Show Big Numbers

Est. Class Sessions: 2–3

Developing the Lesson

Part 2. Spin and Read Big Numbers Game

The Spin and Read Big Numbers Game provides students with practice reading and writing numbers to the hundred millions' place. Introduce the game directions, using the Spin and Read Big Numbers Game pages in the Student Activity Book.

Display the Spin and Read Big Numbers Game Board section and ask a student to help demonstrate playing one or two rounds. Have the student begin by spinning the first spinner to see how many cards he or she will draw from the card pile. Figure 4 shows a possible draw of 5 cards.

After drawing the cards, place them on a display and ask:

If the object of the game is to make the largest number, in what order should I write these digits on the game board? (6, 4, 3, 2, 0)

After reordering the digits in the order suggested by students, ask:

How do you say the number represented by these digits? (sixty-four thousand, three hundred twenty)

After recording the first number on the game board, return the cards to the card pile and reshuffle. Ask the student to spin the spinner again, draw new cards, and arrange the cards to make the largest number. Record this new number on the game board. Remind students that they will play four rounds of this game. The two players should take turns starting each round. After four rounds have been played, the student who was the judge will have a turn to play and one of the other students in the group will become the judge.

Students can continue to play Spin and Read Big Numbers as time permits.