Another Gift
Apart from the jigsaw and 3D puzzles, my kids also got this BINGO set last Christmas. We used to have this but lost a lot of the number tiles over time so we just used it for some other games.
We played some rounds immediately after opening it, which was both fun and loud! Since there were only 3 players (4 when I also play a card apart from calling the numbers), we usually play for a long time having to call almost all of the numbers before someone wins a pattern. So you can say this is really a great way to pass time!
This BINGO is unlike the one that I knew when I was in the Philippines where we have cards labeled B-I-N-G-O on top of the card and the tiles are numbered from 1 - 75. A quick google search told me this is the American version while the one that we have now is the British version - it has 90 tiles and a 3x9 card (ticket).
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Math Time!
So the kids wanted to play a round of BINGO today so I used that time to do some mental math exercises with them. You kids think it's going to be that easy, eh?!
Anyway, we decided on the winning pattern first (this time it's the middle row). My eldest was busy with his own challenge so it was only the two smaller ones who played. It would take forever to finish so I also played a card.
How We Did It
After deciding on the winning pattern, I started calling out the numbers one by one. For them to find out what number I just picked, they need to solve the math problems I give.
Example, I picked out the number 80. I will say, "8x10" or "50+30", etc., and they will need to solve it to know what number I just picked.
Apart from mental Math, the game further improved their listening and observation skills, and focus as they need to be able to mark all the numbers that had been called on their respective cards.
Another is the value of patience since the numbers on their cards won't get called easily. It could happen that 10 numbers had been called out but nothing called was on their respective card. This is easy though since we have fun in the process.
The value of sportsmanship is also important and could be exercised through this activity. We cannot always win, and that is part of the game!
Learn While Having Fun!
Children have a very short attention span but they could stretch further when they're having fun. But I can only take advantage of this up to a certain point.
"Stop, Mommy! All this Math gives me headache!"
And so we stop.
By the way, Little Man won the round - middle row - BINGO!
