Math Medalist

Explore

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
For both Math Medalist games, players look at game board for places to put tokens or tiles based on multiplication and/or matching criteria.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
For Multiplication Zone version, encourage children to look at where other players have placed markers. This will help them strategize where to place a token to block another player or move closer to controlling a zone.

For Field of Hundreds, encourage children to look at both sides and rotate their addition tiles. This will help them visualize different ways it can be played on the board.

As children become more advanced, they can look for places to play a tile that will set them up on their next turn to play another tile in their hand.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Math Medalist is a great game for teaching composing and decomposing 100, adding by 10s, and multiplying numbers up to 10. Further, as they explore the game board for options to play their markers or tiles, they are building spatial reasoning, logic and strategic problem-solving skills.

For Multiplication Zone version, encourage children to look at where other players have placed markers. This will help them strategize where to place a token to block another player or move closer to controlling a zone.

For Field of Hundreds, encourage children to look at both sides and rotate their addition tiles. This will help them visualize different ways they can be played on the board.

Determine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Depending on which version of the game, players need to determine how to multiply numbers and/or match colors in order to make successful moves on the game board.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Exploring and determining happen concurrently while playing Math Medalist. Therefore, as adults assist in exploring, they are also assisting with discovery and determination.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Math Medalist is a great game for teaching composing and decomposing 100, adding by 10s, and multiplying numbers up to 10. Further, as they explore the game board for options to play their markers or tiles, they are building spatial reasoning, logic and strategic problem-solving skills.

Exploring and determining happen concurrently while playing Math Medalist. Therefore, as adults assist in exploring, they are also assisting with discovery and determination.

Compare

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
For Multiplication Zones: Player compares the different options for placing their token in a zone that is strategically best for them.

For Field of Hundreds: Players need to compare both sides of their tiles to the areas on the board where colors may match and at least one matching side totals to 100 with the other tile.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
For Multiplication Zones: Encourage children to look at where other players' tokens are located. This will improve their strategic thinking about which spot is best for playing their token.

For Field of Hundreds: Encourage children to rotate and flip over their tiles to help visualize different ways they can be played on the board.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Math Medalist requires mental mapping and different types of comparison (spatial, color, numeral, strategy), which is great for developing spatial awareness and transformational thinking. Transformational thinking underlies skills like puzzle solving and art creation.

For Multiplication Zones: Encourage children to look at where other players' tokens are located. This will improve their strategic thinking about which spot is best for playing their token.

For Field of Hundreds: Encourage children to rotate and flip over their tiles to help visualize different ways they can be played on the board.

Remember

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Math Medalist involves remembering basic multiplication processes and facts.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
No special adult support is required.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Math Medalist is a great game for teaching composing and decomposing 100, adding by 10s, and multiplying numbers up to 10.

While educators likely do not need to support the children, they may want to use Math Medalist as part of the curriculum for teaching multiplication, base 10 and composing/decomposing numbers. It would be a fun way for children to learn and talk about these core math skills.

Predict

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Playing the Multiplication Zone option requires prediction skills as players think about how opponents may try to block or capture a zone.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
For Multiplication Zone version, encourage children to look at where other players have placed markers. This will help them strategize where to place a token to block another player or move closer to controlling a zone.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Predicting involves skills like analysis, observation, empathy and interpretation.

For Multiplication Zone version, encourage children to look at where other players have placed markers. This will help them strategize where to place a token to block another player or move closer to controlling a zone.

Plan

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
For Multiplication Zone: Players plan where to play tokens in order to capture zones or block other players.

For Field of Hundreds: Advanced players will play a tile in order to set up playing another tile on their next turn.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Ask questions like "Can you see a spot to match 2 or 3 colors (for Field of Hundreds option)?" or "If you place a token, how likely will you be able to place another in the same zone (for the Multiplication Zone option)?" Talking about options supports planning, risk and reward assessment, and spatial reasoning skill development.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
In both versions of Math Medalist, children practice planning skills by thinking ahead for best strategic and scoring opportunities to play tokens or tiles.

For Multiplication Zone: children will benefit from some understanding of probability, i.e. how many of each total are on game board at any particular moment in the game. This will help with risk and reward analysis as players may decide whether to pursue higher or lower probability numbers.

Experiment

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
For Multiplication Zone: Players may adjust strategies from one game to another by trying to capture zones (offensive) or block others from doing the same (defensive).

How Parents Can Assist Learning
For Field of Hundreds parents can encourage children to experiment by placing tiles on the board prior to making final choice for a move. Provide positive feedback to children as they select, switch and move pieces around. Mastering Math Medalist will often result in several missteps prior to ultimate success. Positive support can help children develop persistence and resilience.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
When first learning to play the Field of Hundreds options, remind children to rotate and flip over their tiles.

Educators can also encourage experimentation by suggesting that a child play a tile even if they are unsure whether it will create the highest score or create the best strategic position. Trying in the face of unclear choices will help children learn what moves are most and least effective in various circumstances. Trying new things when you are unsure, yet in a safe environment, helps build confidence and a positive approach to failure.

Practice

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Playing Multiplication Zones helps children practice multiplication and basic strategy skills. Additionally, Field of Hundreds involves practicing spatial awareness and reasoning.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage children playing Field of Hundreds to rotate and flip over their tiles to help visualize different ways they can be played on the board. Remind children that they can score points for any sides matches that add up to 100.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
For Field of Hundreds option: Children are developing spatial relations skills, particularly spatial organization and configuration.

Encourage children to rotate and flip over their tiles to help visualize different ways they can be played on the board. Remind children that they can score points for any sides matches that add up to 100.

