Adding and Subtracting to 20 Game for Years 1 and 2: Snowball Splat
Snowball Splat is an addition and subtraction to 20 whiteboard game for Year 1 and Year 2 from Teach This, aligned to the Australian Curriculum. Students add and subtract numbers within 20, with questions such as 7 + 5, 15 − 7 and 20 − 6. Each of the 12 questions shows three snowmen in a winter scene, each holding an answer sign. Students tap the snowman with the right answer and a snowball flies in and splats before the Next button appears. The class has 3 lives for the whole game, so a wrong tap costs a life and that snowman ducks behind the snow.
Teachers open the slideshow file and press Start, with the questions, answers and notes already written. It plays in Microsoft PowerPoint on any interactive whiteboard, panel or projector, with no macros, no student logins and no student data collected. It suits a number facts warm-up, a maths rotation or a fun end to the term.
Learning goals
- We are learning to add and subtract numbers within 20, using a variety of strategies, e.g. counting on, counting back, partitioning, subitising and part-part whole knowledge of numbers to 10 and to use the language of 'plus' and 'minus' in story problems.
- We are learning to recall addition facts to 20 and apply to related subtraction facts using a range of strategies.
- We are learning to use a range of strategies, to solve simple addition and subtraction problems.
- We are learning to use a range of mental and written strategies to solve simple addition and subtraction problems.
- We are learning to explore number sequences by twos, threes, fives and tens from any starting point.
- We are learning to use a range of mental strategies to solve simple addition and subtraction problems.
Curriculum alignment
Australian Curriculum covers QLD / SA / WA / NT / TAS / ACT.
Differentiation
Modifications
Give students counters or a number line to 20 to use while they play. Let partners agree on an answer before one of them taps.
Extensions
Ask the student who taps to say the matching fact in the same family, such as 12 − 5 for 7 + 5. Challenge students to make up a question with the same answer.