What am I?

Aim of the Game

Practise reasoning, place value, and number sense by asking yes/no questions to guess a hidden number.

What You Need

• Post-it notes or small pieces of paper
• Pen or marker
• Players (2 or more)

Game Setup

1. Write a number on a Post-it note. The number can be any size (e.g., 2-digit, 3-digit, etc.).
2. Decide who will guess and who will write the number.
3. Stick the number on the guesser’s forehead or back so they cannot see it.

How to Play

1. Ask yes/no questions.
   • The guesser asks questions to narrow down the number.
   • Example questions:
     • “Is it less than 50?”
     • “Is the tens digit even?”
     • “Is it greater than 200?”
2. Answer carefully.
   • The other player answers yes or no only.
   • Keep a record of the answers to help figure out the number.
3. Narrow down possibilities.
   • Use the answers to eliminate options and focus on the correct number.
   • Example reasoning:
     • If the number is less than 5 → possibilities are 1, 2, 3, 4
     • If the tens digit is even → narrow options further
4. Guess the number.
   • When confident, the guesser says their answer aloud.
   • If correct, they win the round!

Variations

• Larger numbers: Use 4-digit or 5-digit numbers to challenge older students.
• Timed challenge: Limit the number of questions to increase difficulty.
• Team play: Teams take turns guessing each other’s numbers.

Educational Benefits

• Place Value Awareness: Students practise thinking in terms of hundreds, tens, and ones.
• Reasoning Skills: Develops logical thinking and elimination strategies.
• Number Sense: Reinforces understanding of number magnitude.
• Communication: Encourages clear question-asking and attentive listening.