The game, Bingo, can be used in the classroom in a fun way with students in their elementary school years. The objectives of the game are:

• Improve and consolidate numerical operations.
• To create mental discipline as well as perseverance and persistence; Y
• To add fun and participation to Math ‘exercises’.

You need very little in the way of equipment. A scientific calculator that generates random numbers can be helpful. All you really need is a piece of paper on which to write down your questions and answers. This sheet of paper should have simply listed the numbers you want to use in the game of bingo. This will depend on the class in which you participated in the quiz.

All students need is a piece of paper, a pencil, something to cover their answers with, and a list of the numbers that will be used to help them in the game.

Below is the procedure I used for the game.

Step 1: All students number the numbers from 1 to 75 on the page divided into 2/3 narrow sections. Reason: our bingo cards had numbers up to 75.

Step 2: Each student receives a bingo card and draws a diagram of their card on the opposite side of the page from the numbers. All bingo cards are returned to the master before starting.

Step 3: Instructions for students on how to develop the quiz:

(a) Solve each answer (in your head/on paper).

(b) Write the question against the number that is the answer.

(c) Check your ‘card’.

(d) Cross out any number on your ‘card’ equal to an answer.

(e) Raise your hand when you have a complete line: vertical, horizontal or diagonal.

Step 4: The teacher gets a number, creates and asks a question, and records the answer for later checking. (He can give the answer to each question as he goes along and explain/reteach when needed.) He can also make up and record new questions as he goes along. I often did this to get, over time, many sets of questions that he could use.

Step 5: (a) When a student says he has a line, ask him to read the numbers to check. If he/she is correct, he/she wins Part 1. If he/she is not correct, continue until one student is.

2. The game can end there. You can review all the questions, especially the trick questions.

Step 6: If you have time, you may want to continue the process until someone has a complete card and checks again.

. keep in mind

• Students may need to ‘protect’ their answers to avoid ‘cheating’.
• But remember that each child also has a different card, so who “wins” depends on the randomness of the number selection and the skill level of the student.
• You will often find that you can go through all your questions and no one will get a full card, especially if you have a few ‘trick’ questions. Try to find out which numbers are still uncrossed.
• These are the ‘trick’ questions or a weakness in the numerical data of your class. Reteach when needed