Solve

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
As play proceeds, players adapt to evolving constraints as fewer spots can be used to score points, or capture or block a zone.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
If needed, encourage children to "Stop, Look and Think". This can help reduce impulsive moves and increase reasoning and logical approach to solving the game.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
As children respond to the moves of other players, they are building creative problem-solving, focus, self-control, adaptability and resilience skills.

If needed, encourage children to "Stop, Look and Think". This can help reduce impulsive moves and increase reasoning and logical approach to solving the game.

Review

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
This is not required, but may be helpful.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
After the game, discuss different moves and results to help children analyze and improve their strategic thinking.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
After the game, discuss different moves and results to help children analyze and improve their strategic thinking.

Cognitive

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Multiplication Zones: To help the child with cognitive disabilities learn the multiplication tables, remind them use the 1-10 multiplication guidelines at the top and side of the game board. With each turn allow the child to use a ruler or other marker to use the coordinates to figure out the multiplication total of their two numbers. After multiple times, the child may begin to remember the totals.

Field of Hundreds: For children with cognitive delays, Math Medalist's Field of Hundreds option may be too difficult. Allow these children to match the colors on their tiles without paying attention to the numbers. The child gets to add the numbers of the sides of their tile that touch tile(s) on the board. Other players can play with the traditional rules. This allows the lower functioning child to participate in Math Medalist with the rest of the family.

Multiplication Zones: Restrict the numbers used in the game to the multiplication numbers the child knows. This will also limit the zones used. For example, if the child can multiply numbers up to five, use only those cards.

For either version of game, pair child with cognitive delays with another player to be a team.

Communication

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Multiplication Zones: Children with communication concerns should be able to play this game without conversing. Encourage them to talk about their choices as they take their turn.

Field of Hundreds: Children do not need to communicate except to add their scores on each turn. If this is a problem, the child can be aided by another player, use sign, or write their total.

Sensorimotor

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Multiplication Zones: Manipulating cards and tokens may be difficult for children with fine motor problems. If playing with only two players this game may be too difficult.

Field of Hundreds: Placing the tiles in the exact square on the board, particularly between other tiles may be challenging for some children with fine motor concerns. If the child has difficulty with precise manipulation, this game may be too difficult.

Multiplication Zones: Use a Card holder for the child's cards. Let them point to the one they want to multiply with the face-up card and direct another player where to place the token.

Field of Hundreds: Have the child point to the tile and the location he wants it to be placed. Another player can then assist.

Multiplication Zones: Play in partners. They examine options and choose which card to play. On their turn, they determine where to place the card, if possible.

Field of Hundreds: If the child has fine motor concerns, play as partners. They can decide together which tile to play and where to place it.

Social Emotional/Behavioral

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Multiplication Zones: Play in partners. They examine options and choose which card to play. On their turn, they determine where to place the card, if possible. This provides a model for stopping and thinking, as well as changing plans when needed. This builds resilience and collaboration skills.

Field of Hundreds: If the child has emotional concerns, play as partners. They can decide together which tile to play and where to place it. Share roles in decision making and moving tiles.

Vision

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Multiplication Zones: Children with low vision may have difficulty seeing the numbers on the board.

Field of Hundreds: This game is not recommended for children with low vision. It is visually complex.

Hearing

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Multiplication Zones: Children do not need to talk, but they need to count the zones they have won. This can be done with gesture or sign.

Field of Hundreds: Players do not need to converse to play, and they can sign, gesture, or write their totals on paper for each turn.

*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Game One: Multiplication Zones

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Eliminate the communal face-up card that all player must use in a turn. Instead, each player is dealt 6 multiplication cards. On their turn a player picks two of their own cards to multiply. The player then places their marker on the total number of their choice, if a spot is open. The player then discards and draws 2 more cards. When the draw pile is depleted, shuffle the discard pile and it becomes the draw pile. If a player cannot play on their turn, they throw a marker into the box. The game is over when all markers are played or discarded into the box.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.

Developmental Benefits
This version of the game give children more options, as they get to select both cards, not just one. That means they can also be more strategic about which cards to play to achieve a certain multiplication token in a desired zone. The players also practice more multiplication options as they think about all of the possible combinations in their hand.

Game One: Multiplication Zones

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Each player, during their turn, flips a penny toward a number. After it lands, the player moves the penny to the closest number. All players now try to add or multiply their cards to get that number. The first person to get the target total lays down their cards and says how they got the total. For example, the player lays down three cards and says, "10 + 4 + 7 =21." This player then replaces the penny with one of their tokens.

Materials Needed
One penny or other small coin.

Developmental Benefits
This expansion includes an element of chance. Players need fine motor skills and may want to aim toward a specific number. When players can either add or multiply, it increases their possible strategies and requires quick thinking to beat out other players. These two modifications make the game more challenging.

Game Two: Field of Hundreds

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Players must add at least one side to get one hundred, but all sides that match a colored side on the board also count in the total.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.

Developmental Benefits
This version will make the game move faster and score higher. This allows the Athlete to go around the track more times and earn more points. Because the child counts by 10s to move the Athlete, this also give the child more practice in counting by 10s.

Game Two: Field of Hundreds

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Another expansion is to allow players to place tiles so that only the side that adds to 100 need to match colors. The other sides that do not add to 100 can be another color.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.

Developmental Benefits
Because Field of Hundreds requires matching colors on all side of a tile to all tiles it touches, players may become frustrated trying to find a spot for their tiles. This modification allows players who may have difficulty with the two aspects (matching color and adding to 100) to focus primarily on the addition to 100.