Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The One With Blokus

I attended a workshop today on enhancing my current lesson plans in math with the new common core standards. At one point during this workshop we played the board game Blokus and talked about ways to use this in our classroom.



I had never played this game until today, but let me tell you I'm in love with this game. I want it for my own personal use as well as my classroom.

It is a strategy game. One that will make you think. It requires a bit of problem-solving skills.

This game is designed for four players. Each player has 21 game pieces. Each person's first game piece has to be placed in his or her corner. You then take turns playing a new piece each turn. Your pieces cannot touch sides, vertices only. Right there is some Math vocabulary. The goal is to be the first person to use all your pieces...if you can do that. GOOD LUCK!

When you get to the point where no one can play, you tally up your score. Each unit square is worth -1. The person with the highest score wins. There are also a couple of ways to earn some bonus point.

We received a handout for the students to work on after they've had a chance to play the game. This handout covers several concepts: integers, percents, ordering numbers, and several more.

A couple of questions that are on the handout...


* For your color game piece only, what percent of game pieces were you not able to play? How did you figure the percent?

* What is the ratio of all unused game pieces to all used game pieces for your group? Put that in a sentence.

* Compare your score with the scores of your team mates. Place these numbers on the number line below:

*What is the distance between the lowest and highest scores? Justify your answer.

The game can also be used for symmetry, transformations, rotation, etc...


 I can't take credit for because I received at a workshop. I believe she got it from a magazine. You can download this activity for free in my TPT store.

Have you ever played this game? Have you used it in your classroom? How have you used it?

15 comments:

  1. Hi!

    I have three Blokus games in my classroom because my kids love it so much! I also have the Blokus 3-D, but they like the regular one the best. I would LOVE a copy of the worksheet! TIA luvbcd@yahoo.com

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  2. Sounds fun! I wonder if you could somehow use it for science? I'd love a copy of the worksheet: browns6@fultonschools.org

    By the way, I love your blog! It's really one of the best teaching blogs I've seen. I teach 6th grade science. And you must be a "Friends" fan b/c of your post titles...am I right?

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  3. Hi!

    My kids LOVE Blokus. We have Fun Friday when we earn enough points for the privilege. (When we earn enough Friday minutes, I write "social studies" on the schedule because we are being "social"--then we all WINK when we say it in a conspiratorial tone!)

    This is a FAVORITE game--and I have found that even the math-haters can be successful.

    There is another one with circles, but that one was hard to see and play, and it had a lot of little/complicated shapes.

    I'd love a copy of the worksheet too!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  4. I just happened to stuble upon your blog. I love playing Blokus with my special education students. I would love a copy of the worksheet.
    Thanks.
    Becky McDonald
    rsmrdel@kent.edu

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  5. I love this game, but never thought of using it in the classroom. I would love a copy of the worksheet!!! Thank you!
    Christina Kappler
    Christina.kappler@neomin.org

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  6. I'm sitting here trying to find different ways to use this game in the class when I found your blog. I would love a copy of your worksheet. ecraig@pike.k12.in.us

    Thanks so much!
    Eric Craig

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  7. I would love a copy! Thanks!

    cozzolre@champaignschool.org

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  8. Blokus is amazing! I was first introduced to it by a Special Ed teacher-friend who liked to play it with her third graders, but I have used it at the high school level. Two years running in a summer school setting to reinforce the basics while having some fun, and will be using it in a mixed-grade high school math class soon.

    I'd love to see the worksheet, if you still have it!

    Thanks a ton,
    Jen
    terryj@sfusd.edu

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  9. I would also love to see the worksheet! My students love Blokus!
    fiona.lodge@spps.org

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  10. Can you send me the worksheet?

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    Replies
    1. Susan, I would be happy to send you a copy. What is your email address?

      E

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  11. could you please send me a copy of the worksheet also? dkbrickner@bright.net

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  12. I would love a copy of the worksheet as well. Thanks so much!

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    Replies
    1. Christine, I don't have an email address for you, but you can download this worksheet for free in my TPT store.
      https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blokus-Mathematics-732139

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  13. Can you share this worksheet for me? I don’t see it on Tpt.

    ReplyDelete