Creating a maths game

As part of the independent research study, our boy has to design a game. Over a full day learning journey, they learnt more about game mechanisms, techniques and steps in designing their games. Their homework is to prototype the game and play test with family and friends.

Last Friday evening, we brainstormed on the game title and general rules of the games. We decided on the game components to make- a game board & cards. We started the project on Saturday evening, cutting cardboards, deciding where to place plus and minus signs. Along the way, we made adjustments to the placement of the signs so that meaningful addition and subtraction sentences can be made.

Generally, his game, Number City, goes like this- Each player draws 8 cards and start to create maths sentences with each turn until he finishes his cards. To add challenges, we designed special cards eg. Swap, draw 2, exchange, to spice up the game. He has not decided whether to use a "magic" card to clear the board totally and start from an empty board.

In play testing, we subjected the game to different scenarios that will never been known if it remains in concept. He learnt how to explain his game creation with rules he set and answer questions on decisions he made. Tough for a P1 but it is indeed a learning journey, for both mother & son.