Sandcastle and Holes – Negative Numbers (Yr5)

Aim of the Game:

I love the idea of using sandcastles and holes to help understand how to solve calculations involving negative numbers from @whiterosemaths but wanted to see if I could come up with a variation using things that we have around the house.

What do you need?

• Cupcake cases
• Playdoh

How to Play:

For a question involving negative numbers, such as -2 + 5 = this is how you would use the resources to answer it:

• The cupcake cases are worth -1.
• The Playdoh cakes are worth +1.
• Take the number of cupcake cases you ned for the question (in this case, 2).
• Make the number of Playdoh cakes you need (in this case, 5).
• Fill each case with a Playdoh cake and however many cakes you have left over is the answer.