| Magic Squares
The Chinese were fascinated by numbers and played a game
called magic squares.
Standard:
Uses basic and advanced procedures
while performing the processes of computation, adding and
subtracting whole numbers.
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Created
by Lisa Randall
Location: P.S. 305
District: 13
Grade: 3rd grade
Subject: Math If
you have any questions regarding this activity, please contact
Lisa at: L1COCO@aol.com |
Objective:
Students will be able
to add whole numbers.
Materials:
Procedure:
- Using the numbers between 1 and 9 only once, put a number in
each box so that when each set of numbers is added vertically,
horizontally, or diagonally, it will equal 15.
- Demonstrate by creating a large square on chart paper or chalkboard.
- Section the squares into 9 smaller boxes and put the number
5 in the center square.
- Have children arrange the rest of the numbers 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9
in the squares until the columns add up to 15.
As the students master the smaller set of numbers you can increase
the numbers to double digits, you can create a subtraction magic
square etc. This activity allows you to have fun while being creative
and observant of your students!
Final Activities:
Have students fill in blank magic squares with larger numbers.
Have students invent their own magic square, triangles, rectangles
etc.
Teacher Notes:
This lesson was great in helping me identify the students who
were having trouble with adding whole numbers. I did find, however,
that many of my lower functioning students often had trouble when
figuring out the squares by themselves. Some of them became frustrated
because it was hard for them to figure the answers out quickly.
For those students, I did not give a time limit. I had them take
their time and for a few students, I paired them up with other students
so that they could get an explanation that they would understand
using peer terminology.
The magic squares activity was an extremely fun activity for the
students in my class. All of my students enjoyed this activity very
much, higher functioning and lower functioning alike.
Overall, the students enjoyed this activity, and were able to use
this skill in other math area such as associative properties etc.
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