Codebreaker
The setup
The CodeMaster creates a code, and the other player is the CodeBreaker. Suppose the code has three positions each of which can be from 1 to 5. An example of such a code would be 321.
Breaking the code
The CodeBreaker guesses a code and the CodeMaster says how close the guess is. For example, if the CodeBreaker guesses 131, then the CodeMaster would say that one spot was exactly right and one other spot had the correct number but in the wrong place. Play continues until the CodeBreaker figures out the code.
How to win
The number of guesses is the score for the CodeBreaker. The lowest score wins.
Variations
- Add challenge by having a maximum number of questions that are allowed.
- Allow or disallow repeated numbers in the code.
- Use shorter or longer lengths for the code.
- Use a narrower or wider range of numbers for each place of the code.
Helping your child
First and foremost, playing math games should be fun, like any other game your family plays together!
Please let your child make poor plays (mistakes) without correction, and resist the urge to tell them the best ways to play. Bit by bit, your child will get better at the game, and they will learn so much more if you let them figure things out. There is no hurry.
If you see your child make a mistake, ask them to describe why they decided to do what they did. If your child is stuck and doesn’t know which play to make, ask them to describe the pros and cons of their choices, or ask them about how they solved a similar situation in the past. If your child doesn’t remember how to do a calculation, discuss with them the methods they know for figuring it out. These conversations are important for helping your child to develop mathematically.
Through math game play and math conversations, you are helping your child learn to enjoy math and develop important problem solving skills!