Three-part Process for Games

Although each game is different, leaders follow the same process to introduce it, play and talk about it, and help young people understand the mathematics involved.

1. Get Ready to Play

What happens
  • The leader introduces the game by demonstrating it with a child as his partner.
The Leader’s Guide provides:
  • Information to help choose an appropriate game
  • Game summary
  • List of materials
  • Math and social skills in the game
  • Easy-to-follow directions
  • Questions and discussion ideas to introduce and demonstrate the game

2. Play

What happens 
  • While the children are playing, the leader walks around, asks questions to deepen the mathematical thinking, and assists the kids in making the game fun and fair for all.
The Leader’s Guide provides:
  • Tips for successful implementation
  • Math and social questions to promote deeper understanding
  • Strategies to encourage cooperation

3. Talk About It

What happens
  • After the game is played, the group discusses the game and what they learned.
The Leader’s Guide provides:
  • Questions to help the children think and talk about what they learned
  • Ways to change the game for next time