Her immediate reply was, "Place value." Ha, ha! She was a real math maven!


Place value is important though! Here's one fun partner activity that gives kids practice with calculators (which they need in standardized tests as well as real life), place value, number recognition, and number words. It's motivating because most kids love to get their hands on calculators and as teachers and parents we're usually telling them, "No calculators!"

 


1. Each player gets a calculator and a recording sheet. The lead player decides on a number, inputs it into his calculator, writes it down on the record sheet, says it aloud, but does not let his partner see it. Link for record sheet here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PaSjvEE6DMIFbPjSEiU5zRVY-CSszEpM/view?usp=sharing

 

2. Based on what the first person "called out" the partner must then input that number into her calculator. 

 

3. Players then compare calculators side by side to see if the numbers match. If they do, the second player then records that number on her record sheet. The helper sheet can also be used at this time as the player constructs the number before typing it into the calculator.

 

4. Players take turns calling out numbers and writing them.

 

5. Teachers can differentiate by setting parameters for each partnership, such as going up to three, four, five digit numbers, etc. You could also extend this to working with decimal numbers.

 


Tips: Numbers with zeros in the middle are particularly tricky such as “one million fifteen.” Students get practice with reading, saying, writing, and inputting numbers. Proper place value location as well as the use of periods and commas is also in play here.

Kids may notice for the first time that calculators don't put commas in as the number appears on the screen. They have to do it as they write the number.

Here's a link to the "helper sheet" (pictured above) that can supports kids as they work to keep their numbers organized when writing them down. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lvjPoOm0kZee5HIewKPaA-yZstXX9Nar/view?usp=sharing

 Have fun!

Best,

Bob 

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