Crossing The Volcano
The setup
Use a 100-chart with the 36 squares on the four edges colored gray. Use playing cards with picture cards removed or use Number Cards from 1 to 10.
How to play
On a turn, if you pick a 1 you can claim any odd number; if you pick any other number, you can claim any multiple of it. If you claim a number, your opponent cannot claim it. The aim is to make a path from one edge to the opposite edge, in either direction. You do not need to claim the squares in the order of your path.
Variations
You can either play that diagonal connections are okay or not okay. Another option is to include picture cards – if you get one of these, you can put in a blocked square that cannot be included in either person’s path.
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!